18-08-2026
“I packed 20 kilograms of luggage for 18 days, but came home carrying far more than I had brought.”In July 2026, Huynh Ngoc Bao, a student from the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Information Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (UIT), embarked on a journey to Singapore and Indonesia to participate in the ASEAN Summer @NTU Programme 2026.Eighteen days, two countries, two learning environments, and friendships with people from diverse cultural backgrounds transformed an international summer program into something far more meaningful. For Bao, it became a journey that broadened his perspective on technology, deepened his understanding of the value of community, and, most importantly, showed him that young people sometimes discover their true limits only after finding the courage to step beyond them.A Journey into the UnknownBefore departing, Bao imagined that the ASEAN Summer @NTU Programme 2026 would resemble many other international academic programs: lectures, workshops, group projects, and field trips.His suitcase, limited to 20 kilograms, contained everything he would need for the next 18 days. In his mind, however, there was a mixture of excitement and uncertainty as he prepared for his first academic journey across two countries — wondering about the new environments, the people he would meet, and his own ability to adapt.Yet it was precisely those unknowns that made the journey worthwhile.His first destination was Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore), where Bao explored topics ranging from the circular economy and renewable energy to smart cities through lectures, workshops, and experiential learning activities.Subjects that initially seemed distant from computer science gradually became relevant when placed in the context of real-world challenges: How can waste become a raw material for new products? What role could water-based batteries play in future energy systems? How can reinforcement learning enable air-conditioning systems to operate more intelligently and efficiently?Bao began to realize that the knowledge he was acquiring did not exist in isolation within a single discipline.An algorithm could contribute to energy efficiency. Data could reshape how a city operates. A technological solution could create environmental and social impacts far beyond its original technical purpose.The question was no longer simply, “How does this technology work?”It became, “What problem can this technology solve for people?”That marked the first significant shift in how Bao viewed the field he had chosen to pursue.From Singapore to Yogyakarta: Two Places, Two Approaches to Creating ChangeIf Singapore showed Bao how science and technology could be deployed within a highly developed urban environment, his next destination — Yogyakarta — offered a very different perspective on innovation.At Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), the learning journey continued, but in a new context. Through experiential activities and an exploration of local waste-management practices, Bao observed how environmental challenges could be addressed by solutions rooted in the needs and resources of local communities.The contrast between the two destinations left a strong impression on him.In Singapore, Bao witnessed the power of technology, infrastructure, and the ability to implement solutions at scale. In Yogyakarta, he discovered the strength of grassroots initiatives — solutions shaped by everyday realities and driven by direct community participation.Though seemingly different, the two experiences ultimately led to the same question: What makes a solution truly sustainable?For Bao, the answer gradually became clearer. A solution does not necessarily need to be highly complex or built on the most advanced technology to create meaningful impact. What matters is whether it fits the local context, addresses the right problem, and is accepted by the community it is designed to serve.From lectures at NTU to community-based experiences in Yogyakarta, Bao began to see more clearly the connection between technology and people. Technology may provide the tools to solve problems, but human needs and social contexts ultimately determine whether those tools can create genuine value.For a Computer Science student, this was a lesson that extended far beyond the 18 days of the summer program. It could influence how he approaches the design and development of technology products in the years ahead.When Strangers Become Part of the JourneyHad the ASEAN Summer @NTU Programme 2026 consisted only of lectures and field trips, it would still have been a memorable academic experience.What made the journey truly special for Bao, however, were the people he met along the way.On the first day, they arrived as strangers. Each person brought a different academic background, culture, communication style, and set of experiences.Gradually, those differences became bridges rather than barriers.They worked together to solve problems, debated ideas, divided responsibilities for group projects, and learned to reach common ground despite approaching the same issue from different perspectives.Skills that might seem familiar — communication, teamwork, active listening, and critical thinking — took on entirely new dimensions in a multicultural environment.Bao learned not only how to express his ideas clearly enough for others to understand, but also how to listen carefully enough to understand why someone else might see the same problem from an entirely different perspective.And friendships were built far beyond the classroom.There were days spent exploring Singapore and Yogyakarta together, cultural exchanges, outdoor activities, shared meals, and conversations that were never part of the official schedule.They talked about their universities, hometowns, daily lives, and aspirations for the future. Through these ordinary conversations, a much larger world gradually unfolded before Bao — not through maps or textbooks, but through the people sitting beside him.At that point, an “international experience” was no longer simply about a Vietnamese student studying in Singapore or Indonesia.It was about learning how to live, study, and work alongside people whose backgrounds and perspectives were different from his own.You Do Not Have to Be Perfect Before Stepping into the WorldThe 18-day journey also gave Bao an opportunity to reflect on himself.In an international environment, young people may easily feel that they are not skilled enough, confident enough, or sufficiently prepared. But with each day of learning and new experiences, Bao came to realize that no one needs to know everything before taking the first step.“You don’t have to wait until you are perfect before stepping into an international environment. What matters more is taking initiative, being willing to learn, adapting to change, and having the courage to step outside your comfort zone.”The knowledge and skills Bao had developed during his studies at UIT provided a strong foundation for participating in academic activities and collaborative projects. The international environment, however, placed those capabilities in an entirely new context — one that required him to take greater initiative, adapt more quickly, and remain open to learning from those around him.What Bao brought home, therefore, was not the feeling that he had somehow become “good enough” after 18 days.Instead, he returned with a clearer understanding of what he still needed to improve — and greater confidence that those gaps could be filled through continued learning and experience.Perhaps this is also one of the most important values that international learning opportunities can offer UIT students. Each journey does more than add another destination to the map. It places students in an environment different enough to encourage them to reassess their abilities, perspectives, and aspirations.The Suitcase HomeAfter 18 days, the journey came to an end.The lectures concluded. Group projects were completed. Field trips became photographs stored on phones. Friends who had studied and explored two cities together returned to their own universities, countries, and individual paths.Bao returned to Vietnam as well.His suitcase could still carry no more than 20 kilograms, but what he brought home with him was far greater than what he had packed at the beginning.He returned with a broader perspective on technology — one in which a Computer Science student looks beyond algorithms and systems to consider the people and social impact behind every technological solution.He returned with lessons from two destinations: Singapore demonstrated the power of technology and solutions implemented at scale, while Yogyakarta showed how community-driven initiatives can also create meaningful and lasting change.He returned with friendships formed among people who had once been complete strangers, along with greater confidence in his ability to learn, adapt, and connect in an international environment.Above all, he returned with a new understanding of what it means to step outside one’s comfort zone: there is no need to wait until everything is perfect before beginning.The ASEAN Summer @NTU Programme 2026 lasted only 18 days. But the lessons from Bao’s journey through Singapore and Indonesia are likely to remain with him for much longer.Because sometimes, the greatest value of a journey is not measured by how far we travel.It is measured by how differently we see the world — and ourselves — when we return.
