Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan is one of 27 valedictorians in the second graduation ceremony of 2024 at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-USSH). The student, originally from Quang Ninh province, majored in European Studies, International Studies, Faculty of International Studies.
Ngoc Lan on her university graduation day in early July 2024. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.
Speaking to a reporter from the Vietnam Student News section of Tien Phong newspaper, Ngoc Lan said: “I feel very happy, honored, and proud that my parents joined me on stage to receive their bachelor's degrees and were honored by the school at the graduation ceremony.”
Lan and her father had the honor of receiving flowers of appreciation and a graduation certificate from Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector (right) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (left).
During her student years, thanks to encouragement from lecturers and a supportive environment for scientific research, the girl born in 2002 quickly became involved in this activity. Lan won first prize (in 2023) and second prize (in 2021) at the university-level student scientific research competition.
Previously, Lan's research topic, "The UK's 'Global Britain' Strategy (2016-2022)," supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hong Hanh, was selected as a key student research project of VNU-USSH for the 2022-2023 academic year and was evaluated as excellent after the acceptance process.
Throughout her studies, Lan always made an effort to attend all classes, listening attentively and quickly taking notes on the insightful, interesting, and novel perspectives of her lecturers. Studying in the social sciences, Lan paid particular attention to the lecturers' sharing of experiences and insights, using them to answer difficult questions or find ideas for her final essay.
Lan was formerly the academic deputy class representative for the K65 International Studies (standard program) class and received academic achievement scholarships for many semesters. She was recognized as a "5 Good Student" at the city level, an "Outstanding Young Person" at the institutional level, and twice received a commendation from the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities for having the highest academic score in her cohort.
This space holds many memories for the beautiful valedictorian at VNU-USSH.Photo: Provided by the interviewee
The female student believes that both general and specialized university courses have certain connections. Knowledge from one subject can be used for memorization, correlation, or as a multi-faceted perspective on the content of another subject. Therefore, creating connections between subjects helps her study more effectively during exam season.
Lan confided that, like many other VNU-USSH students, she also struggled with the vast amount of knowledge in the general subjects and felt anxious every time she waited for exam results. As for the specialized subjects, Introduction to International Relations and Foreign Affairs Operations were two courses that left a lasting impression on her.
According to Lan, Introduction to International Relations, a specialized subject known for its abstract theories, became much easier to understand thanks to the lecturer's engaging presentation style, which included vivid examples and closely followed current world events.
In the Foreign Affairs Professionalism course, Lan had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of diplomatic ceremonies and activities that she had previously only seen on TV. This subject also taught young people like Lan discipline and a high sense of responsibility in their work.
In her fourth year, Lan chose European Studies because she wanted to understand more about the Old Continent, and was also attracted by the lively and heartwarming Christmas activities organized specifically for students of the major. Therefore, she chose and successfully defended her graduation thesis on Vietnam-UK relations.
Lan (bottom row, second from the right) with lecturers and classmates from the European Studies program on the day of her graduation thesis defense, May 2024. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.
As a student majoring in European Studies, Lan's area of interest and focus is on the countries of Europe and the members of the European Union (EU). The courses in her major have provided her with additional knowledge about the political, economic, historical, and cultural characteristics of these countries.
Lan is the author of the article “The UK’s ‘Global Britain’ Strategy and its Impact on the Indo-Pacific Region (2016-2022)” published in the journal European Studies and the article “The UK’s Policy on the Development of Cultural and Creative Industries” published in the Communist Journal.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Lan is a member of the project team that won the "Best Project for Incubation" award at the Youth Innovation Competition on Lancang-Mekong Region's Governance 2023 (YICMG 2023), held at Qinghai University, China.
Leveraging her knowledge and foreign language skills, Lan, a student majoring in International Studies, was a member of the External Relations Committee of the VNU-USSH Student Union, working in the Communications and External Relations department on several student projects and NGOs.
"After four years of my youth, I feel confident because I've had access to new knowledge, broadened my perspective, and had the opportunity to develop myself both academically and socially.""Lan affirmed."
Vietnam Student Newspaper: The top-scoring female student is the author of a key student scientific research project.
