Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu: "I was fortunate to choose the right environment for my studies and research."

Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu, a PhD candidate who recently received her degree in Southeast Asian Studies from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said that although there were times of fatigue and even discouragement during her doctoral studies, the values ​​she gained upon completing the course were truly worthwhile.

One of the comments from a blind reviewer evaluating my dissertation stated that: "The research topic is worthy of a doctoral dissertation, and the researcher possesses good systematic thinking, a coherent approach to problem-solving, and demonstrates independent research thinking." Reading this comment, I was truly delighted and clearly realized that it represents a significant step forward in my scientific research thinking during my doctoral studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. My professors and supervisors helped me deeply understand that the purpose of scientific research is to discover something new, and that achieving success in research requires finding the right and appropriate methods. Specifically, through the specific topics covered in my studies and through the various levels of thesis defense, I clearly understood the importance of critical thinking and systems thinking when approaching research problems. I learned how to consult with leading experts in my field of research, extract necessary and valuable information for my research, and improve my skills in accessing and processing information, thereby effectively applying this knowledge to the implementation of my thesis. The aforementioned evaluation of my thesis is a result of this understanding. Later, upon returning to my work, I was able to confidently apply the experience I had gained to another scientific project, which, upon completion, also received high praise from colleagues, and the product of the project, an article on the research field, was immediately published.

A deeply memorable experience during my thesis writing was the debate I had with my supervisor, Associate Professor Dr. Do Thu Ha. While teachers often defend their students, she was quite frank and didn't hesitate to criticize my shortcomings in my thesis work right in front of the committee during my initial defense. The lesson I learned from that debate and criticism was the importance of patient listening and critical thinking in all research matters. She was also incredibly enthusiastic and dedicated to helping me throughout my thesis. Thanks to her connection with Pham Thi Thanh Huyen, a student and lecturer at the Faculty of Oriental Studies (University of Social Sciences and Humanities) who was then a doctoral student at the National University of Singapore (NUS), I was able to easily access the university's library to find materials and conduct field trips to relevant locations in the country where my research was taking place. This was truly meaningful to me because the topic of my dissertation was "The Multicultural Policy of the Republic of Singapore in the Fields of Religion, Language, and Education," and I gained a great deal from that field trip. I also received help from many other professors in the Faculty of Oriental Studies, who were willing to share their experiences, knowledge, and any difficulties I encountered while working on my dissertation. Therefore, after successfully defending my dissertation, the first thing I would like to express my sincere gratitude to is the professors in the Faculty of Oriental Studies in particular, and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi in general, for creating a truly excellent environment for me to study and conduct research.

There were many difficulties, even days of extreme fatigue and discouragement, along the way during the thesis writing process. Looking back, I truly feel fortunate to have chosen the right environment for my studies and research at all levels, especially at the doctoral level. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities is truly an excellent environment in every respect for anyone who chooses to study and conduct research there.