Photo provided by Nguyen Bao NGOC
The John Allwright Fellowships (JAF), established in 1986 by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), is a scholarship for young scientists with outstanding achievements in the field of agriculture and economics from countries involved in ACIAR-supported collaborative research projects.
The dream of studying in Australia came true when I was honoured to be awarded this scholarship to undertake a PhD course (2014 - 2018) at the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Australia, from my first impression, is a peaceful, warm and beautiful country. People living here are very friendly; they have a peaceful life, which is desired by many from other countries. Their hospitality makes me feel like I am in my own country, Vietnam. Especially, Melbourne, where I am studying and living, is a dynamic and beautiful city with a great diversity in culture, cuisine and entertainment. That is why Melbourne has been named the world's most liveable city for the fifth year in a row (EIU, 2015).
The JAF scheme gave me a wonderful and invaluable opportunity to experience innovation in scientific research. What particularly impressed me is that we, students, are considered as the core and the heart of this university. We are encouraged to take the initiative and apply them into our studies. Apart from study, we also have great life experience with mates from all walks of life. Australia is a multicultural country and we have the opportunity to explore and learn new things from different cultures.
However, studying in an unfamiliar environment always poses several challenges for international students who live in a foreign country for the first time. One of the challenges that I want to mention first is the language barrier. The very first days I arrived in Australia, my English was limited for daily communication and especially for academic purposes. There were many times when I did not understand or misunderstood information when I read papers or discussed with professors and colleagues in our field. It took me a lot of effort and time to overcome this difficulty. The second challenge is the difference in study approach. Australian’s study approach requires students to develop independent and creative thinking, which many Vietnamese students lack due to the difference of the education system in Vietnam.
Continuing on my study path in Australia, I understand that I have to make the effort to broaden my personal experience, knowledge and abilities. I am confident that the knowledge I have learnt here will help me contribute more effectively to the development of scientific research in Vietnam as well as to the cooperation between Vietnam and Australia. Sincere thanks to ACIAR, and the Australian Government for giving us exciting opportunities to study and experience the lifestyle in this beautiful country.