Graduate Nguyen Thanh Tung: “Studying At INRTU Makes You Stronger and Gives Unforgettable Experience”
The press service of INRTU launches a series of publications "Ambassadors of INRTU" dedicated to the success stories of international graduates. The project will show what professional heights they have reached after receiving a Russian education. The first hero is Nguyen Thanh Tung, a civil engineer from Vietnam, whose studies at INRTU helped him to defend his PhD in Japan, prepare for an academic career, and also bring him friends and a lot of journeys.
Nguyen Thanh Tung grew up in Binh Dinh Province. He first thought about studying abroad in 2016 while working in a laboratory at Quynhon University, and eventually decided to travel to Russia and enroll in INRTU to expand his knowledge in engineering. He arrived in Angara Region with zero knowledge of Russian, so he studied the language for the first six months, and then entered the Master's program at INRTU in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
“I doubted whether I should study in Russia and go to one of the coldest regions in the world. After careful consideration, I decided to accept the challenge. I was happy for the chance to get a Master's degree and also to study the country, its culture, language and nature.
INRTU was recommended to me by a friend, as it is one of the best universities in Siberia and ranks high in the rating of universities in the Russian Federation,” admits the graduate.
In 2019, Nguyen Thanh Tung defended his gratuation thesis with “excellent”. The research was devoted to approaches to the use of BIM-technologies. The thesis was supervised by Professor Alexandr Petrov and Associate Professor Vladimir Moskvitin.
After receiving his diploma, Thanh Tung returned to Quynhon University to continue working in his field. In 2021, he won a scholarship from the Japanese government (MEXT) and became a graduate student at Saitama University. Two months ago, Thanh Tung successfully defended his PhD thesis on “Subjective responses to vibration and noise induced in buildings by traffic”.
In the near future, he intends to find a postdoctoral position in Japan or another country, which will allow him to work in academia.
The Vietnamese man warmly recalls his time in Russia, the first country he visited. Apart from his studies, the young man participated in international projects and traveled a lot. Thanh Tung volunteered at the Victory Parade in Irkutsk, participated in the World Festival of Youth and Students in Sochi, and volunteered at the Universiade in Krasnoyarsk.
"In Irkutsk, I often spent weekends with Vietnamese and Russian friends visiting popular places. We walked along the Angara river, the 130th historical quarter, visited churches and museums. I also went to neighboring Buryatia to the Arshan resort.My best memories are the numerous trips to Lake Baikal. I was pleasantly surprised by Russian cuisine, too: my favorites were Russian pancakes, pelmeni, borsch, and local dishes made of omul,” the student recalls.
He keeps in touch with his friends from Irkutsk through social media. According to Thanh Tung, INRTU gave him the opportunity to learn modern engineering knowledge, allowed him to develop as a person and become more communicative.
“Studying at INRTU gave me the confidence to overcome difficulties. The experience I gained helped me in Japanese postgraduate studies. I am proud to have studied in Russia. INRTU is a prestigious university that offers a high-quality educational environment and a unique experience through a variety of activities. It is essential that students from other countries are supported here.There are wonderful teachers at INRTU. I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor Vladimir Moskvitin, who advised me during the preparation of my Master's thesis. I am deeply grateful to Professor Alexandr Petrov for the opportunity to undergo an internship in his company and assistance in publishing a paper in a scientific journal. By the way, Alexandr has a special connection with Vietnam: as a student, he visited Saigon during the Vietnam War. Whenever I came to his office, I noticed photos from his youth in Vietnam. The professor often shared memories of my homeland with me,” the graduate shares.
Nguyen Thanh Tung recommends INRTU and other Russian universities to his compatriots:
"My advice to applicants is to be hardworking, open-minded and actively participate in university and extracurricular activities. This will help to practice the Russian language and understand Russian culture.Moving from the tropics of Vietnam to the extreme Siberian cold may seem difficult for Vietnamese students. However, winter in Irkutsk gives unforgettable impressions and makes a person stronger in life, just like it happened to me!”
