EMI students win two First Prizes at HaUI student scientific research conference 2026

Competing against hundreds of outstanding projects, two student research teams from the English-Medium Instruction (EMI) programme at the School of Foreign Languages and Tourism, Hanoi University of Industry (HaUI), have won First Prize at the HaUI Student Scientific Research Conference 2026.

The achievement reflects the students’ growing international outlook and research capabilities, as well as the dedicated guidance of their young supervisor, MSc. Nguyen Bao Chau.

The joy of MSc. Nguyen Bao Chau and her EMI students as they celebrate their two First Prizes at the HaUI Student Scientific Research Conference 2026.

Far from being purely theoretical or detached from everyday life, the research projects by EMI students address emerging issues and reflect the interests and trends shaping today’s society.

The first project, “The Influence of User-Generated Content on Perceived Destination Image: Gen Z’s Perspective on Trang An, Ninh Binh,” was led by Tran Khanh Linh, together with Nguyen Thi Hoang Cam, Nguyen Hoang Phuc, Hoang Thi Hong Ngoc and Mua Thi Huong Giang. The team examined the growing influence of user-generated content (UGC) and Generation Z on destination image. With digital platforms increasingly shaping how young people discover and evaluate travel destinations, the students explored how UGC can influence perceptions of Trang An, Ninh Binh.

Using a quantitative research approach, the team proposed practical recommendations for destination marketing organisations (DMOs), particularly on how platforms such as TikTok and Instagram can be used to engage younger travellers. The research had already achieved recognition beyond HaUI, having been published in the proceedings of an international scientific conference jointly organised by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) and Rikkyo University, Japan, in October 2025.

The second project, “The Influence of External Knowledge Acquisition on Developing Workcation Strategies for Boutique Hotels in Hanoi, Vietnam,” was conducted by Pham Viet Anh, Dao Khanh Linh, Nguyen Ich Hoang and Nguyen Thanh Huyen. Responding to the growing “workcation” trend, which combines working and travelling, the team examined how boutique hotels in Hanoi can acquire and apply knowledge from external sources to develop their own competitive strategies. Through in-depth interviews, the students explored the experiences and perspectives of boutique hotel managers, seeking practical insights that could support the development of workcation strategies. The research was subsequently selected for publication in the proceedings of an international scientific conference organised by Van Hien University in September 2025.

For the students, however, the research process was about much more than the final results. It involved months of fieldwork, repeated setbacks and persistent efforts to gain access to reliable data. Recalling the team’s experience, Pham Viet Anh said: “The most memorable part of our research was the two months we spent collecting data. We were sometimes denied access and had difficulties persuading businesses to participate. Still, every team member remained persistent. We spent hours each day explaining our research to managers and gradually learned how to address our initial mistakes so that we could obtain the most accurate results possible.”

MSc. Nguyen Bao Chau (in pink, centre) with the First Prize-winning research team: Nguyen Thanh Huyen, Pham Viet Anh, Dao Khanh Linh and Nguyen Ich Hoang.

Conducting the research entirely in English also presented another challenge. The students had to work with academic literature, research methods and data analysis while ensuring that their reports met international academic standards.

Tran Khanh Linh recalled: “Sometimes the results generated by our models were not what we expected, so we went back to the literature and started again. Some meetings lasted until midnight as we reviewed and revised every detail. The process was challenging and stressful, but our teamwork, willingness to take responsibility and determination to keep going helped us complete the research.”

Tran Khanh Linh, Nguyen Thi Hoang Cam, Nguyen Hoang Phuc, Hoang Thi Hong Ngoc and Mua Thi Huong Giang with MSc. Nguyen Bao Chau (in pink, second from left)

The experience has given the students valuable opportunities to develop their analytical thinking, research skills and academic English. More importantly, it has helped them gain confidence in approaching real-world issues through research and engaging with an increasingly international academic environment.

Behind the students’ achievements is the dedicated guidance of MSc. Nguyen Bao Chau, whose role extends far beyond helping them complete their research projects. Having graduated in Paris, France, and joined HaUI in 2020, Nguyen Bao Chau has brought an open, modern and internationally oriented approach to teaching and academic research. She is also continuing to develop her own academic career and is currently pursuing a PhD at RMIT University on a full scholarship. Her contribution to student scientific research at HaUI can be seen in the steady progress of her students over the past three years. From Third Prize in 2024 to Second Prize in 2025, her students reached a new milestone in 2026 by securing two First Prizes.

Pham Viet Anh (third from right) and Tran Khanh Linh (fifth from left) represent their research teams at the award ceremony of the Eighth Student Scientific Research Competition

For Nguyen Bao Chau, meaningful research begins with real-life experiences. She encourages students to observe, explore and learn from the world around them before turning those experiences into research questions. “I always encourage students to gain as much real-world experience as possible and to travel so that they can observe and learn at the same time. These experiences can help them identify research topics that are relevant and highly applicable. Over the years, EMI students have shown clear progress and have become increasingly proactive and passionate about academic activities.”

Her support has also been particularly important when students encounter difficulties during their research. From reviewing research models and discussing unexpected results to helping students find ways to approach businesses and collect data, she has remained closely involved throughout the process.

For her students, Nguyen Bao Chau is both a demanding academic mentor and a source of encouragement. Her guidance has helped them stay focused when research did not go as planned and given them the confidence to keep working through challenges.

The joy shared by MSc. Nguyen Bao Chau and her students after a demanding research journey

The two First Prizes at the HaUI Student Scientific Research Conference 2026 mark a significant achievement for the EMI students of the School of Foreign Languages and Tourism. Their research demonstrates how students studying in English can engage with contemporary issues, apply academic knowledge to real-world contexts and develop the confidence to participate in an international academic environment.

The achievement also reflects the School of Foreign Languages and Tourism’s efforts to foster practical, internationally oriented learning and encourage students to pursue academic excellence with the spirit of “Engineering - Aspiration - Creation.”