Brian Jeffrey
Recognized Global Talent
Ngo Le Huy Hien, a 1998-born individual from Vietnam, has earned recognition as a Global Talent and Emerging Leader in Digital Technology by the UK Government.
The Global Talent certificate is an honor granted to those who have made significant contributions across various fields, including Academia/Research, Arts and Culture, and Digital Technology. Notably, only four people from Southeast Asia receive this distinction each year within the same category.
“Receiving this certificate made me emotional, as it signified that my years of hard work were finally acknowledged,” Hien shared.
Pursuing Education and Opportunities
Hien pursued a degree in Computer Science and Engineering at Da Nang University. Upon starting his university journey, he made a list of 100 aspirations, including traveling to 20 different countries.
As a freshman, he sought fully-funded short-term study abroad opportunities but faced rejection twelve times. Instead of losing hope, he chose to identify areas for improvement.
“I engaged in more local programs and activities to enhance my profile, retook exams for better scores, and expanded my skill set,” he reflected.
His hard work paid off, earning him full scholarships for various international study programs.
“Each program made me realize how much more there is to learn, like a fish venturing into an expansive ocean,” he remarked.
International Education Journey
In 2020, before completing his undergraduate studies, Hien received three scholarships for the Erasmus Mundus master’s program funded by the EU, opting for EMJM in GENIAL.
This two-year program brought together outstanding students globally. Hien studied in France, the UK, and Sweden during the first semesters, and in the final semester, he selected a topic for his thesis, which he completed in the UK and defended in France.
Despite the rigorous workload of up to 20 hours a day, Hien’s diligence was rewarded with accolades for his superior project and master’s thesis under the Erasmus Mundus program.
By 2022, he earned four master’s degrees with top grades, focusing on computer science, information technology, complex system engineering, green networking, and cloud computing.
Professional Challenges and Opportunities
After attaining his degrees, Hien spent two years living and working in the UK as a tech firm manager. Although the roles were lucrative, he found the competition to be intense. As his visa was close to expiring, he began searching for companies willing to sponsor his stay.
Despite positive feedback during interviews, many firms were unable to proceed due to visa sponsorship issues, prompting Hien to explore opportunities in other nations.
A breakthrough occurred when he coincidentally met a professor from his master’s program, who encouraged him to apply for the Global Talent visa, albeit with caution about its challenging nature.
Pushing for one last effort before his departure from the UK, Hien submitted his application fortified by 12 published articles in reputable journals, experience leading an international AI project, and funding secured from the EU and AI research organizations.
To date, Hien has traveled to 48 countries and territories across five continents as part of his study and professional endeavors.
