Tran Ba Tuoc
Student Stories Profiles
Tran Ba Tuoc
Name: Tran Ba Tuoc
Born: Vietnam
Locations: Christchurch - Canterbury
Discipline: Business & Management, Commerce, Marketing, Economics
Working at the heart of Vietnam industry, Tran Ba Tuoc is currently Board member and Deputy General Director of Hydro Agri Viet Nam, a joint venture between Norsk Hydro of Norway and two local Vietnamese companies. Hydro Agri Viet Nam engages in the production and trading of fertilizer. And at the foundation of Mr Tuoc's successful business career encompassing banking, trade and industry is his New Zealand tertiary education.
"I came to NZ in early 1960 under the Colombo Plan. I chose to sit for an examination to get the scholarship under the Colombo Plan and won it. Frankly I did not know much about New Zealand before then but I tried my luck and was chosen among the 20 winners out of about 3,000 students. However, I never regretted it."
As a foreign student specialising in Economics and Accounting, Mr Tuoc found his first year at Victoria University in Wellington very hard, although the nine months of English training at Victoria English Institute in advance of his degree course was extremely helpful. "Of course we had to study hard because if we failed we would have been sent home!" On completion of his Bachelor of Commerce, he then chose another New Zealand university the University of Canterbury and completed his Masters qualification.
And he loved the New Zealand lifestyle. "I had a marvelous time in NZ studying and travelling around the country. The scholarship was a good one so I could save money for between term visiting farms or scenery. I always enjoyed the company of friendly people wherever I visited, at the university and at hostel where I stayed."
On his return to Vietnam, Mr Tuoc started his carrier in banking with the Central Bank of Vietnam until the country re-united. Then he carried on working in banking (including the position of Director of the National Bank of Vietnam) until 1979, leaving banking eventually for a position in a trading company where he worked for almost 14 years. He has been a member of the Economic Advisory Committee and has also taught at Van Land University.
"My education in NZ has served me well right up to my current job. Even now I have the opportunity to transfer my knowledge to Vietnamese students at various universities in Vietnam.... Whenever people ask me to recommend a place for their children's education, I promote New Zealand."
"I came to NZ in early 1960 under the Colombo Plan. I chose to sit for an examination to get the scholarship under the Colombo Plan and won it. Frankly I did not know much about New Zealand before then but I tried my luck and was chosen among the 20 winners out of about 3,000 students. However, I never regretted it."
As a foreign student specialising in Economics and Accounting, Mr Tuoc found his first year at Victoria University in Wellington very hard, although the nine months of English training at Victoria English Institute in advance of his degree course was extremely helpful. "Of course we had to study hard because if we failed we would have been sent home!" On completion of his Bachelor of Commerce, he then chose another New Zealand university the University of Canterbury and completed his Masters qualification.
And he loved the New Zealand lifestyle. "I had a marvelous time in NZ studying and travelling around the country. The scholarship was a good one so I could save money for between term visiting farms or scenery. I always enjoyed the company of friendly people wherever I visited, at the university and at hostel where I stayed."
On his return to Vietnam, Mr Tuoc started his carrier in banking with the Central Bank of Vietnam until the country re-united. Then he carried on working in banking (including the position of Director of the National Bank of Vietnam) until 1979, leaving banking eventually for a position in a trading company where he worked for almost 14 years. He has been a member of the Economic Advisory Committee and has also taught at Van Land University.
"My education in NZ has served me well right up to my current job. Even now I have the opportunity to transfer my knowledge to Vietnamese students at various universities in Vietnam.... Whenever people ask me to recommend a place for their children's education, I promote New Zealand."
Christchurch - Canterbury
Christchurch is the main centre of the Canterbury region, an elegant old city close to the Southern Alps.