Perceptions of Students

Philippines

Pham Thi Tuan Linh


University
Chang Gung University
Major
Management and administration


My name is Pham Thi Tuan Linh (Ms.) and I am currently studying in Ph.D. program in Management of Chang Gung University with Taiwan MOE Scholarship. I am a social but persistent person, I do believe that great efforts will lead to great achievement.



1. What made you decide to study in Taiwan?



There will be a question why I choose Taiwan as my destination for a doctor program rather than other countries. To answer, I have three reasons for my choice. Firstly, being a student who experienced education in and from Taiwan and other countries, I clearly see that the quality of higher education in Taiwan is one of the best in Asia with very strong professors in terms of both teaching and research. A huge number of excellent publications in management come from Taiwan universities which have remarkably impressed me during my research time. In fact, I had an extremely valuable opportunity to attend “2013 Taiwan – Vietnam Education Forum” as a representative from Thai Nguyen University in Vietnam, then I understand that Taiwan government pays their special attention to higher education with supportive policies. The university system in Taiwan is all well equipped with high-quality infrastructure and facilities. Especially, Taiwan government and Taiwan universities offer many kinds of scholarship for excellent international students including students from Vietnam, which demonstrates the open policies in higher education of Taiwanese and developing in education cooperation between Taiwan and Vietnam. Being a faculty and managing staff of a university in Vietnam, I can have considerable opportunities to promote the cooperation by connecting and networking if accepted into a Ph.D. program in Taiwan. And last but not least, Taiwan is very peaceful with a friendly environment and hospital people, which is a perfect destination for study and research.



2. Briefly tell us about the program you are studying. What subjects are you studying? What have you enjoyed the most in your studies?



My program is Ph.D. in Management offered by Chang Gung University. In the program, I am instructed by enthusiastic professors with topics including Research Methods, Advanced Statistics, Advanced Management, Information Management, Scientific Writing and Paper Publication, and so on. I have been enjoying studying every course because I find each topic has its own interesting features to attract students to explore, and the instructors are very kind and willing to support all students in studying and research. However, I personally appreciate that I can learn a lot from Research Method topics, which gives me comprehensive understanding about research and provides me rigorous research tools for my current and future research, which is critical for a Ph.D. student like me.



3. How is studying in Taiwan when compared to studying and being a student in your home country? (Teaching Quality、Environment、School Equipment、Laboratory or others)



Studying in Taiwan gives me more opportunities to catch up with high standard education and support me a lot in research. In our university, we have multiple accesses to international standard learning and researching materials, then, I can catch up with current academic issues. Professors, who are very kind and supportive, are excellent in both research and teaching and help me a lot in defining research problems and finding methods to solve the problem rigorously. In Taiwan, students are well-equipped and given support to study and research efficiently. Furthermore, friendly international environment makes me feel like home and be open to making friends with Taiwanese students and students from other countries. When studying in Taiwan, I personally feel more pressure but more efficiency than in Vietnam because I can totally concentrate on study and research.



4. What has been the most difficult part about applying to study in Taiwan? How did you overcome the difficulty?



The most difficult part about applying to study in Taiwan support is that I have to persuade the admission committee about my capability of study and research, as well as other soft skills to study well in Taiwan so that they can offer me an admission and furthermore, a financial support for my study. Therefore, I had prepared for a long time to enrich my profile with a lot of active features about study, research, and social activities. I had tried a lot during my study and research to get knowledge and good performance, shaping my future research interest which is vital for Ph.D. application. Besides, I have been active in accumulating soft skills through social activities in order to enable myself to develop comprehensively. I do believe that, if I can develop myself in that way, sticking with the long-term plan, I can persuade the admission committee that I deserve to be given an opportunity to pursuing a Ph.D. program in Taiwan. And, thanks for my effort and with the support from Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Vietnam, I got the MOE scholarship for my Ph.D. program in Chang Gung University. Now I am here in Taiwan, trying every day with my long-term plan of developing myself, and I still stick with the strong belief that I can enjoy my study and research here, with the achievement to persuade that I deserve the scholarship and expectation I was given.



5. What do you plan to do after you have finish your studies in Taiwan? Would you like to stay in Taiwan?  Why?



I am a faculty in a university in Vietnam, therefore, after completing my study in Taiwan, I will come back to Vietnam and continue my teaching and research at my university. Although I will not plan to stay in Taiwan, I would like to make use of my knowledge and relationships during my study in Taiwan to promote not only Taiwan education but also the friendship between Vietnam and Taiwan, because I believe that Vietnamese students and scholars will want to come to Taiwan as their destination for their study and research, after they are well informed about Taiwan. I do think that Taiwan and Vietnam should promote closer relationship in terms of education, culture, tourism, economic activities, etc., on the basis of mutual benefits because there is still great potential for our cooperation which has not fully exploited yet. The promoting activities will make Vietnamese and Taiwanese closer friends, sharing a lot in common.



6. How do you think studying in Taiwan can benefit you in your future career?



As a faculty in a university in Vietnam, I do believe that studying in Taiwan with the above-mentioned features and opportunities will help me a lot in my future career. I can learn valuable knowledge, keeping updated with international standard, learning how to live and study well in an international environment, making friends and cooperating with people from other countries. This valuable knowledge and experience I gain from study in Taiwan will help me efficiently in my teaching and research in my university, mentoring and guiding my students and maybe contributing to the developing relationship between Vietnam and Taiwan.



7. What do you see as your key achievements when studying in Taiwan?



When studying in Taiwan, I can learn new and updated knowledge through study and research with professors and fellows in school. Moreover, I learn how to survive and manage well in a new environment. Studying in Taiwan also gives me opportunities to make friends and collaborate with international friends, which helps me to fulfill my social and soft skills. I do believe that the achievements are key to anyone, which helps us to develop ourselves and explore the strengths inside us.



8. What advice do you have for other interested overseas students who want to come to Taiwan to study?



I have one advice to other interested overseas students who want to come to Taiwan to study that, try your best to engage actively in every activity including study, researching, making friends and social activities, trying to understand other cultures and share, and you will finally find that everyone is lovely in his own way and you will discover that yourself can overcome any difficulties if you try your best with heart.