Sharing the same Lac Hong bloodline: The silent person supporting Vietnamese students studying abroad

At the laboratory of the University of Texas - Austin, one of the leading universities in the US, Dr. Tran Quoc Thien is diligently researching new generation construction materials, with the goal of reducing emissions from the cement industry. But besides his globally influential academic works, what many people know and remember him for is his silent dedication to the young generation of Vietnam, people he has never met in real life.

Guide for Vietnamese students studying abroad

In the vast United States, outside of his research hours, Dr. Tran Quoc Thien still regularly receives calls and messages from Vietnamese students who are eager to find a way to study abroad. Some are recent graduates, some have been working for many years but still dream of higher education. They come to him not only to ask "how to apply?", but also to seek guidance in academics, career orientation, or sometimes sincere advice from those who have gone before.

Dr. Tran Quoc Thien speaks at the Presidential Palace on his return to Vietnam to participate in the 6th Global Forum of Young Vietnamese Intellectuals. PHOTO: XUAN TUNG

Without being ostentatious or noisy, Dr. Thien chooses to work quietly but deeply. He carefully chooses his companions, and only supports them when he feels their seriousness and sincerity. "I don't put economic factors first, I do it because I have been on that path and I know I can help others go further," he shared.

From his savings, he established the PhD.Hub Foundation scholarship fund of about 300 million VND with the goal of promptly supporting students to cover the costs of preparing documents and applying for a study abroad visa. Talking more about the idea of establishing a scholarship fund, Dr. Thien said that in 2020, he read the story of the difficult circumstances of a student who had just passed the University of Medicine and Pharmacy ( Hue University) but could not pursue his dream because his family was too poor. "I proactively left my contact information, and from that opportunity, I supported a monthly expense for him to pursue his dream of wearing a white coat. After this case, the scholarship fund also helped many other students," Mr. Thien recalled.

Dr. Thien presents books in the program "Thousands of books - Ten thousand dreams". PHOTO: NVCC

What makes Mr. Thien happy is the gratitude from the students he has helped. "Currently, you still regularly update your study results as a notification to reassure me that you are still trying your best. I was very touched when I received your confidences on holidays, New Year, even wishes on November 20 or Vu Lan to show gratitude to parents," Mr. Thien emotionally shared.

"PhD.Hub" community connects hearts

Not stopping at personal connections, Mr. Thien founded the academic community "PhD.Hub" with nearly 100,000 members at home and abroad. The community has been building a centralized platform where members can search and share information on full scholarships at all levels of education, academic experience - scientific research, as well as the spirit of mutual love and support on the journey to bring Vietnamese knowledge to the international level.

According to Dr. Thien, this community not only helps students access scholarship information and study abroad experiences, but also inspires them to become giving people. "If a student successfully studies abroad thanks to the help of the community, then comes back to help others, it will create sustainable value for society. That is also the goal we aim for," he said.

Dr. Thien donated blankets and pillows to a primary boarding school for ethnic minorities in Tra Don (Da Nang). PHOTO: NVCC

Through the community, students receive doctoral scholarships of up to 10 billion VND, and the community supports hundreds of people like that every year. Thanks to that connection, over the past year, the value of the scholarships that community members have received has been very large. He sees this as a practical way to contribute, helping to reduce the burden on the state budget in the process of training talents.

Dr. Thien shared a memorable memory with a senior who was nearly 40 years old, graduated from the University of Technology - Ho Chi Minh City National University and had a stable job. Although his profile was not outstanding, but thanks to his initiative and efforts, along with the support of Dr. Thien, he excellently won a PhD scholarship in construction at a Top 50 school in the US. "You have changed my life", that was what the senior said before boarding the plane to conquer his life's dream.

Love of homeland in every action

Born and raised in Da Nang, living and working in the US for many years, but Dr. Thien's heart always turns to Vietnam. He is nurturing a project to bring the green cement production technology he researched to Vietnam to reduce environmental emissions.

Dr. Tran Quoc Thien. PHOTO: TUAN MINH

In particular, every time he returns to Vietnam, he is always involved in charity projects. He and the PhD.Hub Foundation have collaborated with Thanh Nien Newspaper to implement the program "Thousands of Books - Ten Thousand Dreams" to organize donations and give away 1,000 books every year to spread the reading culture in the community. He also connects resources to the poor areas of Vietnam to help the poor, especially children, and inspire them to have the motivation to rise up.

A difficult childhood laid the foundation for the determination and ideals of Dr. Thien, a 32-year-old man who is quietly creating "good works" in modern America. Having lost his father before he was 2 years old, his childhood was associated with the burden of making a living.

Mother taught Thien and his brothers a simple philosophy: "If you work, you will have food." Thien had to work in many jobs, from selling sticky rice and milk to selling construction wood. The two brothers were also salesmen, porters, and wood transporters. But it was those days that fostered empathy and the desire to rise up. "If I can overcome it, I can also help others overcome it. Helping others improve is also a way to be grateful for life," he confided.

Commenting on Dr. Thien, Professor Nguyen Nhat Nguyen (Rouen Normandy University, France), a participant in PhD.Hub, said that Dr. Thien's activities have special significance for the student community and young intellectuals in Vietnam, especially for students who want to access new learning methods and knowledge in developed countries. The PhD.Hub community, founded by Dr. Thien, is a free information sharing platform about government scholarships and scholarships from universities in developed countries for master's and doctoral degrees.

This is also where students can find serious and impartial advice from experts, associate professors and professors working all over the world to complete their academic records, get guidance on their study abroad path, and receive useful advice during their studies abroad.

The PhD.Hub Foundation is a breakthrough step by Dr. Thien. This scholarship fund helps students who are awarded scholarships to study abroad but have financial difficulties to quickly complete administrative procedures to start their study abroad journey. Financially, this support is not large. But for students with financial difficulties, this is a necessary mental boost so that they can confidently conquer the journey of knowledge ahead. PhD.Hub and PhD.Hub Foundation are a form of spreading kindness, a message that Dr. Thien and the PhD.Hub management board want to send to the academic community and young intellectuals in Vietnam.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chung-dong-mau-lac-hong-nguoi-tham-lang-ho-tro-du-hoc-sinh-vn-185250805205634476.htm