GEOG40830 Global South Fieldwork: Vietnam

Academic Year 2022/2023

***Please note that in 2023, the location of the fieldwork class may change to Mozambique. This information will be updated in autumn 2022.

This module will be taught through a field class to Vietnam that is being supported by Irish Aid through a Vietnam-Ireland Bilateral Education Exchange project on climate change vulnerabilities and resilience in the northern upland region of Vietnam.

The field class will involve literature preparation, fieldwork planning, data collection, presentations and discussion by all students. Students have the option to use this module in order to gather data that will form the basis of their masters theses (in this case, discussions will need to begin in September with relevant supervisors).

The field class will comprise of joint fieldwork activities undertaken between UCD Geography postgraduate students and staff and project partner staff and students at Hanoi University and Thai Nguyen University. The Vietnam trip will take place over 2 weeks in May.

The module will provide students with an opportunity to apply and adapt theoretical, methodological and practical knowledge in different social situations. Students will be jointly involved in briefing activities at the start of the module, combining in-class meetings, field trips, as well as meetings with Irish Aid and other development organisations.

During the remainder of the field class, teams of UCD, Hanoi University and Thai Nguyen University students will partner to carry out fieldwork projects in thematically shared research areas. The research projects will be decided upon, designed and planned prior to the field class and through discussions between UCD and Vietnam partner university students and staff.

Students will also take part in a student-led conference at one of the Vietnam partner universities to present their initial research findings.

Attendance and participation in all activities of the field class is a compulsory requirement.


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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students should have:

1. Attained first-hand experience undertaking empirical fieldwork in Vietnam or Mozambique in order to see a research project through to completion and will have developed a range of essential research skills in relation to this activity. Students will also be involved in a student-led conference at one of the partner universities where they will present their initial research findings.

2. Developed an in-depth and critical understanding of the main processes of socio-cultural, economic, political and environmental development and change taking place in Vietnam or Mozambique and will have had the opportunity to observe some of these transformations through a variety of field visits.

3. Enhanced global engagement and gained valuable international cultural and educational experience, particularly through collaboration with faculty and students based at partner universities in Vietnam or Mozambique.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

10

Small Group

15

Field Trip/External Visits

80

Autonomous Student Learning

70

Total

175

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
active/task-based learning; peer and group work; lectures; critical writing; reflective learning; enquiry & problem-based learning; debates; case-based learning; student presentations 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Fieldwork: Fieldwork findings report Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

45

Journal: Reflective journal Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

40

Continuous Assessment: Participation Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

15


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.