Despite the pandemic, over the past two years DTU made great progress in teaching, holding exams and meeting graduation deadlines, by quickly adapting to teach twenty thousand students online simultaneously.
Applications, such as MyDTU, SAKAI and Zoom, have been used to hold online classes and implement other related administrative procedures, including course registration, tuition payments, scheduling and holding exams without problem. All course, lecture and support materials have been uploaded in both English and Vietnamese to the e-learning platform and students only need to use just one myDTU account to access everything with ease.
DTU has invested billions of VND to subscribe to Zoom and SAKAI is used in conjunction to assess student performance. Lecturers can create online exams, which are then automatically shut down on schedule and can devise essay projects for students, who then submit their assignments on time using Dropbox. In addition, the specially developed DTU Testing Service can manage thousands of users at the same time and measures the performance of each student in all subjects over the years, through its questions-bank system.
Online students must always have their cameras turned on so that lecturers can observe them closely during lessons or exams, and situation questions with bonus points are posed to increase the interaction. Short tests, “role-play” exercises and problem-solving activities are used to keep students alert and improve their teamworking and discussion skills. Vietnamese and foreign lecturers divide ZOOM classes into groups of about 5 to 10, to discuss and present their ideas in both English and Vietnamese.
Over the past ten years, DTU programs have been selected by some of the best honors high school graduates and the university shares curricula with well-known American universities, to improve the quality of education and exchange lecturers internationally.
Shared programs with American universities
DTU currently offers advanced international courses in Information Technology and Computer Science in partnership with the Institute for Software Research and the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), one of the four leading US universities in IT:
- Information Security, accredited by ABET in 2019
- Software Engineering, undergoing ABET accreditation
- Management Information Systems, accredited in 2019.
In Economics, Management and Services, DTU collaborates with Pennsylvania State University (PSU), one of the top fifty US universities in economics and business administration and in the top five in Hospitality & Hotel Management worldwide:
- Business Administration
- Accounting & Auditing
- Finance & Banking
- Tourism & Hotel Management
- Tourism & Travel Management
- Tourism & Restaurant Management
In Construction & Architecture, two programs were developed with California State University (CSU) Fullerton, one of the leading public universities in construction on the West Coast, and with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, ranked fifth in Architecture in the US:
- Architecture
- Civil & Industrial Engineering
In Electrical Engineering, two programs were created with Purdue University (PNU), one of the ten leading universities in technology & engineering in the US:
- Electrical Engineering, ABET accredited in 2020
- Mechatronics
Shared Advanced International programs are regularly updated by the partner universities, who also train the DTU lecturers. Many of the courses are taught entirely in English by visiting American lecturers or by foreign lecturers working at DTU.
Using CDIO and PBL methods
DTU has also independently implemented international teaching methods:
- PBL (Problem-Based Learning/Project-Based Learning), for economics, hospitality and management
- CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) for technology & engineering majors
These methods have been highly successful in developed countries worldwide and help students to become more focused and proactive in gaining both a basic and in-depth knowledge of their majors. In addition, they are able to refine their English and related soft skills, such as communication, teamworking, problem-solving, time management and presentation abilities.
Benefitting from the advanced courses, students have won several significant awards:
- Le Dinh Nhat Khanh, from CMU Software Engineering, won the Canadian CDIO Academy award in 2017
- Ton Than Binh, from CMU Software Engineering, won a Finnish 2016 CDIO Academy award in 2016
- Dang Quoc Dao, from CSU Engineering, and his IDEERS DTU teammates won first prize and the championship at the 2014 Asia–Pacific IDEERS contest in Taiwan, designing earthquake-resistant building models
- Tran Minh Da Thao, won a city-level Student of Five Merits award in 2013-2014 and second prize in the “Code for Vietnam, Crowd Funding Network in Vietnam”
- Pham Quang Trung and Nguyen Chau Thanh won second prizes at the 16th national student Physics Olympiad
- Nguyen Thu Quynh, from CMU Management Information Systems, was selected for one of 20 Distinguished Awards for Vietnamese female IT students in 2012
Higher-quality applicants and more immediate employment for graduates
High-scoring high school enrollees with good English skills have elevated the quality of a DTU education to new heights and helped in the branding of the advanced international programs:
- Nguyen Van Tuan, with 27.25, studying PSU Tourism & Travel Management
- Bui Thi Xuan Nuong, with 26.2, studying PSU Business Administration
- Pham Thi Ha, with 26.3, studying PSU Business Administration
- Pham Thuy Nhi, with 26.05, studying PSU Accounting
Advanced International students practice on the latest equipment in DTU’s special laboratories and intern or later work full-time at well-known local companies, such as FPT, Enclave, LogiGear, Axon Active, MGM, the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula, the Four Seasons Resort, the Nam Hai, and the Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa.
Almost 100% of the Advanced & International DTU program graduates find work immediately, which is a testament to the high quality of education at the university. Many of the Duy Tan International alumni now hold key positions in major businesses:
- Tra Anh Dong, from Network Security, is working for HP in Malaysia as a technical support specialist
- Ngo Viet Hoang, from Software Engineering, is a software engineer for Google in the US
- Nguyen Thi Duong Truc, from Management Information Systems, is a software tester at FPT
- Do Bao Linh, from Software Engineering, is working for NTT-Data as a software engineer
- Nguyen Chi Bao, still studying Tourism & Hotel Management, is paid to intern at the Le Meridien Phuket Resort in Thailand, part of Marriott International, working as a manager at the Nomad Café
- Nguyen The Bao, from Tourism & Hotel Management, is working at the Hoiana Casino as an entertainment and events team leader.
These accomplishments encourage the dedicated DTU lecturers in their ongoing work and ensure that 2021 applicants will feel comfortable with their choice of university and eventually realize their career aspirations.
(Media Center)