Learning Express Programme Season VI (LeX VI) took place from September 18th, 2023 to September 29th, 2023 is a returning milestone after COVID-19 pandemic to re-strengthen collaboration between University of Science and Technology-The University of Danang (DUT) and Singapore Polytechnic (SP). 

This is also a very special LeX to mark a 6th program Anniversary of LeX in DUT, after the first LeX operated in DUT 07 years ago. In 01 month pre-program, the official Facebook Fanpage of LeX: Learning Express in DUT had been very bustling with a bunch of cheers and sharing from former students and facilitators. With all their love and enthusiasm for LeX, the Fanpage followers has increased to 2000+, and finally reached a remarkable milestone of 2000 likes.

Thanks to the Fanpage, the number of applicants in the LeX VI application still holds the same enthusiasm as the past LeX programs. After 02 picky rounds: Online Form and Interview, Top 30 excellent students from 09 different faculties were filtered out based on 03 criteria: Skill – Knowledge – Attitude to be a part of a glorious history of LeX – The 6^th Generation.

DUT LeXers gen 6 with alumni from LeX gen 5

TRAINING DAYS – EXCITING PRE-PROGRAM

Based on the success of the 02-day training method from LeX V, LeX VI Operation Board continued to organize the Training Session 02 weeks before the program, with the objective to  deliver the main crucial skill of LeX: “Design Thinking Methodology”. With the involvement of 30 LeXers Gen VI and facilitators - coordinator from the Operation Board and former LeXers, two training days has been a success, not only in terms of knowledge achievement but also in team bonding, since students were having more time to form their team, get close to each other. This was good preparation for their next official 12 days, when they would have to work – eat – sleep – play together.

Pictures of teams during 02 training days

PICK-UP DAY – RADIANT SMILES

10AM, September 18^th 2023, 20+ DUT LeXers gathered at Danang International Airport. It was really interesting to see every DUT student holding a piece of printed/handwritten paper, with their buddy’s name and some funny welcome statements on it. There was one team who even drew a Huge Backdrop to welcome their Singaporean buddies/teammates. Some passengers even thought that this was a Fandom, who were waiting to pick up their Kpop Idol.

Pictures from the landing day

Results of this warm welcome could be seen from the radiant smiles, mixed with shock on the faces of SP students and Facilitators, when they first stepped out of the Airport Gate. It was just a very first moment, but thanks to the hospitality of DUT students, a beautiful first impression has been created, which immensely contributed to the brilliant success of the next 12 days.

OPENING CEREMONY – BUILD UP FRIENDSHIP

The opening ceremony of LeX took place under a warm welcome from DUT. During the Ceremony, students from both universities had enjoyed much and developed strong friendship between each other with language activities. Students and facilitators also had learnt more about Vietnam culture/cuisine from Vietnamese experts.

Formal part of the Opening Ceremony, with the participation of 10 Facilitators and 60 students from 02 countries, was really grave but cozy. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Tien Dung - Vice Rector of DUT delivered a warm speech: “Treat others the way you want to be treated. We promise to support the best conditions for the 12-day journey of all Singapore lecturers and students in Da Nang, so that the programme will take place successfully.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Tien Dung - Vice Rector of DUT

INNOVATIVE PROJECTS TO SOLVE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS

In this year's program, Tuy Loan Farming Village was chosen as the destination for students to discover problems suffered by local people and to figure out solutions to solve those problems based on Design Thinking Methodology.

Design Thinking is based on 04 well-structured steps: Sense & Sensibility – Empathy – Ideation – Prototype. Students will first have to research information about the village through the internet, then stay in a local people's house for 03 days and 02 nights, interview the farmers/workers, collect and analyze data to deeply understand the issues facing these villagers, in order to come up with a solution for the identified issue. It may sound simple. However, to be able to figure out the most optimized solution for problems requires students a lot of skills and effort.

Nevertheless, with the high learning attitude, and an amazing teamwork, 03 teams of SP and DUT students still came out with incredible solutions, even though there were still language barriers between the students. There were a total of 07 solutions that came from the students, such as the Anti - rats Farming Model to prevent rats from damaging crops, Planning board & experience activities at Tuy Loan Ecotourism Area or Double steamer with rotating shaft, etc.

During the Co-Creation at Villages, it was easy to catch WOW and affectionate looks from the farmers/workers for our students, perhaps, what our LeXers brought to Villagers was not only solutions to their problems, but also the love from young generations to the cultural values of traditional villages.

End of Homestay days, our students also prepared meaningful gifts for their house owners. The old lady, who owns our Homestay in Tuy Loan Village, shed tears of happiness when receiving a big group picture from the students. She hoped that students would come back to visit her in the near future.

CULTURAL IMMERSION – OH MAN, DANANG IS SO GORGEOUS !

For 12 days in Vietnam, students were not only working, but also able to spend a 01-day Cultural Immersion Trip to discover the culture and beauty of Vietnam. The trip was placed on day 11, which started from 9am and ended at 7pm on that day.

Fortunately, the weather on that day was extremely beautiful, not to mention many rainy days before it. It was a nice cloudy, light wind day that was the most suitable for a trip! Thanks to this, when students arrived at Linh Ung Pagoda, everyone was very amazed by the architecture and the breathtaking view of Danang from Son Tra Mountain.

On the second stop of our trip, the bus sent LeXers to My Khe Beach – one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Even though the hotel for SP students is just in front of Thanh Binh beach, this experience was still worthwhile. Everyone was really excited by the clean hygiene of the Seaside, plus the ideal weather. A lot of nice photoshoots were taken on that day.

Last stop of the trip was nowhere but Hoi An Ancient Town, where students got a chance to experience the ancient village, as well as shopping, posing for pictures and trying local food. SP students especially love Cao Lau and Pho. On that day, lots of local food stores in Hoi An were full of Shirt shades from LeXers.

CLOSING CEREMONY – AN UNFORGETTABLE MEMORY

“As a saying goes, everything with a beginning has an ending. 10 days ago was the Opening Ceremony, and today, we all gather here again, to hold the Closing Ceremony. 10 days, neither long nor short, but I believe it is more than enough for each of us to learn something, to gain something or to win something” – Doan Nhat Huy, DUT Student mentioned this warm sharing during his closing speech, on behalf of 30 DUT students. 30 cozy minutes started with cultural performances from the SPxDUT team, all harmonizing their voices in the symphony of “What makes you beautiful” was really emotional. The Closing Ceremony ended when all students stood up, applauded each other, exchanged gifts with their buddies, and exchanged hugs, smiles and group photos as a way to save memory. That day, Danang was having a light rain, but inside the university, Hall F was covered by sunshine, and love.

DAY 12 – HUG ME TIGHTLY

September 29^th, 2023, Danang International Airport, 9.30AM, same place, same faces, but this time it was different, because it was the last time. No more clinging to DUT buddies to cross the crazy road, no more scrambling with each other to sleep near the fan during homestay, no more those nonsense jokes that can make everyone laugh out loud, it’s time to say goodbye.

12 days of Learning Express VI has finally come to its end, but it’s definitely a beginning for a bigger thing: Friendship. That day in Airport, tears were shed, someone who once cried in their last High School Farewell Ceremony would find the emotions of two different times are actually identical. But in the end, we were smiling together, to keep our last moments (possibly) the most beautiful moments we ever had. 12 days seemed to be too short to build up a firm connection among people, but it was surely a premise for long-distance friendships that could somehow last forever.

As the last farewell moment, one student had said this: “ Thanks for coming to Vietnam, we do hope that you guys have had a great time here. Even Though we will all have different paths in the future, and yet we are separated by thousands of kilometers, I do hope that our memory together will never fade through time. Danang and Singapore, it’s not far. We will meet each other soon, because I love to see you better!”

“...So you can keep me

Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans

Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet

You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home...”

Photograph - Ed Sheeran