Nguyen Khac Long, a final-year student majoring in Automation and Computer Science, is the youngest student in Vietnam to receive the fully funded Global Connect Fellowship, a 2–3 month research scholarship at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
Selected among 36 young scholars worldwide and one of only four Vietnamese students awarded the fellowship, Khac Long views this achievement as a milestone recognizing nearly five years of persistent learning, research, and international engagement before completing his undergraduate journey.
Upon receiving the email confirming his acceptance into the fully funded Global Connect Fellowship at NTU, Long described his emotions in three words: surprise, deep emotion, and pride. The program is large in scale and highly competitive, bringing together outstanding students from many countries.
The joy became even more special when Long learned that he was one of only four Vietnamese students selected and the youngest among them. Along with the honor came a sense of responsibility: representing the image of Vietnamese students in a leading academic environment. For Long, the GCF also marks the “final chapter” of his undergraduate journey - the last international exchange experience before graduation, at a university he has long aspired to attend.
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Long believes that academic competence and research thinking do not come from a “single leap,” but rather from a cumulative process involving personal effort, the guidance and support of lecturers, and a well-structured, in-depth learning pathway.
In this process, Long regards foreign language proficiency as a tool that must be developed over the long term to support learning, research, and international integration. From a disciplinary perspective, he emphasizes a “backbone-axis” approach to learning: first mastering core foundations in mathematics, programming, and control systems, then expanding into advanced technologies and tools. Together with the support of lecturers and learning from capable peers both domestically and internationally, Long has gradually developed a rigorous academic mindset and greater confidence in taking on highly competitive programs.
According to Long, the experiences that best prepared him for NTU came from early and sustained participation in academic activities. From his first years at university, Long had opportunities to represent his institution in domestic and international technology competitions. Through these experiences, he developed problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and the ability to apply theory to real-world challenges, while also strengthening teamwork skills, professional communication in English, and the habit of self-assessing his abilities for continuous improvement.
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In parallel, international exchange programs helped Long build adaptability and an open mindset when studying in multicultural environments. Early involvement in laboratory work and scientific research enabled him to develop foundational skills such as reading and analyzing academic literature, formulating research questions, working with data, and presenting results systematically, as well as honing discussion and critical thinking skills through academic forums and scientific conferences.
