Those first unfamiliar steps
At the graduation ceremony organized by Hanoi University of Science and Technology, the name Duong Ngoc Thang – a student of Educational Technology, valedictorian of Science and Technology Education – made an impression with his excellent cumulative GPA of 3.61.
Looking at the radiant smile and confident demeanor of the young man as he stepped onto the stage to receive his diploma, few would have guessed that when he first entered the school, Duong Ngoc Thang was once very shy and insecure about himself.
Four years ago, Thang entered his new school with a proud title, but also with a lot of pressure and expectations: the top-scoring student in the entrance exam for the Faculty of Science and Technology in Education .
Despite the enthusiastic reception from his teachers and friends, the young man never became complacent. On the contrary, he always reminded himself that everyone has unique strengths that cannot be measured by grades.
"Becoming the top student doesn't mean I'm the best, nor does it show any difference or superiority over anyone else. It's actually a reminder to try even harder. What I want is to stumble and grow like all my peers," Ngoc Thang honestly shared.
At the tender age of 18, just beginning to adapt to independent life, Duong Ngoc Thang had a clear understanding of himself. Despite having a good academic foundation, he realized that a lack of soft skills was the reason for his shyness and slow adaptation to new environments.
"I used to think and hesitate for a long time before doing simple things like walking into a store alone or not daring to ask for directions for fear of bothering strangers," Thang laughed, recalling the time when he was withdrawn.
To mold himself, Thang encouraged his courage by joining clubs and volunteer teams. From an inexperienced young man, he gradually opened up, gained self-confidence, and even became a source of inspiration for many new generations of students when he took on the roles of Head of the EdTech Club at the Polytechnic University (2024-2025), Deputy Head of the Student Volunteer Team of the Faculty of Science and Technology Education (2023-2024), 5-Excellent Student at the University level (2024-2025), top 9 outstanding students of the Polytechnic University (2025-2026),...
In addition, Thang said that during his studies he often faced challenging general knowledge, especially in advanced mathematics and physics, which made him scratch his head in frustration many times.
However, the important thing is that he persevered in his training with the highest level of focus, dedicating a lot of time to practice alongside studying theory; and at the same time, he boldly exchanged and discussed with friends and lecturers instead of "hiding his ignorance". Especially in the face of the development of artificial intelligence, the male student tried to appropriately utilize AI as a learning partner.
“AI not only has the ability to support simple tasks like searching for documents, but also helps enhance discussions and improve critical thinking by suggesting multiple aspects of a problem. That's a technology skill I've acquired in my field of Educational Technology,” said Duong Ngoc Thang.
Duong Ngoc Thang
A new and inspiring journey.
Recalling his motivation for pursuing a career in Educational Technology, Duong Ngoc Thang said he has always loved the field of education because it contributes to the development of people and society. Furthermore, it's a vast creative space that a young person passionate about technology like him wants to be involved in.
At Hanoi University of Science and Technology, in addition to classroom hours, Thang had the opportunity to accumulate knowledge through practical projects organized by the Faculty of Science and Technology Education. One of his unforgettable experiences was accompanying the "Wings of Hope" Fund in supporting many schools across the country.
Through this, I directly encountered many real-world problems in my field of study, specifically the obstacles surrounding educational reform, the concrete difficulties teachers face due to a lack of digital skills, and the challenges teachers face in applying technology and needing solutions. Most recently, in the "Giving Wings to Bich Hao - Nghe An" project, after gaining experience from previous projects, student Duong Ngoc Thang was entrusted by the faculty with the task of teaching a class.
My first experience personally guiding local teachers in using artificial intelligence tools and accessing digital learning resources left me with indescribable emotions. It was the feeling of excitement and awe of a young person witnessing how their own experience has helped change and improve the understanding of a community.
“From Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, down to central Nghe An, Quang Binh, or even further afield like Vinh Long, I realized that many schools still lack adequate facilities, and many teachers and students face difficulties in teaching and learning. But what I admire most is the smiles, the progressive attitude, the openness, the appreciation for the value of modern technology, and the desire to explore new tools to overcome these challenges,” Duong Ngoc Thang shared.
This is the greatest motivation for me to confidently and resolutely pursue the path I have chosen. For this young man, technology has become a bridge connecting love and shared responsibility, spreading knowledge and bridging the educational gap.
Looking ahead, Duong Ngoc Thang says he wants to gain more practical experience to accumulate knowledge, creative inspiration, and nurture his dream of researching modern learning tools, contributing to improving the learning experience for both students and teachers.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Le Hieu Hoc, Head of the Faculty of Educational Science and Technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology: “Thang was admitted to the Faculty with the highest entrance exam score in his cohort and graduated as valedictorian with an excellent degree. However, what I appreciate about Thang is not only his academic results, but also his remarkable personal growth throughout his years at the Faculty.”
When Thang first joined the "Wings of Hope" programs, he started as a teaching assistant, supporting with relatively small tasks. Through each project, he proactively learned to participate more deeply in producing learning materials, organizing and coordinating training activities, supporting other students, and gradually becoming one of the members who could directly teach and guide teachers. I think this is a very clear demonstration of the value of learning through practical experience: from a learner, the student gradually becomes someone capable of creating value for others.”
Associate Professor Dr. Le Hieu Hoc further shared that Thang possesses a rather interesting combination of a gentle, scholarly appearance with a high sense of responsibility and proactiveness in his work. He has the ability to learn and research independently and is especially always striving for improvement. As the Head of the EdTech Club, Thang has also worked with his peers to create a vibrant environment for professional exchange and scientific research among students of the Faculty.
Achieving top honors is a commendable result, but what is even more valuable is that after his university years, Thang has developed self-learning abilities, a sense of responsibility, the capacity to work with the community, and a desire to continue developing himself—qualities that we hope to cultivate in our Educational Technology students.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/hanh-trinh-tu-thu-khoa-dau-vao-den-thu-khoa-dau-ra-dai-hoc-bach-khoa-ha-noi-post794840.html
