My Story

From the Vietnamese metropolis to the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts: Minh Trinh has completed his BSc in International IT Management. In this interview, he talks about the difficulties and highlights of studying in an intercultural setting and why being here feels like being on holiday.

For graduate Minh Trinh, “home, metropolis, festivities” are the three words that capture Ho Chi Minh City, though he prefers to use its former name, Saigon. With some nine million inhabitants, it is Vietnam’s most populous city.

The 20-year-old started his journey to Switzerland and to earning his BSc in International IT Management at the Lucerne School of Computer Science and Information Technology three years ago. He belongs to the first cohort of graduates in the Business IT program, which is taught in English. Two semesters abroad are part of the program, one of which concludes it. And that is why Minh Trinh has returned from Vienna only recently. He now lives in Zurich with his sister, where he will soon start a master’s program at the University.

Minh Trinh, what made you decide to study at the Lucerne School of Computer Science and Information Technology?

“I’m interested in new cultures. That’s why I wanted to study abroad after finishing high school. Switzerland was an obvious choice for me because my sister already lived and worked in Zurich. What set the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts apart was its English-taught Business IT program.”

The BSc in International IT Management is a program with an international orientation. Did your class reflect this?

“Yes, my fellow students came from all over the world, from places like South Africa, Kazakhstan, Australia, India and Pakistan. But some were from Switzerland, too.”

This means different cultures came together…

“Exactly. At the beginning, this caused problems sometimes. Particularly during the many group assignments, when different working cultures collided. Our class stayed together throughout the program, and so we got to know each other really well and developed a mutual understanding.”

What did you like most about studying?

“The fact that we could study abroad and that we were very free in what kind of courses we chose, that was great. In the third and in the sixth semester we could choose a specialization and major in Engineering or Business. I was more interested in engineering and so I was able to take many courses that I think will advance my skills in the right direction.”

Where did you benefit the most?

“There was not one place or moment where I did not benefit in some way. The whole experience was like a journey on which I managed to grow both academically and personally. But most of my time as a student I spent in Switzerland, at the HSLU, and that’s where i learned the most.

Basically, I now have a Bachelor’s diploma and all the associated knowledge. But that’s only the academic side of it. I have learned to be a team player, to fit in and to work successfully in an international environment.”

And what did you find difficult?

“Because we were free to choose our courses for the semesters abroad, there was a bit of a knowledge divide between the students of the different specializations afterwards. And of course, Covid was a challenge: All of a sudden, everything had to be done online. I was difficult sometimes to be in an international degree program, because the students had different requirements when it comes to communication. And that was amplified by the pandemic.”

Did you find your semester in Vienna worthwhile despite the Covid pandemic?

“Yes, it was amazing, and I got to know a lot of new people. Originally, we were supposed to spend the sixth semester in an Asian country. The pandemic confined us to Europe. I had already been to England in my third semester, and so I chose Vienna. The courses were delivered online there too, but I could still experience the city. Sadly, I didn’t get to personally meet my fellow students from my online classes. But I did meet other Erasmus students in the international student dormitories—we were a large community.”

How does it feel to have a Bachelor’s degree now?

“I’m proud. In Vietnam, a Bachelor’s degree is very important. And in Switzerland, an international degree is good for your image. But I’m only twenty years old and will soon start my MSc in Information Systems at the University of Zurich.”

Congratulations! Was it easy to enrol at the university?

“Thank you. I’m a very curious person and I enjoy advancing my knowledge. Thanks to my grades I had no problems enrolling. However, I had to complete an additional nine ECTS first.”

What was your first impression of Switzerland?

“Saigon is teeming with people, both indoors and outdoors. Almost nine million people live there. Switzerland’s whole population would fit into my city, except that Saigon is about twenty times smaller in terms of size [he laughs]. That is why being here feels like Saigon during holiday season, during which most people stay at home, making the city less crowded. I love Switzerland’s expanses and nature and I often go swimming in Lake Zurich. That would be impossible in Saigon.”

And what do you miss?

“In Saigon, you can go to a shopping mall or to a restaurant until way past midnight. In Switzerland, that requires much more planning.”

Are there any parallels between Saigon and Switzerland?

“There are hardly any similarities because people have very different lifestyles in the two countries. But for me, these places have one thing in common: Both gave me the opportunity to develop my knowledge, my career and my personality.”

© HSLU