undergraduate

Only after graduation can one carry titles such as engineer, architect, doctor, or lawyer. At several architectural companies, however, even students working there as interns can be affectionately called “architect” by their clients. This can only be explained as recognition of their high level of knowledge and their professional working style.

 

At DTU, real-life applications and practice all through studying time provide Architecture students with opportunities to start working as official employees at big companies while still studying. Pham Quang Luan is one who did so. With two months left before graduation, Luan has over a year of experience at projects big and small.

 

Pham Quang Luan on a field trip to Quang Nam

 

“Well-Rounded” prize at Architecture Festival paves road for career

 

At the end of May 2018, the DTU Faculty of Architecture was flooded with prizes students had won at the 2018 National Architecture Festival in Ho Chi Minh city, with one “Well-Rounded” prize, three first prizes, two second prizes, one third prize, and two consolation prizes. DTU outperformed many universities specialized in architecture to become the only Central Vietnamese one among the universities with highest achievements. 

 

Pham Quang Luan, at the time a fourth-year student of Architecture, took part with his project “What do you see in Saigon?” It consisted of a plan for two plots behind Ben Thanh market and was highly appreciated for the creativity in the design of an elevated road right among the alleyways, to allow freer traffic flow and to create a space for pedestrians, as well as to inspire visitors to learn about local culture and heritage. The design rapidly convinced the jury and won a first prize in the “Quick Design B” group.

 

For this achievement, the organizers awarded Pham Quang Luan the “Well-Rounded” prize for the most outstanding student at the 2018 National Architecture Festival.

 

Pham Quang Luan (third from the left) with the “Well-Rounded” prize

 

Meeting Pham Quang Luan almost a year later, he is still the alert student he used to be, but the architect in him has started to show through for real now. “Winning a prize at the National Architecture Festival has been a major turning point for me,” Luan explains. “Not much after the contest, I applied for a job at the construction consulting company LTH.Design Ltd. and I was immediately accepted to work as an official employee, even though I was still only a fourth-year student. Perhaps that was the first piece of luck resulting from my prize at the Architecture Festival. I still take that as encouragement to do my utmost best in my work and my studies.”

 

Leaving a mark with many beautiful works

 

With still two months left before graduation, Luan already has over a year of experience as a true architect at LTH.Design Ltd. and Metta Studio SMLLC. At these companies, Luan researched projects, come up with concept ideas, and  implementation.

 

Some of Luan’s designs which he put to use

 

“The knowledge of architecture and construction acquired at DTU is very close to reality,” Pham Quang Luan explains. “So once I was accepted for a job, I could start working right away.

 

“You can also say that applying the CDIO model right from the first year allows students to grasp their work very quickly and to get a good understanding of the reality of it. DTU’s collaborations with California State University Fullerton and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo to develop the first advanced programs in architecture and construction in Central Vietnam have brought great advantages to students studying architecture or construction there.

 

“The work of an architect is furthermore also quite typical. It is not necessary to sit behind your desk during work hours, such that companies can allow students to work while still attending all their classes. As a student, you can perfectly consider the projects you make at the company as homework that challenges your creativity.”

 

Luan is currently implementing quite some design projects while completing a great many homestay design projects in Dalat and townhouse designs in Ho Chi Minh city and in Danang. His designs are highly appreciated for the precision in his modern drawings and for their Vietnamese traditional character, creating a comfortable space and adding value to the lives of the people who will live in them.

 

In 2019 season, DTU continues to award preferential scholarships students of Architecture

 

- 39 Full scholarships: 100% of tuition fee, with total value of 3 billion dong, for applicants to the advanced and international CMU, PSU, CSU, PNU program with a total High School Graduation Exam three-subject score of 23 or above.

- DTU Scholarships: 720 scholarships worth from one to five million dong each for applicants with a total High Graduation Exam three-subject score three to ten points higher than the admissions minimum. 

- 700 Scholarships: from 500,000 to 2 million dong for applicants, including Architecture, with a high school transcript score of 22 or above.

 - A 15% reduction in first-year tuition fees for 50 applicants in Architecture and Interior Design. 

 - Scholarships worth 5 million dong each for first-year Architecture students who obtained a consolation prize in a national skilled student contest or in a national science or technology contest.

- Ten scholarships from California State University (CSU): 10 million dong each.

- Ten scholarships from California State University (CSU) for applicants to the advanced and international CSU programs: 5 million dong each.