DUE’s Women of Distinction: 31 Years at DUE, and Still Striving for More

In 1995, I was fortunate to begin my studies in Business Administration at the University of Economics, The University of Danang, as part of the first cohort of its Vietnamese-French bilingual programme. At the time, I never imagined I would stay here for so long. Yet, time has passed quickly, and this year marks my 31st year living, studying and working at the DUE campus that has become so dear to me.

Over 31 years, I have progressed from a young student to a junior lecturer, then Head of the General Business Administration Division, Vice Dean and, today, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration - the first woman to hold the position. Each stage has left its own mark on me. But if asked what I remember most, it would probably not be the titles or milestones, but the effort it took to keep moving forward.

Teaching at a university with a history spanning more than 50 years has never been easy. To establish myself at the lectern, I had to keep learning. The years spent away from my family and children to pursue postgraduate studies overseas, followed by earning a PhD in Business Administration in France, were marked by hardships that only those who have experienced them can fully understand. Some things had to be sacrificed, and there were moments of exhaustion, but I never believed I could afford to stop.

Even today, I continue to grapple with new theories and applications of artificial intelligence, while seeking ways to improve every lecture. There are still sleepless nights over a rejected journal article or a project that fails to reach its intended outcome. Perhaps that is the nature of this profession: the longer one works in it, the more one realises how much remains to be learned and how many things have yet to be accomplished as hoped.

Management is a different journey altogether. The Faculty of Business Administration brings together former teachers who once taught me, long-standing colleagues and students who have since become colleagues themselves. Every meeting, email and notice requires careful consideration. Behind every decision are not only tasks to be completed, but also people, along with responsibilities to the team and the university. I constantly remind myself to approach every task with dedication, even when the pressure becomes difficult to bear.

Since 2024, I have also taken on the role of Deputy Secretary-General of the Vietnam Association for Logistics Manpower Development (VALOMA) for the 2024–2029 term. A new responsibility also means new things to learn and new contributions to strive towards.

Looking back, I am grateful to have been a student of the teachers here, to have grown alongside dedicated colleagues and to have taught generations of students. Many challenges remain, as do goals yet to be achieved. I would not claim to have accomplished a great deal; I only know that I still want to do better every day.

I continue to believe in a woman's resilience and staying power. And I believe that as long as I remain committed to questioning, learning and striving in my profession, I will always have the strength to move forward.