A STEPPING-STONE TO STUDYING ABROAD IN HAWAII

At the end of last September in Ho Chi Minh City, Prof. Bui Tung from the University of Hawaii (USA) had an introduction to studying overseas in Hawaii. Prof. Bui Tung, with a doctoral degree in Managerial Economics, is the Director of the Pacific Research Center for Information System Management and also the Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Study Center (APEC-Study Center) of the University of Hawaii. Realizing that the opportunities for Vietnamese students to study abroad in Hawaii are opening, Prof. Bui Tung collaborated with the Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies, Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, to provide them with one step closer to their dream of studying in a foreign country.

Dear professor, could you please tell us why students will enjoy many benefits when studying at the University of Hawaii?

The University of Hawaii is the only university in the US with a mission attached to the development of Southeast Asian countries. As a result, students from Vietnam and other countries in the region will have many advantages when studying there, and admissions are quite easy too.

Let me introduce briefly the living environment in Hawaii. It is a state located in the middle of the Pacific, completely separated with the mainland US and other countries. Most of us have known Hawaii as a paradise on land thanks to not only the pure beauty of its nature, but also its temperate climate all year round. The Hawaii Island has tropical climate near the equator, so it does not have winter, just like the kind of weather in Ho Chi Minh City. It is ideal for travelling with sunlight, wind, crowded beaches, romantic landscape and a comfortable life, which makes Hawaiian people kind and friendly. I myself really like customs officers there for they are very nice. So I think it will be easier for students to get a visa for Hawaii than for other states in the US.

What are the leading majors of this University, professor?

The University now offers more than 200 majors. Several in-depth courses in oceanography, astronomy, international business, Pacific & Asian studies, Earth science, and biology are among the top nationwide.

However, I think it’ll be better if students choose a major in which “study goes as a pair with practice”. For example, for those studying tourism, that is a great place for them to learn and accumulate experience. Vietnam is also a tourist destination, but tourists usually come once and do not want to return. But Hawaii has been successful in attracting tourists to come back at the minimum rate of 45%. I have a friend who lives in Japan and has gone travelling to Hawaii for 48 times. Hawaii maintains small things but they have valuable roles in tourism such as a friendly smile or enthusiastic welcome attitude. It also has a group of special vehicles in charge of flattening sand on beaches at 11pm so tourists will enjoy the feeling of the first person to step on the beach the following morning.

Students choosing to take agriculture as their major also enjoy advantages. The University of Hawaii focuses on tropical agriculture, which is really close to Vietnam’s. Students will learn how to deal with their local tropical climate and doing more in-depth research on different kinds of tropical fruit such as papayas, coconuts, pineapples, etc. In addition, the university offers various graduate programs of high quality and international prestige.

Tuition fees for studying abroad on a beautiful tourist island must be pretty high. Is that correct, professor?

The total tuition at the University is around US$20,000 – 30,000 each year. The Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies, Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, is now an authorized partner of the University of Hawaii. So students can contact them if they have any inquiries about the requirements and procedure for their study overseas. They play a role as a bridge to ensure that students can gain the school admission without paying any extra fee (http://studyusa.edu.vn/).

The University of Hawaii System consists of three universities, seven community colleges, four education centers and many research institutes located on six islands of Hawaii, USA.

The Kapi'olani Community College (KCC), one of the members in the University of Hawaii System, also attracts students’ attention. Could you please tell us some information about applying to study there?

The Kapi'olani Community College is located on the slopes of Diamond Head Crater in Honolulu, where over 9,000 students from 50 countries are studying. The College offers 54 occupational and professional programs without requiring students to have the SAT score to be admitted.

Annually KCC transfers a large number of students to the universities (4-year program) in the University of Hawaii System. Graduates in tourism, hospitality, culinary arts and business can choose to take the Optional Practical Training (full-time) in 12 months after getting their degree. What’s more, students are granted a one-year visa for their study and one-year for their work, which aims to create a chance for students to do part-time jobs while studying. Tuitions at community colleges range from US$5,000 to 8,000 per year. That equals to a large decrease in expenses, which brings a lot of benefits to students and their parents. It’s like receiving scholarships, and it helps everyone to be able to afford their study.

Why do community colleges attract a large number of students?

It’s because community colleges may open another door for students and workers when they want to change their future career. Students who are 18 years old and do not necessarily have to finish high school are still eligible to apply for the college. Transfer to university from this college is relatively easy. Thanks to studying at a US community college, my wife was able to continue to study medicine, and now she’s a doctor.

We can see that getting a wrong job or doing unsuitable work is common among many people today. Community colleges will open another path to a better job. For that reason, the age range of students in classes at a community college is wide, many of whom are middle-aged.

What do think about the study environment in the US, professor?

I think it provides an equal environment without cultural discrimination. Exposure to various languages and multiple cultures will help students become more active and flexible. International students should not worry about cultural gap or prejudice when studying in the US. I am one of the staff members who earn the biggest salaries in the school, yet they don’t ask me where I come from, but only need to know what I am capable of. Students should learn from that experience. They need to try their best to do well at school and avoid feeling inferior to others when studying in a foreign country.

Thank you for your information.

Duc Ha

Source: http://www.doanhnhancuoituan.com.vn/giao-duc/tiep-buoc-cho-sinh-vien-du-hoc-hawaii.html

Counseling website for studying abroad : http://studyusa.edu.vn/

Recent news

Same category