Presentation on postgraduate training programs at UCC

University College Cork (Ireland), founded in 1845, is the only university to have been voted University of the Year by the Sunday Times four times in the past decade. UCC is Ireland's first 5-star university according to QS Stars; ranked by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016 as the world's leading university with 14 subject areas in the global top 300. In addition, it is also the first university to be awarded the International Green Flag award for its environmental friendliness. UCC attracts a large number of international students with more than 3,000 students from more than 100 countries around the world. UCC degrees are recognized worldwide; about 20,000 students have studied undergraduate and postgraduate programs here.

UCC is divided into four faculties: Faculty of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences; Faculty of Business and Law; Faculty of Science, Engineering and Food Science; Faculty of Pharmacy and Health. Each faculty has its own training programs. In particular, the Faculty of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences has majors close to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities such as Philosophy, Social Work, Politics, Language and Culture, Applied Psychology.

At the presentation, Dr. Pham Thanh Long also shared her experience of studying and working at University College Cork. According to her, to successfully apply for a scholarship at UCC as well as any foreign university, it is important to clearly define your goals and then persevere and strive to pursue them. She advised Vietnamese students not to study for a degree alone, but to establish and realize more beautiful dreams. According to her, a study abroad ticket is only a necessary condition for each student to acquire more knowledge and skills necessary for their journey to contribute to the community and society in the future. She also mentioned the need to accumulate work experience before pursuing higher degrees such as master's and doctoral degrees. Because only through the work process, each graduate will know their strengths and weaknesses to choose the right major. Dr. Pham Thanh Long hopes that students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will make the right decision for themselves. UCC always opens its doors to welcome students with full capacity, qualities and ambitions.

Dr. Pham Thanh Long has been a researcher at the International Energy Research Centre, University College Cork, UCC since 2014, after 5 years working at IBM in Vietnam. Her main research interests are citizen engagement in smart city programmes, local policy development and technology adoption process management. She is running a joint programme with Cork Smart Gateway, which aims to build a database for smart city projects in Cork city with citizens, businesses, academics and local authorities. Dr. Pham Thanh Long has supported the USSH to establish the “International Development” major at the Faculty of International Studies under the framework of cooperation between the University and University College Cork.