While the Tet flavor still lingers with every Vietnamese, Huynh Dang Vinh Hien - a student of the Talent Program in Computer Science, University of Information Technology, had an interesting experience with "Tet away from home" on the Lion Island of Singapore as a participant in the DiscoverNUS program.
Huynh Dang Vinh Hien at Singapore
The DiscoverNUS program is a collaboration between the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Ho Chi Minh City National University. The program selects and provides opportunities for students in Southeast Asia to study at NUS for one semester. In the 2023 recruitment round, Huynh Dang Vinh Hien (First Prize in the Vietnam Student Informatics Olympiad 2021, Silver Medal at ICPC Asia Hue Regional Contest 2023) had the honor of being selected for the program and set off to Singapore to start the semester.
UIT had a quick chat with Vinh Hien, let's listen to the shares from this talented student from afar!
Hello Vinh Hien, congratulations on your exciting short-term study trip to NUS. How do you feel about celebrating "Tet away from home" in Singapore?
Vinh Hien: I had a both bewildering and exciting experience celebrating "Tet away from home" in Singapore. Unlike in Vietnam, Tet activities in Singapore only take place from around the 30th of Tet to the 2nd day of the lunar new year, so most of the Tet atmosphere I experienced through calls with my family. During these days, I also had the opportunity to meet old friends currently studying in Singapore, participating in new (to me) sports activities such as running and cycling. This novelty helped me gain motivation and spirit to welcome a new year full of expectations.
UIT has brightly colored Vinh Hien's experiences with knowledge and academia
How has this new and interesting experience in Singapore contributed to you?
Vinh Hien: I learned about the DiscoverNUS program through the announcement from the UIT Student Affairs Office. At that time, I realized that I was a third-year student, close to completing all the courses in the training program, so arranging my schedule to participate in the program was not too difficult. Besides, I knew that NUS would consider awarding a Master's scholarship to students who had participated in the program, which was a good opportunity for me to explore, learn new knowledge, and prepare steps for future development.
In order to seize the opportunity to participate in DiscoverNUS, you must have put in a lot of effort. How did UIT support you during the learning process to have a sufficient baggage when exposed to a completely new learning environment?
Vinh Hien: For me, the advantage of studying at UIT is that I received very good treatment from the University. UIT has created conditions for me to participate in scientific research as well as national-scale academic competitions. I traveled to Hanoi, Hue, places I had never been to before, to learn specialized knowledge and gain more understanding of the culture and society in all regions of the country. This is a very valuable baggage for me to confidently apply for any challenges.
As a student of UIT's Talent Program, what experiences from this program have contributed to your intellectual baggage?
Vinh Hien: The characteristic of classes in the Talent Program at UIT is that the class size is quite small (about 30 students). Therefore, each lesson is not only a time for us to absorb lectures from teachers but also an ideal space for exchange and discussion with teachers and classmates about learning experiences and research. The experiences accumulated from those discussions are quite important to me, helping me have a more multidimensional view on academic issues and reduce shortcomings when conducting in-depth research. Besides, in the talent program, I have the opportunity to study with very talented friends under the guidance of leading experts.
Vinh Hien and his team have just built a solid foundation for their future careers
In the new year, what are your plans? In your opinion, how will the DiscoverNUS program support you in your future plans?
Vinh Hien: Recently, I have achieved certain achievements from academic competitions, helping me have a relatively solid foundation. Therefore, this year, I will spend more time on scientific research activities, preparing for the thesis process. I also plan to seek internship opportunities at suitable enterprises and higher education opportunities abroad.
Thank you, Vinh Hien, and wish you a successful Year of the Tiger with interesting plans ahead!
By Phuong Trinh - UIT Admissions
For more details, visit: https://tuyensinh.uit.edu.vn/gap-huynh-dang-vinh-hien-sinh-vien-uit-tham-gia-chuong-trinh-discovernus-tai-singapore
Ha Bang - Media Collaborator, University of Information Technology
Nhat Hien - Translation Collaborator, University of Information Technology