Tran Huu Dai Nhat is the first Vietnamese student to graduate from the University of the People (UoPeople) - the world's first non-profit, American-accredited, and tuition-free online university dedicated to increasing global access to higher education. Nhat finished his studies at the age of 29 and appeared in NasDaily's viral video as a motivation for many people to pursue lifelong learning.
When the wrong station leads to the right place
QUESTION: Could you tell me a little about your background. Did you grow up in Vietnam?
DAI NHAT: I grew up in a warm and welcoming home in Danang, Vietnam. My father was the iron-willed founder of an electrical-construction company and my mother was a gentle accountant. I moved to Ho Chi Minh City in 2009 to study business administration. But, just after finishing my business administration advanced diploma (with a GPA of 3.98/4.0), my life was turned upside down when my father declared bankruptcy in 2011.
I felt a personal duty to secure my family as I stared at the debt bills. So I dropped out of college while working 80 hours per week as a marketer, writer, and project coordinator. This hectic schedule compelled me to acquire the most money and skills possible. By the time my family's situation improved in 2014, I had built up my professional capital and a desire to further my education.
My LinkedIn profile now portrays me as an enterprising young man who has thrived as an IT Scrum Master, social entrepreneur, and self-learning author. My full-time job now is to help an award-winning IT startup build a high-performing team. On the side, I consult with non-profit organizations on digital transformation. On weekends, I blog about my learning experiment and coach students and young professionals on important work skills.
QUESTION: Are you a first-generation college student?
DAI NHAT: I am a first-generation college student, and the first Vietnamese to graduate from UoPeople. The university also mentioned that I was the first non-English native speaker, and the first Asian student to graduate from UoPeople.
QUESTION: What led you to study at the University of the People?
DAI NHAT: My initial goal was to get a bachelor degree, so that I would be eligible for a Master’s degree scholarship. It was frustrating that most universities and scholarship programs rejected my application just because I did not have the right bachelor certification, despite my years of working achievements.
“Some days I felt overwhelmed, and other days I wanted to give up”
I enjoy learning and was a top student in my previous college. Due to family issues, my financial situation was tight in my case, and I was working three jobs at the same time to support myself and my family. Some universities in Vietnam are more expensive than UoPeople, and their night classes, in my opinion, are not of the quality I expected. Incurring any more student debt was a no-no for me.
There were no local universities that accommodated my work schedule in 2016. It was difficult for a mature learner to return to school. UoPeople's online learning was especially beneficial to my schedule. It was difficult to work from 9 a.m to 9 p.m, then squeeze in any free time - early morning, late at night, and on weekends - to complete my assignments. Some days I felt overwhelmed, and other days I wanted to give up.
However, after a year, the erratic schedule had become the new normal. I even hiked to the Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal while finishing my Financial Accounting 201 course, or submitted my Ethics 101 written assignment while spending the night at a Jjimjilbang in Seoul, Korea. The flexibility at UoPeople was a super powerful intangible value; you could learn anywhere, at any time, and I successfully embraced it.
Lifelong learning journey has just begun
QUESTION: How long did it take you to earn your degree?
DAI NHAT: Began in October 2016 and graduated in June 2019. It took a little longer than expected because I got a few months off. However, it was also shorter than anticipated. Halfway through my program, UoPeople began to accept credit transfer; I was also able to transfer my previous credits in order to eliminate a few course modules. A typical student will finish their bachelor's degree in four years, or 3.5 years if they are ambitious enough to take four subjects per course.
QUESTION: Was this your first time learning online? Did you find courses easy or difficult, and do you recommend online learning to others?
DAI NHAT: I was no stranger to online education. I used to look through LinkedIn Learning short courses, CreativeLive online workshops, and Coursera short courses. But for an extensive 4-years commitment to online learning at UoPeople, it was my first time.
UoPeople is uniquely 100% online. Without the flexibility, I could not imagine how I could finish the course. I was working 3 jobs at the same time to make ends meet and save enough money to pursue my dream of higher education. As a computer geek, I enjoy online learning and found it matches my expectation excellently.
However, online education is not for everyone. Some people find it difficult to focus, interact online, or lack the necessary equipment. However, in the new normal of the COVID-19 situation, it is an unavoidable normal to which we must adapt. I've also organized online learning workshops with a high level of interaction, so the online learning environment is definitely improving.
Nowadays, obtaining educational information is simple, convenient, and inexpensive. What we struggle with is our own psychology and self-discipline. But that's a different story.
QUESTION: I once get to know you’re headed to Ireland next. What are your plans for the future?
DAI NHAT: In 2021-2022, I will begin studies at University College Cork for an MSc in Information System in Business Performance. These cutting-edge course modules will not only satisfy my desire to make ICT useful to people, but will also provide me with the necessary skills to build, manage, and leverage information systems to improve business performance.
My professional journey reflects my desire to use ICT to empower more organizations toward long-term development. As a result, my post-graduate plans will center on developing platforms, infrastructure, and services to help organizations transform digitally, particularly in the fields of FinTech and e-education. I am also very excited to consult on digital transformation for my established network of nonprofits in Vietnam as a means of achieving sustainable development, poverty reduction, and citizen participation.
I am not sure how the future will turn out, but I am sure that I will keep learning. My biggest takeaway from years of hardship and UoPeople journey is that everyone has the potential to take their lives to the next level, and learning is the key to living a good life.
Thank you for spending your time with Metropolitan!
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