Vietnam-based alumni of the LKY School held a sharing session for new students in Hanoi on June 26, 2015. Mr Yuen Siu Hong, Deputy Chief & Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Hanoi gave a welcome speech at the occasion, after which seven alumni members from the Vietnam Chapter shared pointers on how the new students can make the most from their time studying in the School.
The former students encouraged the incoming ones to make the effort to interact and network with their classmates, particularly those from Singapore and countries other than Vietnam. Such communication would allow people from other countries to gain a better understanding of Vietnam, and sow the seeds for greater international cooperation in the future. The alumni also advised new students not to hold back in sharing their views or raising questions about any issues.
For their part, the incoming students had many questions about what it would be like to live and study in Singapore. The alumni as well as Mr Yuen addressed their concerns and helped to allay their worries about the challenges of pursuing a degree in a foreign country. As a result, the new students felt that the Bon Voyage event was useful as it helped to put them at ease and gave them greater confidence about their upcoming academic journey.
For new students who were unable to attend the Bon Voyage event, the Vietnam alumni met with or contacted them separately to provide information and advice, and to answer any questions they might have. Such initiatives help incoming students feel more prepared for and enthusiastic about their time in Singapore.