Huynh Ngoc Hieu, a 19-year-old blind student from Ho Chi Minh City, has defied the odds by earning a full scholarship to RMIT University while also studying at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH).

A graduate of Suong Nguyet Anh Middle and High School, Hieu’s perseverance and academic excellence, including ranking first in his class during his junior year, led to his acceptance into UEH's marketing technology program.

Now enrolled in two universities, he continues to break barriers and inspire others with his achievements.

“I live by the conviction that [disabilities] are not a big deal. If your heart is big enough, you can find a way to overcome difficulties,” he said.

Studying at two universities

Recently, Hieu was offered a full scholarship from RMIT University Vietnam, which covers all of his undergraduate tuition fees, English program costs, and additional mandatory charges.

He also receives a monthly living stipend of VND11 million ($458) and a laptop.

In an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, the RMIT Scholarship Selection Committee praised Hieu for his community service, especially his advocacy for visually impaired students.

They noted his maturity and eagerness to learn.

In early October, Hieu began a new challenge: studying at both RMIT and UEH, as he is currently enrolled in an English program at RMIT and plans to pursue the professional communication major.

Meanwhile, he has just started his second year in the marketing technology program at UEH.

Balancing two academic schedules has been challenging for Hieu.

After a few weeks of adjusting, he has developed a routine that allows him to attend classes at RMIT in the mornings and UEH in the afternoons.

However, managing assignments often requires him to study late into the night, sometimes until 2:00 am.

“One of my strategies is to utilize break times at both schools,” Hieu explained. “Each university has different vacation periods throughout the year, which allows me to focus on important content or exams.”

A model of independence

Nguyen Thuy Dung, a lecturer at UEH’s law faculty, recalled working with Hieu during his first year.

She was impressed by his independence and determination to minimize reliance on others for support.

Hieu uses a text-to-speech device to read documents and actively seeks out additional resources for learning.

Dung noted that Hieu often contributes valuable ideas during group activities and possesses a strong commitment to his studies.

When asked about his motivation, Hieu attributed it to his desire to seize opportunities that many visually impaired individuals do not have.

“I consider it my responsibility to do it for them,” he shared. “Studying not only adds value to myself but can also help others in the future.”

In addition to his academic pursuits, Hieu is dedicated to community service.

Since tenth grade, he has volunteered as a content leader for a media group focused on promoting good study and living habits among students at Suong Nguyet Anh Middle and High School.

He worked with classmates from Nguyen Dinh Chieu Special School for the Visually Impaired on the Microsoft-funded 'Neverland' project in eleventh grade.

This initiative aims to create digital resources to help visually impaired students enhance their knowledge and soft skills, addressing the shortage of practical guidance in Vietnam for scholarships and job applications.

Despite financial challenges that once led his family to consider having him drop out of school, Hieu sought online writing jobs to support himself.

Fortunately, scholarships from various organizations eased his financial burden as he began university studies.

Now that he is settled at UEH, he returns to these organizations as a mentor for younger students, offering guidance on study strategies and career planning.

Empowering visually impaired individuals

Hieu's passion lies in marketing, particularly technology marketing.

He recognized that advancements in technology present new opportunities for visually impaired individuals.

Currently utilizing various tech applications, especially AI, Hieu encourages others with visual impairments to embrace new tools and step out of their comfort zone.

“To achieve this,” he asserted, “we need effective marketing and communication strategies so that innovative products reach visually impaired users.”

This goal is something Hieu resolves to pursue in the future.

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