The course gathers students from USSH, University of Zurich (Switzerland), Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia), Royal University Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Mandalay University (Myanmar), and Chiang Mai University (Thailand). Its topic is "urban change", signifying the transformation and development of Southeast Asia in the context of rapid urbanization. Its objectives are to create an interdisciplinary and international forum that combines theory and practice to demonstrate the "urban change" in social sciences in general and in Southeast Asia in particular. The course also introduces students to field research and generate enthusiam for ethnographic research, and practice the ability to engage in scholarly debates in English in a multilingual context.

At the opening class, Prof. Dr Pham Quang Minh (USSH's Rector) warmly welcomed the Vietnamese as well as foreign students. The Rector also introduced about Vietnam's historical, political, economic, cultural and social features, thereby providing them with different viewpoints and perspectives on Vietnam in the eyes of its international friends.

As planned, the course would last for three weeks starting from July 2nd. In the first week, students will get an introduction into processes of urban change in Vietnam, central theories on urban change and qualitative research methods. Closely related ongoing research of the lecturers from USSH and University of Zurich will be presented. In the second and third weeks, students will train their skills in ethnographic research methods by exploring field sites in and around Hanoi and carry out practical assignments in mixed groups. The summer school will close with a two-day workshop in which lecturers from the partipating universities in Southeast Asia will give an overview of processes of urban change in their respective countries and students will present findings from their field research.