5 students have the opportunity to receive their degrees early.

These students have the opportunity to receive their university degrees this year and become the first students of the university to earn their degrees in just 3 years instead of the usual 4 years. They are Duong Thi Oanh Thanh, Ninh Thi Anh Hong, Nguyen Thi Phuong, Vu Thi Kim Loan, and Dong Thi Chinh from class K52A, Faculty of Philosophy.

These five students have completed between 115 and 119 out of a total of 136 credits with good academic results. While working on their graduation theses for defense in June 2010, these five students are still striving to complete their remaining credits.

A reporter from ussh.edu.vn conducted a quick interview with these five students to learn about their efforts in "racing against time" to shorten their studies and secure employment opportunities sooner than their classmates.

Reporter: Was being able to shorten your study time a plan you had from the beginning when you entered university, or was it entirely a coincidence?

ButDuong Thi Oanh Thanh"Ma'am, this is an idea that we've been contemplating and planning since our first year studying at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. When researching the credit-based training system, we realized that with careful planning and without wasting any time, it's entirely possible to take extra courses and complete the required credits ahead of schedule. We've made a plan and sought advice from our professors to achieve our goal."

PV: So, what specifically did you do to achieve that goal?

- Duong Thi Oanh Thanh: First, I need to understand and grasp the university's training process for Philosophy students, identify which courses are prerequisites that need to be taken first, then, based on the course schedules provided by the Training Department for my cohort, and the schedules of the courses for the cohort above (i.e., cohort QH-2006-X - PV), I need to see what free time I have to arrange to take the advanced courses simultaneously with my current courses.

ButNguyen Thi PhuongIn general, you have to be proactive in registering for courses, keeping track of the timetable for your course and the previous courses. Of course, you should prioritize completing all the courses in your course first, then consider taking extra courses, provided they don't conflict with any other courses.

PV: What are your thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages that the credit-based training method brings to students' learning?

ButDuong Thi Oanh ThanhI think that although credit-based training is a new method, it helps increase the effectiveness and proactiveness of students' learning. Students must proactively understand the learning process over the four years, learn about the subjects, and proactively ask questions and communicate with teachers to receive information related to the learning process, and even useful advice on organizing their studies. If they are proactive, persistent, and hardworking, students can shorten their study time and have job opportunities sooner.

ButNinh Thi Anh HongCredit-based training can help students save time and shorten their study period, but it also comes with very high academic pressure. This makes it difficult for us, who are used to the old passive learning methods, to change our mindset and actions in actively seeking materials, managing our time, and learning methods. In particular, outside of class hours, we have to find ways to acquire more knowledge on our own.

PV: So, in your opinion, what are the limitations of the current credit-based training system at our school?

ButDong Thi ChinhMy cohort is the first to adopt the new teaching method across all subjects; it's the school's first pilot program using this method. Therefore, while we benefit from the positive aspects of this method, we also face some disadvantages because the credit-based training management system won't be perfect immediately and still has many limitations. Both teachers and students haven't fully adapted to the new teaching method yet.

ButDuong Thi Oanh ThanhIn my opinion, the facilities are one of the limitations. Students have to study both in the morning and afternoon, only getting a short break at lunchtime. This is different from the traditional semester-based system where students only study for one session a day. If they go home at lunchtime, they won't have enough time to attend afternoon classes, so students have to stay at school during lunchtime. However, currently, the school doesn't have a place for students to sit and rest during lunchtime, so my classmates and I have to sit somewhere in the schoolyard, which is very tiring and affects our studies. I think the school should open some lecture halls during lunchtime for students to use.

ButVu Thi Kim LoanThe limited library resources also create difficulties for students studying under the credit system. We have to wait our turn to borrow materials because the number of titles and the number of books per title are small. The library resources in each department are also limited. Credit-based classes are overcrowded, with some classes having more than 100 students, making discussion and exchange in class difficult.

PV: What advice would you give to other students on how to study effectively and shorten their study time using the credit-based training method?

ButDuong Thi Oanh Thanh:If you've decided to accelerate your studies, you need a plan from the start and must be steadfast in your goal. Accelerating your studies will put you under immense pressure, requiring you to learn a larger volume of knowledge in a shorter time than your peers. This pressure is constant over several years, making it difficult to overcome. Once you've made up your mind, you need to proactively research and closely follow the school's information regarding class schedules, training programs, course content, and contact your professors for guidance and advice to ensure your study plan is logical, fits your time effectively, avoids overlaps, and doesn't waste any valuable time.

ButDong Thi ChinhMy advice to you all is to prepare yourselves mentally to cope with the academic pressure of studying many subjects with a large amount of knowledge in a short period of time. It's common for the whole class to plan a trip tomorrow, but you can't join because of exam schedules. In general, those who want to study ahead will face a more intense and stressful exam schedule than other students. If you do well on the exams, it will boost your morale and encourage you to continue scheduling extra classes next semester. If you don't do well, it's easy to get discouraged and give up halfway through.

ButNguyen Thi Phuong:You should feel free to approach and talk to your teachers to get more information and helpful advice.

PV: Is it a coincidence that you are a group of five people from the same class?

ButDuong Thi Oanh Thanh:When we decided to accelerate our studies to save time, we formed a study group to stay motivated. Essentially, we took the same classes, with the same schedule, going to and from school together, studying together, discussing, and exchanging ideas. Initially, our group had seven members, but two later left.

PV: So, in your opinion, is it difficult to skip grades?

- It's not too difficult if you know how to study, study proactively and actively, and most importantly, persevere with your initial goals.

PV: Thank you all, and we wish you success in achieving your goals and receiving your university degrees this summer!

During a side conversation with the interview, we discovered some very interesting information: all five students, for one reason or another, started their university studies a year later than usual. Perhaps this motivated them to work harder and be more proactive in planning their studies? Sharing with us, they also expressed their desire to continue making plans for their future studies.Run ahead of time if conditions permit."This will be beneficial for them throughout their studies and future careers. Because they will have more time to pursue their dreams and seize more opportunities in life – opportunities that sometimes only come once and at a specific point in a person's life."