With 9 years teaching experience at the Da Nang University of Economics, Dr Nguyen Truong Minh has kept his enthusiasm for imparting knowledge and inspiration to his students in order to help them excel in their studies, and stimulate their entrepreneurial passion for starting a business.

Dr Nguyen Truong Minh (left) and the very young trainees at the BDC Sports Center. Photo: H.T.V

After graduating from the Masters programme in Finance in Australia in 2013, Mr. Nguyen Truong Minh, born in 1987, has taught development economics at the Da Nang University of Economics. In 2018, he went to PhD study at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.

Development economics is a branch of economics which deals with economic aspects of the development process in low income countries. Its focus is not only on methods of promoting economic development, economic growth and structural change but also on improving the potential for the mass of the population, for example, through health, education and workplace conditions, whether through public or private channels. Development economics involves the creation of theories and methods that aid in the determination of policies and practices and can be implemented at either the domestic or international level.

Dr. Minh wants to inspire entrepreneurial thinking and action in his students through his teaching of development economics.

Starting a career in sports

Dr Minh highlighted the importance of career guidance for students in schools due to the fact that many young people have chosen the wrong profession. Career guidance is a counselling programme designed to help students choose the right career path based on their educational and professional choices.

Dr Minh is flexible in changing his teaching methods in an attempt to promote a sense of initiative among his students, and help them improve their practical skills. In addition, he who is also an active Secretary of youth union organisation of the Faculty of Economics provides strong support for his students to conduct scientific research as well as actively participate in events for knowledge sharing in startups.

Mr Minh struggled at the start of his career in sports. Ever since he was a young boy, Minh has used the sport of basketball as an outlet to deal with life. His passion for basketbal has inspired him to spend a lot of time reading documents related to basketball training for children. In 2015, he and his friends with shared interests cooperated with Cultural and Sports Centers in Hai Chau, Son Tra, Thanh Khe and Ngu Hanh Son districts to develop 4 BDC sports centers to offer basketball training to children and adolescents aged 3-18. BDC which is a sports training center for children offers basketball training for children, hosts sports competitions and delivers community sporting events.

Revenue generated from 4 BDC was lower than expected and Mr Minh even suffered losses as he started a business with no experience. These centres suffered from precarious conditions during their first year of operation but they are now operating effectively and have been widely known by local residents. Mr Minh will develop more BDC in the city in the near future if the number of trainees in these venues increases.

Patience and willingness to learn - the key to success

Dr Minh said that he also runs a company specializing in the production of sportswear and import of such products from parent companies in Australia and their subsidiaries based in Da Nang in order to offer trendy high quality sportswear to young sports lovers at both home and abroad. In particular, the important positions in Minh’s company are mostly held by his former students and his former classmates from the Da Nang University of Economics.

Dr. Minh remarked that he is willing to share his experience with his students, as well as cultivate his entrepreneurial mindset and lessons learned along the way. He is always ready to help and fuel his student innovation and growth with an entrepreneurial mindset.

He also highlighted the importance of setting goals in business, a little luck and a good team to business success. Patience and eagerness to learn are the key to success, Mr Minh noted.

Reporting by HUYNH TUONG VY – Translating by H.L