“It was my first time leaving my motherland, Vietnam, and I came to China in September 2007.” Vo Quang Sang, a PhD student from the School of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, told the reporter. With an excellent college entrance examination result and good performance during the first year study in Le Quy Don Technical University, he got the Vietnam government support to pursue his undergraduate study in China. Vo Quang Sang spent the first half of the year in China studying Chinese and passed HSK band 8 (an international standardized test of Chinese language proficiency). During the interview, Vo indeed showed his great gift in Chinese language and passion for Chinese culture.
Three cities with one dream to do scientific research
From 2008 to 2012, he did his undergraduate studies at Nanjing University of Science and Technology. He majored in optoelectronic information science and engineering. After that, he went to Chongqing University and got his master's degree there. During the three years’ research in Chongqing University, one could graduate with just one SCI publication. However, he delved into scientific research, published one SCIE article , three articles in Chinese Core Journals and one patent within two years and a half, and graduated half a year earlier.
Vo at at Nanjing University of Science and Technology
Vo got his master's degree from Chongqing University
Vo was employed by Le Quy Don Technical University in Vietnam from 2015 to 2016 as a teaching assistant. His working experience made him realize that further study was necessary for him to be more competent in teaching and scientific research.
Vo Quang Sang applied to Tianjin University for doctoral education and joined Professor Fang Fengzhou’s research group which focuses on ultra-precision machining and measurement. During the first year at TJU, he worked as Professor Fang’s teaching assistant, and the strict teaching method and strong academic atmosphere really impressed him. “Studying and doing research in TJU demands much more hard work and earnestness” Vo Quang Sang said. He loves TJU and the wonderful European buildings in Tianjin. He will consider doing post-doctoral research in the future and then go back to Vietnam to fulfill his dream.
Vo led the Vietnamese students to attend the International Cultural Festival of Tianjin University (Vo is the third from the rignt of the front row)
Two countries with one home
“I can change my future through non-stop learning”, in the path of studying he had thought of giving up, but finally went through those hard periods.
Vo got married in 2016. At the end of that year, his son was born while he was studying at TJU. To fulfill his responsibilities as a husband and a father and unite his family, Vo encouraged his wife to come to Tianjin University and learn Chinese. From then on, he and his wife took turns looking after their baby. It was never an easy thing to take good care of the baby, while both of them were busy with study and research. On the one hand, Vo Quang Sang had to bear the great pressure of research projects. On the other hand, he had no choice but to get up when the baby woke up in the middle of the night. It was a tough time when he struggled to seek balance between research and family. After all, his perseverance helped him go through those seemingly unbearable moments in 2017 as he raised his son. He was glad to be so near to his dream and his beloved.
Vo with his wife and son
Although Vo Quang Sang was almost buried with research and family pressure, he never hesitated in helping other international students. As the president of the Vietnam overseas students' union at TJU, he always tried his best to push Vietnamese students to join together and participate in campus activities. “After all, we are representing our country here.” said Vo.
By Xie Huang, Zhang Hao & Liu Xiaomei
Editors: Yin Wei & Doris Harrington
