ISCM OPENS INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR MEKONG DELTA URBAN DESIGN RESEARCH
The Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM), University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), announces an internship opportunity at the International Center of Urbanism (ICoU) for students with backgrounds in architecture and urban design. Taking place from 15 October 2026 to 15 January 2027, the Mekong Delta Drawing & Design Research internship offers participants an opportunity to engage directly with research, drawing, and design projects related to the Mekong Delta.
Engaging with design research in the Mekong Delta
ICoU studies urbanism in Vietnam in relation to the international state of the art, developing context-responsive spatial strategies for complex environments challenged by overlapping socio-ecological crises, global warming, and other contemporary pressures.
Its approach moves between research and design interventions, design investigations and planning considerations, concrete projects and policy development, as well as applied and fundamental research. Within this framework, projects are regarded not only as design outcomes but also as generators of knowledge and potential contributions to policy development and reformulation.
During the internship, participants will support ICoU's research project on the Mekong Delta, working with both past commissioned design projects developed for governmental agencies and private developers in Vietnam and ongoing projects in Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.
From drawing to urban design research
A key responsibility will be the development of a systematic graphic scheme across projects, covering drawing types, colour legends, line weights, and other graphic principles.
Interns will contribute to reworking graphics from past commissioned projects and creating new diagrams, sections, and axonometries. They will also have opportunities to collaborate on urbanism and urban design components of ongoing projects in Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.
Through these activities, the internship extends beyond graphic production. It provides an opportunity to understand how architectural and urban projects can be revisited, systematised, and situated within a broader design research framework for the Mekong Delta.
Who is ICoU looking for?
The internship is intended for candidates with a background in architecture or urban design, a strong interest in settlements, urbanism, and landscape, and strong drawing skills.
Candidates should be proficient in AutoCAD and Adobe Illustrator, with some familiarity with SketchUp and Photoshop rendering. Equally important is a systematic and precise approach to organising and developing visual materials and drawings.
Learning from nearly two decades of Mekong Delta design research
Interns will gain exposure to nearly two decades of design research in the Mekong Delta undertaken by ICoU researchers in collaboration with SISP, VIUP, and local stakeholders.
Participants will contribute to revising the presentation and design specifics of previous projects to situate them within a larger framework of design for the Mekong Delta. They will also receive mentorship and guidance from ICoU leaders and a Certificate of Completion upon successful participation in the internship.
For students in architecture and urban design, the internship provides a valuable intersection between design skills, research thinking, and real-world urban contexts, while offering direct engagement with the spatial, environmental, and urban challenges shaping the future of the Mekong Delta.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Internship period: 15 October 2026 – 15 January 2027
Application deadline: 20 September 2026
Application document: CV
JD: Internship_ICoU
Please send your application directly to:
Prof. Kelly Shannon: kelly.shannon@ueh.edu.vn
Prof. Bruno: bruno.demeulde@ueh.edu.vn