DEAN CHOI GRANT BY SOOSAN
Dean Choi Grant by SOOSAN was established in 2021 by SH Solar Farm Co., Ltd., a member of SOOSAN Group (Korea), with the mission to support talented students with financial difficulties in pursuing their education at VinUni. SOOSAN Group became the first Korean enterprise to make a financial contribution to VinUni. To celebrate the appointment of a Korean professor as the Founding Dean of the College of Business and Management (CBM), this contribution was named Dean Choi Grant by SOOSAN.
Since then, the grant has empowered more than 20 exceptional students to fulfill their dream of studying at VinUni. The recipients of this grant were not only academically outstanding (awarded scholarships of 80% or higher) but also demonstrated strong leadership through extracurricular involvement, community service, and international exchange programs.
In 2021, SOOSAN Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), committing USD 350,000 over five years to support CBM students. In 2025, the Group reaffirmed its long-term commitment with an additional USD 350,000 for another five years until 2031, while also extending support to students of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS). With a total commitment of USD 700,000, SOOSAN Group has become one of the largest donors of VinUni.
MEET OUR SOOSANERS
DUONG THE LONG – COHORT 2 – COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Long was raised in a poor village in Nam Dinh, where, in order to stay in school, he had to start working from the age of 15–16: construction laborer, dishwasher, parking attendant, tutor,… These jobs shaped his resilience and independence early in life.
In 2019, Long co-founded Brick One Academy with friends, a startup teaching children creative thinking through robotics. But when COVID-19 struck, Brick One nearly collapsed. That experience taught Long that ambition alone is not enough to create value for others, he first needed to grow and learn more.
This belief led him to VinUni, where he knew an inclusive environment could help him “learn how to grow.” And it was Dean Choi Grant by SOOSAN that made this bold decision possible. A 90% scholarship together with a 10% top-up grant from the SOOSAN not only helped Long overcome financial barriers but also gave him access to world-class professors, excellent peers, and invaluable real-world experiences.
At VinUni, Long interned at Ernst & Young (EY), one of the world’s top consulting firms. Today, Long is a Business Analyst at GSM under Vingroup. From a boy who almost dropped out of high school, he has become a young professional, continuing his journey of learning, growing, and creating opportunities for others thanks to generous donors like SOOSAN Group.
TU NGOC DOAN THU – COHORT 2 – COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Thu grew up in a place where elephants roamed, wild animals filled the horizon, and vast grasslands stretched endlessly. In such a world, education was often seen as secondary. Even within her own family, she had to fight for the right to learn. Her path was uncertain, but she held onto her dream, working countless part-time jobs just to stay in school.
For years, it felt like she was running on empty, exhausted, stretched thin, yet unwilling to give up. Then, Dean Choi Grant by SOOSAN arrived like a miracle at the perfect time. “It lifted a tremendous weight off my shoulders,” Thu recalls. For the first time, she could focus fully on her studies instead of worrying constantly about finances.
At VinUni, she thrived. She joined research and startup projects, learned from inspiring professors, and collaborated with passionate peers. But beyond academics, she discovered something even more meaningful: the importance of empathy, social responsibility, and kindness.
“The scholarship reminded me that there are people who believe in me, even without knowing me,” Thu shares. With graduation ahead, she dreams of paying it forward so other students can find hope, just as she did.
Nguyen Bui Minh Huy’s journey to VinUni was marked by resilience, setbacks, and an unshakable determination to never give up on his dream.
In 2021, right after high school, Huy was thrilled to be awarded the Dean Choi Grant by SOOSAN. For a brief moment, it felt as though his future was secure. Yet life had other plans. His single mother fell gravely ill and was overwhelmed by medical debt, while his uncle – the family’s primary supporter was diagnosed with cancer. At just 18, Huy faced the crushing reality that he could not afford to pursue his dream. Without stable income, he was forced to postpone his admission, watching his peers move forward while his path stood still.
For three years, he reapplied again and again, four times in total. He worked, saved, and persevered, determined that one day he would walk through the gates of the university he longed to join. In 2023, his persistence was finally rewarded: he received the Dean Choi Grant by SOOSAN once more, saved enough to support himself, and began his studies in Hanoi as a Finance major with a Business Analytics minor.
“My family and I will never forget what the Dean Choi Grant by SOOSAN has given us,” Huy shares. “I may be just one person, but I vow to carry this gift forward, so its impact reaches many more lives.”
When Dung first received her admission to VinUni, it felt like the beginning of a dream come true. But only a month later, life tested her with one of its most difficult challenges – the loss of her father. He had always encouraged her education, promising to support her journey at VinUni, but he passed away unexpectedly before he could fulfill that promise.
In that uncertain moment, the Dean Choi Grant by SOOSAN became a source of strength. It was a reminder that her dream was still alive, and that she wasn’t walking this path alone.
With that support, she chose to pursue Entrepreneurship, a decision that opened countless opportunities. Over the past years,with the opportunities at VinUni, she has traveled abroad to South Korea and Singapore, visiting Seoul Startup Hub, Seoul National University, and meeting DB leadership. She stepped into leadership roles, serving as President of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Club, winning the Global Prep Incubator 2024, and becoming a runner-up in the national SV.STARTUP competition. Today, she continues her journey as Vice President of the Hub Network in Hanoi, building connections among entrepreneurs.
Every time she sees machinery with the SOOSAN name, she proudly tells her friends: “This is the company that made it possible for me to keep studying at VinUni.”
NGUYEN THU HA ANH – COHORT 2 – COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
“I thank VinUniversity and Dean Choi Grant by SOOSAN for changing my life.”
In 2021, Nguyen Thu Ha Anh was named one of the very first four recipients of the Dean Choi Grant by SOOSAN. That moment, she recalls, was filled with joy and relief. It was a turning point that allowed her to remain at her dream school, VinUniDean Choi Grant by SOOSAN, and continue chasing the future she had envisioned.
Ha Anh made the most of her opportunities at VinUni and she became:
Top 2% of the cohort; Exchange student at a top university (Korea University)
Internships at FPT (top Technology company in Vietnam) anD EY (Top global accounting firms)
Management Trainee (MT) at Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam (Top global Fast-Moving Consumer Goods company)
And then, the impossible happened – Ha Anh became one of the few Vietnamese accepted into the Harvard Business School MBA 2+2 Program.
Her achievements are not only a testament to your investment but also a contribution to VinUniy’s reputation. Looking ahead, she is committed to paying it forward and contributing back to society in meaningful ways.
