Cong Tran Quoc
Senior Machine Learning Engineer, TecAlliance Vietnam Company Ltd, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Master of Computer and Information Sciences with Honours (First Class)
He chose the Master of Computer and Information Sciences at AUT because of its strong practical focus, says Cong Tran Quoc who came to AUT as an international student from Vietnam, supported by a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship.
“Before coming to AUT, I had around 10 years of experience in software development, working across the automotive, traffic and industrial automation sectors. Through this experience, I became increasingly interested in how artificial intelligence could be used to solve real-world problems, including improving road safety or increasing efficiency in manufacturing. What particularly appealed to me about studying at AUT was the opportunity to learn not only from academic teaching but also from industry experts who shared their experience and real-world projects.
“I valued how closely the courses connected academic knowledge with practical applications. For example, studying deep learning gave me knowledge I could apply to a road safety project in Auckland, where we explored how AI could help identify and prevent potential traffic risks. In neuroinformatics, I learned how machine learning could support research related to the brain, which introduced me to a new and fascinating area. The cloud computing courses were also highly relevant to industry, and I learned how to design cloud solutions and migrate data and systems for small and medium-sized businesses.”
He also appreciated AUT's professional and supportive learning environment.
“One of the biggest highlights of my time at AUT was studying in a diverse and multicultural environment. I studied alongside students and lecturers from many different countries, which gave me the opportunity to learn about different cultures, perspectives and ways of thinking. I also really enjoyed the activities outside the classroom. I had opportunities to learn more about Māori culture, take part in cultural events with international students, and travel around both the North and South Islands. The assessment processes were clear and transparent, and the lecturers were approachable and willing to support students throughout their studies. For me, AUT offered the right combination of academic knowledge, practical experience and student support to help me take the next step in my career.”
Supported to thrive
Cong says he received a great deal of support from both individuals and teams at AUT, and is grateful for the role they played throughout his AUT journey.
“The AUT Scholarship Office supported me throughout my time in New Zealand, not only with my studies but also by creating opportunities to connect with other scholars, experience Māori culture and explore New Zealand with students from different countries. These experiences gave me many valuable memories and made my time in New Zealand particularly meaningful.
"I’m also grateful to Professor Minh Nguyen, who supervised and supported me throughout my master's degree. He also gave me opportunities to work as a research assistant and become involved in research activities within the AUT Innovation of Robotics & Vision research lab. I’m also thankful to Dr Parma Nand for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant. These opportunities gave me valuable experience beyond the classroom, and further developed my interest in research and artificial intelligence."
He has some great advice for other students who are thinking about studying at AUT.
“My advice is to make the most of the opportunities available both inside and outside the classroom. When working on group assignments, try to collaborate with students from different countries and backgrounds. You’ll develop not only academic knowledge but also communication, teamwork and intercultural skills that can become extremely valuable later in your career.
“If you’re interested in research, look beyond simply completing an assignment. An interesting project could potentially be developed further into a research project, or a conference or journal paper. I’d also encourage students to look for internships during semester breaks to gain practical experience and build professional connections. Finally, I highly recommend taking part in the AUT Beyond Award. It helped me understand what employers look for, how to approach job searching and networking through platforms like LinkedIn, and how to prepare for job interviews.”
Using tech to make driving safer
After graduating from AUT in 2024, Cong is now back in Vietnam where he works as a senior machine learning engineer for TecAlliance Vietnam Company Ltd.
“What I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to use technology to create meaningful impact. I work on projects related to traffic and the automotive industry, exploring how technology can help reduce the risk of accidents and make driving safer, particularly in Vietnam. This is especially meaningful to me because improving road safety was one of the reasons I became interested in AI. I also enjoy exploring advanced AI technologies, including large language models (LLMs) and AI agents, to automate and optimise workflows and improve productivity and efficiency within the business. Another aspect I really value is working with friendly and experienced colleagues.”
He says the research skills he developed at AUT prepared him for a role in a way he hadn't anticipated.
“Before studying at AUT, I didn't expect research skills to play such an important role in my professional career. Having worked in the software industry for many years, I initially thought that academic research and reading research papers would mainly be useful for an academic career. However, when I started applying AI to challenging industry problems, I realised how valuable these skills could be. When existing AI solutions didn’t achieve the performance we needed, I had to explore recent research, understand more advanced models and evaluate different approaches to improve our solutions.
“The research skills from my time at AUT taught me how to approach an unfamiliar problem systematically, understand relevant research, evaluate different solutions and apply that knowledge in practice. AUT also prepared me for working in an international environment. Today, I collaborate with colleagues from countries like Vietnam, Germany, Spain and India. My experience at AUT helped me become more confident communicating, collaborating and sharing ideas with people from different backgrounds.”
