Page 98 - 20 Year UET

at the time and welcomed me to VNU-UET warmly, and that
is how I developed a relationship with our university. When
I first came to our university, I was the only Korean working
here where all the professors, staff, and students were
Vietnamese, so it was quite unfamiliar, but I still can’t forget
the warm hearts and times when professors Hien, Dinh, Nam,
and other professors, who were older than me, always invited
me, a young foreigner who didn’t speak the Vietnamese
well, to have coffee after lunch. They were really kind. I
also remember the kindness and friendship of many young
professors who were similar age to me, who had laboratories
on the 3rd floor of the G2 building, such as Professor Thang,
who is now the dean of the Faculty of Engineering Mechanics
and Automation, Professor Ba, who is now the vice dean,
Professor Trinh, who is now the Rector of our university,
Professor Tu, who is the director of the IT Center of VNU and
Ms. Ly, who is a faculty officer and always helped m kindly.
If it weren’t for the hospitality and consideration of many
professors and colleagues during those times, I probably I teach students and conduct research, but as a Korean professor, I think
wouldn’t have worked at our university for so long. another special thing I can do is to act as a bridge that connects our

Before I came to our university, I had learned Vietnamese university with Korean universities and companies to develop cooperation
and could speak it a little, but my advanced Vietnamese was and to act as a facilitator to ensure that cooperation activities proceed
still lacking, so when I was asked to teach my major subjects well in terms of communication, direction, and speed. I hope that such
in Vietnamese, I had a very hard time teaching for the first cooperation activities will help the development of our university, benefit
year or two. Since I was used to English major vocabulary, Korean universities and companies, and benefit students, and I am working
the Vietnamese vocabulary was completely new to me, but hard to fulfill that role.
I would also like to express my gratitude to the students I believe that after our university was established, all members of our
who listened to and tolerated the foreign professor’s poor university worked hard and became a prestigious engineering university
Vietnamese. I love the students at our university. I especially recognized by all in Vietnam in just 20 years. So how will things change
remember the students I taught for 15 years. I believe that in the next 20 years? I entered POSTECH in Korea, where I studied for my
they are all playing their own roles in society now, but I would master’s and doctoral degrees, as a freshman in its 4th year since its
be so happy to see them. establishment, and I saw that 20 years after its establishment, it became

Sometimes, Korean people ask me how I compare Korean and a top-level engineering university in Korea and became famous worldwide.
Vietnamese students. In fact, it’s not easy for me to compare I have heard many stories about how CALTECH in the US, which was the
because I have little taught college students in Korea, but when model for POSTECH, quickly became an excellent university. I believe that
I look back on my school days and listen to Korean professors, our university is also developing in a similar way. I believe it. I hope that
I can say that the students at our university are by no means in another 20 years, our university will become an excellent engineering
inferior to Korean students. I am currently conducting some university recognized not only in Vietnam but also in ASEAN and even in
researches with companies with 4th year students. I think the world. If I am given the opportunity, I would like to spend those exciting
they are doing their research well, just like master’s students. times here with my beloved fellow members, and our smart, kind, and
Many Korean businesspeople also recognize our students’ sincere students. Once again, congratulations on the 20th anniversary of
research abilities. our university. Thank you.

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