Vietnam’s education system has long been recognized as one of the best in the world, consistently producing high-achieving students who go on to make significant contributions to their communities and the global stage. The class of 2024 is no exception, with a remarkable cohort of graduates showcasing the transformative power of education and the unwavering determination of Vietnamese youth.
Overcoming Challenges: The Story of Ngo Viet Luong
Ngo Viet Luong’s university journey at RMIT Vietnam was marked by resilience and a growth mindset. As a top graduate of the class of 2024, Luong’s success is a testament to the inclusive support and nurturing environment provided by the university. Despite facing challenges, Luong navigated his academic path with remarkable determination, ultimately emerging as a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance.
Empowering Students with Disabilities: Nguyen Thien Phu and Vong Minh Nhi
RMIT Vietnam’s commitment to inclusivity is further exemplified by the stories of Nguyen Thien Phu and Vong Minh Nhi, two graduates with disabilities who navigated their university journeys with remarkable determination. Through the university’s inclusive support, these students were able to unlock their full potential and achieve academic excellence.
Cultivating Employable Young Professionals
The RMIT Class of 2024 also showcased the university’s ability to nurture students into confident, employable young professionals. Three graduates shared the key factors that contributed to their development, highlighting the importance of RMIT’s holistic approach to education.
Seashell Souvenirs to Yale Scholarship: The Story of Thai Vu Duc Anh
Thai Vu Duc Anh, a high school student from Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, turned his unique seashell souvenir project into a remarkable success story. Earning a $330,000 scholarship to Yale University, Anh’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, creativity, and a strong academic foundation. Anh’s story began in his early years, when his brother’s admission to several U.S. universities inspired him to dream big. As a third-grader, Anh was already determined to follow in his brother’s footsteps and study abroad. This motivation drove him to excel academically, achieving an impressive SAT score of 1,530/1,600 and an IELTS score of 7.5, along with an academic average of over 9.7.
Recognizing the limited opportunities for extracurricular activities in his hometown, Anh took the initiative to organize a debating camp in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, attracting over 200 participants. This experience not only honed his leadership skills but also demonstrated his commitment to creating meaningful experiences for his peers. Anh’s unique seashell souvenir project, which he developed during his high school years, became a key component of his successful Yale application. The consistency and connection between his extracurricular activities, the story in his essay, and his desired field of study (Economics) impressed the admissions committee, allowing them to see Anh’s personality and potential.
Despite the stressful application process, Anh maintained a balanced approach, building detailed plans and goals to ensure he could excel academically while pursuing his extracurricular passions. His homeroom teacher, Doan Thi Van, praised Anh’s active nature, leadership skills, and ability to inspire confidence in both teachers and peers. Anh’s dream of studying at Yale has now become a reality, and he plans to work while pursuing his degree to gain additional experience and save for his future goal of establishing a social enterprise in Vietnam. His journey is a shining example of how Vietnamese youth can leverage their creativity, determination, and academic excellence to unlock extraordinary opportunities.
Nurturing a Culture of Academic Excellence
Vietnam’s education system has long been recognized for its exceptional performance, with Vietnamese students consistently outperforming their counterparts in international assessments of reading, mathematics, and science. This success can be attributed to a multitude of factors, including the caliber of the country’s teachers, the effective management of the education system, and the unwavering commitment of both the government and society as a whole.
The Role of Effective Teachers
One of the key drivers of Vietnam’s educational success is the quality of its teachers. While they may not necessarily be better qualified than their counterparts in other countries, Vietnamese teachers are more effective at delivering engaging and impactful lessons. A study comparing Indian and Vietnamese students found that the significant difference in mathematical test scores could be largely attributed to the gulf in teaching quality. Vietnam’s teachers are well-managed, receiving frequent training and the freedom to make their classes more engaging. Additionally, teacher assessment is based on the performance of their students, with those whose pupils excel being rewarded through prestigious “teacher excellence” titles. This system of incentives and accountability helps to ensure that teachers are continuously striving to improve their craft and deliver the best possible education to their students.
The Influence of the Communist Party
The Communist Party’s obsession with education has also played a crucial role in shaping Vietnam’s educational landscape. The party’s close and relentless attention to the education system ensures that policies are regularly updated to keep pace with changing curriculums and teaching standards. This unwavering focus has also led to a requirement for provinces to allocate 20% of their budgets to education, helping to promote regional equity and ensure that all students have access to quality learning opportunities.
The Ingrained Importance of Education
Beyond the institutional factors, Vietnam’s success in education can also be attributed to the deep-rooted cultural value placed on learning and academic achievement. Influenced by Confucianism, Vietnamese families are highly committed to their children’s education, often going to great lengths to provide additional private tutoring and seeking out schools with “excellence in teaching” accolades. This societal fixation on education has reaped rich rewards, as improvements in the education system have directly contributed to Vietnam’s economic growth. As the country’s students have excelled, so too has the nation’s ability to cultivate a skilled and innovative workforce capable of driving economic progress.
The success stories of the RMIT Class of 2024 and the remarkable achievements of Vietnamese students like Thai Vu Duc Anh serve as inspiring examples of the transformative power of education. Through resilience, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence, these young individuals have overcome challenges, unlocked their full potential, and paved the way for a brighter future. Vietnam’s education system, with its emphasis on effective teaching, inclusive support, and a deep-rooted cultural value placed on learning, has consistently produced high-achieving students who go on to make significant contributions to their communities and the world. As the country continues to invest in and refine its education system, the future looks bright for the next generation of Vietnamese leaders and innovators.
