Born and raised in Quang Ngai, a small coastal town in central Vietnam, I never imagined my journey would take me to the halls of the United Nations.
From a young age, I felt a strong desire to give back to my community, however small my contribution might be. Whether it was volunteering to teach at an orphanage or helping to clean up after flooding, I wanted to make a difference.
I started looking at universities in Year 12 and I was so excited; both my parents went so I knew what to expect and I also wanted to branch out and leave my hometown. I worked hard and overachieved at GCSE level and put myself through the entry process for dentistry including aptitude tests and interviews.
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The process of applying to universities can be daunting. At 17 years old you are still a child in many ways, but suddenly you’re expected to make decisions that feel as if they determine your entire future.
If you’re anything like I was, you might be feeling overwhelmed by the weight of this responsibility. With the world at your feet, how do you choose the path that is best suited for you?
Sponsored content: created in partnership with Politecnico di Milano.
When attempting to measure the impact of something, it can be pretty tricky to find ways to define “impact”. Most people are aware that universities have an impact on students, staff, industry and the wider community. But how exactly do they do that?
The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The rankings, which started in 2019, have seen growing numbers of universities across the globe participating. Their evaluation criteria explore the research, stewardship, outreach and teaching universities are conducting to support the SDGs.
Returning to full-time student life was the last thing on my mind two years ago. I was in my mid-thirties, I had completed my terminal degree in 2016, and I was (and still am) enjoying my research career as a biologist.
I was a new homeowner and I had just gotten engaged to my partner of 12 years. The last time I had been to Europe was in 2009. I did not look or feel like a good candidate for an international academic adventure.
Last April marked the official end of my master’s studies at the University of Bonn in Germany, after struggling for five years to earn my degree. That’s right, five years!
I began my programme in the summer term of 2019 and finished once I handed in my thesis at the end of the winter term of 2023-24.