International Students' Perception on Internship and Cultural Exchange in Vietnam: Case Study at a University in Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract

This research focused on examining international students’ perceptions of internship opportunities and cultural exchange experience via internships in Vietnam and at the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City (IUH). Since the dynamics of global mobility are shifting and Vietnam is becoming increasingly popular as a destination country for higher education, internship and intercultural learning became crucial to international students’ representations. Guided by experiential learning theory and cultural adaptation theory, this study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design involving 33 international students participating in internship and cultural exchange programs at the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and reliability analysis (Cronbach’s Alpha). The findings provide practical implications for universities seeking to improve international internship management and intercultural learning opportunities.The perceptions of the quality and relevance of the internship, the character of cultural exchange, and related opportunities and challenges, were evaluated via descriptive statistical analyses. The survey results signified a strong overall approval of both the internship and cultural exchange experience in Vietnam. In particular, the perceived relevance of internship to one’s academic background was high, along with the perceptions of clearly communicated expectations and requirements aboard the intern and the joyfulness associated with trying Vietnamese food and learning its traditions. The current study contributes to the international education literature by outlining major predictors of student satisfaction and engagement in host countries emerging on the higher education horizon. Beside that the study also provides preliminary empirical evidence regarding international students’ internship and cultural exchange experiences in Vietnam. However, generalizability would be limited, considering the focus on a single institution and the small sample size.