Female student of Humanities is Head of Foreign Affairs Department before graduating from university

The dynamic international studies student

Sharing with the Vietnamese Student section of Tien Phong newspaper, the 22-year-old girl said that since her first year of university, she started working part-time. Her first job was as a receptionist at a chain of high-end gyms. After that, she experienced
various positions at health care service companies.

Phuong Ha has held many different positions at gyms and yoga studios.

Phuong Ha confided: “That was the time when I was lost with jobs outside my field. It was not until my third year of university that I realized what I liked, what I wanted to do and how to orient myself. But that does not mean I regret the part-time jobs outside my field before.
Having experienced many different professions has helped me realize which field I truly love and which one is suitable for me. My old job also taught me how to treat people, solve problems and project management skills. I realized that I am a girl who loves to fly, loves freedom, wants to pursue and develop new ideals with the aspiration to help society develop sustainably.
Studying International Studies, she and her friends had to choose one of four majors: International Relations, European Studies, American Studies, and International Development Studies.
Initially, she really liked the International Relations major. However, as time went on, until her third year, she realized that she liked practical activities, wanted to get involved in projects, wanted to contact and work with beneficiaries of the projects she researched and developed rather than sitting at the negotiating table. So, she decided to major in International Development Studies.
Phuong Ha shared that the course in the International Development Studies major that she will always remember is the International Support course taught by Dr. Vu Thi Anh Thu, currently the Deputy Head of the Faculty of International Studies. When reading the name of the course, she was very excited to listen to the content of the course. Because in the past and present, Vietnam is a country that has received a lot of support from developed countries in many fields.
The most difficult subject is also the subject directly related to Phuong Ha's current job - Development Project Management taught by Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hong Hanh - Head of European Studies Department, Faculty of International Studies.
“This is a subject that I am extremely afraid of because developing ideas and managing a project with goals and missions is very difficult. Because there are many issues related to the topic, activities, budget, location, and implementation form. To create a meaningful project in at least 6 months requires a lot of human and material resources,” she added.

Commenting on her major, Phuong Ha said that International Studies is a new major in Vietnam despite its long history and development abroad. She feels very lucky to have found a suitable job in the right field before graduating. With that job, she can apply all the skills and knowledge she has learned from general subjects as well as subjects of the International Development Studies major.

Likes to pursue innovative projects 
Phuong Ha is currently the Head of External Relations - Partnership Development Relations at the Institute for Innovation and Development (IID). Her job is to research and develop aspects of the product, so that the product can reach as many users as possible.
In addition, she also manages IID projects, meets and exchanges directly with partners in the Startup Ecosystem - Social Enterprises and Social Impact Creation, promoting innovation in Vietnam.
Phuong Ha would like to express her deep gratitude to Associate Professor, Dr. Truong Thi Nam Thang - Head of Research at IID. This is the person who trusted her and gave her the opportunity to try and experience this position when she had not yet graduated from university.

 

Phuong Ha (3rd from right) with Associate Professor, Dr. Truong Thi Nam Thang (far right) at an event of IID Institute, March 2023.

“Ms. Nam Thang is the one who inspires and guides me on my journey to pursue this new field. For me, the luckiest thing about working at IID is the empowerment to be creative within a framework,” she shared.
Before being trusted with this position, Phuong Ha actively contributed to many related projects. She participated in the research and development of three innovative platforms promoting sustainable development in the event “Drive Innovation for Impact” of the Institute for Innovation and Development (IID) under the Asia-Pacific Economic Center. This is an event of special significance to the Vietnamese startup innovation ecosystem.
She has also worked directly with partners in the Ecosystem of social impact business support networks (SIBs) such as UNDP - United Nations Development Programme; The Happiness Foundation (SK Group) or the Center for Supporting Community Service Initiatives (CSIP).
In addition, she is the Secretary General for Catalyst 2030 Chapter Vietnam - the first international Social Innovation Network in Vietnam, aiming to accelerate the process of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Most recently, in June 2023, Phuong Ha volunteered for the Operation Smile program of The Operation Smile organization in Quang Ngai. This program is sponsored by the Korean SK Group - The Happiness Foundation (Sunny Vietnam).

 

Phuong Ha (far right) as a volunteer for The Operation Smile program in Quang Ngai, June 2023.

The 22-year-old girl revealed that, because she started working early, most of her relationships and colleagues are brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts who are at least 3-4 years older than her. Everyone has taught Phuong Ha many useful lessons, from professional knowledge to lessons in human relations in life.
Before graduating from university, Phuong Ha sent a message: “Remembering my college days, I had a very close friend from my first year of university, Anh Thu. She was the first person I talked to at the first student meeting. Until now, although we don’t see each other in person much, Thu and I still support each other and are there for each other when needed.
I would also like to sincerely thank everyone for accompanying me and teaching me lessons that cannot be learned in school or books. That is my beloved family and life partner, my old workplace King Fitness, 26FIT and MVP Fitness and my old colleagues."

According to Vietnam Student Newspaper