International students staying abroad: Don't confuse the concept of patriotism!

Regularly after each exam season, the "Road to Olympia" contest selects a champion to award a scholarship worth 35,000 USD to study abroad in Australia. Over the past 18 years, 18 excellent students from all over the country have been honored to receive this scholarship and have become students of major universities in the land of kangaroos, a few hours away from home. They have demonstrated their mettle and intelligence through their spirit of hard work in studying and researching and have become young intellectuals, working in many fields after graduating from university, some have become masters, doctors, lecturers at universities...

The only thing is that out of those 18 champions, only 2 returned home after studying abroad, most of the rest stayed in Australia to start a career after graduating from university. This has confused many people, and public opinion has argued many times about whether the Olympia champions should stay or return after studying abroad to bring back the knowledge they learned and contribute to building their homeland. Some even accused them of being “unpatriotic” and “irresponsible to their homeland”!

Representatives of departments, branches, leaders of the Department of Education and Training and Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted with the prize-winning contestants. Photo: Duc Anh

The issue of Vietnamese students studying abroad and not returning is not a new one. And it is not only the case of the mountain climbing champions in the "Road to Olympia" competition who went abroad to study and did not return that has become a topic of discussion. Perhaps it is because those who went abroad with scholarships from the position of champions of an intellectual game are the affirmation of the position of "grains of rice on the sieve". Their departure is therefore considered a "brain drain" situation.

That is also the reason why in recent days, the 19th Olympia champion Tran The Trung - a student of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted has received many "opinions" from keyboard heroes on social networks, they link together events, continue to doubt the possibility of "never returning" when the 19th mountain climber from Nghe An went to study abroad.

So, is it necessary to return to your hometown to work after studying abroad to be a truly responsible person as many people think?

It must be admitted that being able to study, work in one's hometown, live near family and relatives, and use one's knowledge to contribute to the development of one's homeland and country is something that everyone always desires. However, the desire to reach the top, to reach new horizons to fulfill one's dreams and ambitions is also something that is worthy of respect for youth. Therefore, it is necessary to be fair to young people when they choose to stay in developed countries, where there is a better level of science, technology and educational environment, and more opportunities to learn and gain knowledge and experience for their future career and personal development.

Many students and people of Nghe An accompanied and cheered for Tran The Trung in the final match of the 19th "Road to Olympia" contest. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Patriotism and responsibility to the homeland are expressed differently by each person. Staying in the homeland is good for many people, but that does not mean it is good for everyone. Especially for good students, students who study new fields and majors. Returning to the country, if there are no conditions, a good working environment, no opportunities for talent to develop, is that really the best choice?

Because not everyone who studies abroad returns home to have the opportunity to show off their talents and have a place to practice their skills. Even the two Olympia champions who returned to work in the country, Le Viet Ha (Quang Ngai) and Luong Phuong Thao (Vinh Long), each have their own style. Le Viet Ha has a solid family support to start his career (his father is the Provincial Chairman and is currently the Provincial Party Secretary). As for Luong Phuong Thao, it was simply because she "listened to her parents and wanted her daughter to work near home". Phuong Thao did not return to her hometown, she chose an advertising company in Ho Chi Minh City as her place to start her career.

In reality, many people have studied abroad, and after achieving knowledge, experience and financial potential, they will return to contribute to the development of the country in many different ways. Therefore, we should not equate the issue of whether students return or stay abroad with patriotism or not. Because once their hearts are turned towards the Fatherland, no matter where they are, these talented people can contribute their efforts and intelligence.