Taking the bell to ring in a foreign land.

(Baonghean) - Born and raised on the "narrow, slender strip of land in Central Vietnam / Rain and wind erode layers of soil / Vast sandy beaches, mother carrying heavy loads / Father with a hunched back pushing a cart," witnessing the harshness of nature and the hard work of the people of Central Vietnam, Nguyen Anh Sang - a student from Phuc Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, Nghe An province - was determined to do something good for his homeland. Sang determined that to realize that dream, there was only one way: to study and study.

Studying at the Polytechnic University was a stroke of luck.

Nghe An province is renowned for its tradition of academic excellence, and people jokingly say, "Marrying a man from Nghe An means carrying a light fortune, but the only burden is love." Sang's family also has a rich educational tradition, and although their circumstances weren't particularly affluent, Sang's parents always strived to provide their children with a good education. Graduating with a degree in Physics from the University of Natural Sciences, like many other candidates, Sang faced anxieties and uncertainties in choosing his future path. The real turning point in the life of the 18-year-old student, Nguyen Anh Sang, came one evening when he went online and happened to read an article introducing the international collaborative training programs of Hanoi University of Technology.

"Initially, I wasn't very interested when I read about the International Training Institute, and I just considered it like any other international program in the country. But when I learned that these international programs were implemented and carried out by Hanoi University of Science and Technology, I started to take an interest. Becoming a student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology has been my dream since I was a child. After learning more, I really liked the NUT mechatronics program – a collaboration between Hanoi University of Science and Technology and Nagaoka University in Japan. I was captivated by the Robocon SIE team and their successes. I dreamed of being able to build intelligent robots like Asimo to help the hardworking people in my sun-drenched, windy Central region, rockets the size of Soyuz, and much more," Sang confided.

As if by fate, Sang became a student at NUT, part of the SIE International Training Institute. And what SIE offered Sang exceeded all his expectations.

Student Nguyen Anh Sang (on the left)

Bring the bell to ring in... Hanoi.

Students from provincial areas who come to Hanoi to study often have regional insecurities, whether about language or lifestyle, sometimes simply because they live in the capital while they are from... another province. Sang also lived with the insecurity of her distinct Nghe An accent, to the point that when there was an opportunity to transfer to Japan for further studies, she didn't dare apply. After learning about her situation, Ms. Phuong Mai – Director of the International Training Institute – with her experience and love for her profession and students, encouraged and persuaded Sang to overcome that "language barrier." As a result, Sang became one of the nine NUT students to receive a scholarship to Japan this time.

Sáng confided: "In the beginning, I spoke in my Nghe An dialect and none of my classmates understood me. I felt both embarrassed and hurt. Later, I practiced speaking more slowly, trying to pronounce words as clearly as possible, but of course, without losing my 'identity.' Now, many of my classmates are 'addicted' to my accent, saying it sounds... cute. I've also overcome my initial insecurities and am now fully focused on my studies. In my NUT program, the curriculum is quite demanding. We not only hone our knowledge of mechatronics, but also study Japanese from basic to advanced and specialized levels. And we study English too. Initially, I thought Japanese was just an extra subject, not very important, like English in high school, but it wasn't. I had to study Japanese seriously, very thoroughly, with Japanese teachers and following the Japanese work style. At first, I didn't know a single word of Japanese, so I felt lost, but I gradually got used to it. Now I can talk to Japanese people." I became confident and instantly fell in love with the Japanese language.

SIE volunteer team leader - Nguyen Anh Sang (leading the way)

At SIE, I had the opportunity to live in an international learning environment. The teachers were always dedicated to guiding students, especially the Japanese lecturers. My classmates always tried to help each other strive for success and share the difficulties in life.

In addition, I also had the opportunity to participate in beneficial activities such as scientific research, robot and water rocket building competitions, volunteer work, and activities of the Youth Union and the Student Association of SIE."

Despite the demanding academic and foreign language studies, Sang actively participated in extracurricular activities. Not only was he an exemplary student, but he was also an outstanding officer in the Youth Union, Student Association, and SIE's volunteer program. Despite his busy academic schedule, he always performed his duties as a Standing Committee member and Team Leader of the SIE Volunteer Team very well. "Initially, I joined the volunteer program to contribute my youthful energy and enthusiasm. I never thought I would be trusted to become the team leader of the SIE volunteer team. The moments in my life as a volunteer, especially participating in the Tien Xuan 2011 summer volunteer campaign, are beautiful and unforgettable. It's wonderful to know that I'm surrounded by fellow volunteers who always treat each other like family."

And the bells will ring in the land of cherry blossoms.

Nguyen Anh Sang and Ms. Kawasaki - Japanese language instructor
of Nagaoka University, Japan.
(Photo taken at the International Training Institute, Hanoi University of Science and Technology)

At the end of March, Nguyen Anh Sang and eight other students in her class transferred to the second phase of their studies at Gunma University in Japan – one of Japan's six renowned technology universities. To obtain this scholarship, Sang and her classmates had to submit applications with their academic scores and Japanese language proficiency. Gunma University reviewed the applications and selected students from top to bottom. "It's hard to describe the overwhelming joy my family and I felt when we learned the results. Finally, the path to my long-held dream has opened wide."

May the "bell of Nghe An" continue to ring out in the Land of the Rising Sun, just as Sang promised when he learned he had won the scholarship: "In a foreign country, I will try my best to improve myself. I hope that in the future I can contribute a small part to building my homeland, Nghe An in particular and Vietnam in general."

PV