Son Thanh Tung
Senior Lecturer, Department of Urban Management, Faculty of Geography-Urban Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanity, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Doctor of Philosophy
It was a chance meeting with an AUT academic that inspired him to come to Auckland to pursue a PhD, says Dr Son Thanh Tung who came to AUT as an international student from Vietnam.
“I wanted to have a PhD degree to support my career as a university lecturer. I chose AUT as I got to know Professor Ian Shirley – who has since sadly passed away – when we went to a conference in Shanghai. I believed in him and asked him to become my first supervisor.
“With his support and that of Chris Hawley, who was director of AUT's International Relations Department at the time, I was awarded a New Zealand Government scholarship to pursue this research. This was a highly prestigious scholarship, and I would like to express my deepest gratitude to New Zealand for granting me this opportunity.”
For his PhD, he focused on localised poverty solutions key for third world countries.
“My research was highly practical, focusing on analysing and evaluating poverty reduction policies in Vietnam. Because of its strong applied nature, AUT facilitated my return to Vietnam, allowing me to fully immerse myself in fieldwork and engage directly with various poverty reduction programmes. These experiences were incredibly valuable to me.”
An enjoyable postgraduate journey
Tung says he appreciated the support available to postgraduate students like himself.
“AUT cares deeply about the wellbeing of its postgraduate students, especially international ones. The university regularly organises academic activities where students can share their research experiences and openly discuss any difficulties they’re facing in their research.”
He thoroughly enjoyed his time living and studying in Auckland.
“I learned a lot about the unique cultural traits of New Zealand, which gave me a deeper understanding of its people and the country itself. Furthermore, I learned how to work effectively with my supervisors, who were incredibly helpful. They cared deeply about me, supporting me not only in my academic research but also in my daily life.”
A rewarding academic career
Tung, who graduated from AUT in 2015, now enjoys sharing his passion for public policy with his own students through his role as a senior lecturer at Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City.
“This job enables me to fulfil my passion and life goals, which are teaching, doing research, writing and serving the community.”
He is proud of what he has already achieved in his academic career so far.
“I’m proud to have achieved my dreams and to have made significant contributions through my publications and community activities.”
