RMIT graduates thrive in sports leadership roles

Tiếng Việt

RMIT graduates thrive in sports leadership roles

Nguyen Trung Duc and Vo Anh Nhan, both of whom graduated this week, say their leadership roles in sport organisations at RMIT Vietnam provided great opportunities and experience.

As president of the RMIT Football Club, Duc put together a number of tournaments that allowed for greater competition in the city.

“I organised tournaments for [club members] to compete with other teams and universities in Ho Chi Minh City,” he shares.

One of the biggest was the RMIT Futsal Open Tournament held earlier this year. Sixteen teams from 16 universities took part, the largest-ever tournament at the University, while ten sponsors chipped in US$7,000 for the event, according to Duc.

Recent graduate Nguyen Trung Duc was the President of the RMIT Football Club.

The Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) graduate felt it was important to provide such opportunities to members of his club.

“I wanted them to have a place to compete in football,” he says. “If they only train and do not play that doesn’t really do anything.”

The club was also able to take part in community-based events beyond the pitch. For example, Duc worked with the HCMC Economics University to organise a visit to an orphanage.

“We went to clean, give [the children] some gifts like rice and clothes and play with them, sing with them,” he explains. “I wanted to provide many outlets for my club members to get experiences.”

Meanwhile Nhan, a Bachelor of Design (Digital Media) graduate, became involved in RMIT Vietnam’s Kendo Club in 2012. He wasn’t interested in mainstream sports, but was drawn to kendo.

“It wasn’t just activities, but also learning to mould our mind and body, cultivate ourselves righteously and hold ourselves in esteem and associate with others sincerely,” he elaborates.

Vo Anh Nhan receives gifts from his family on graduation day at Saigon South campus.

Nhan became vice president of the club in the second semester of 2015, which meant he was in charge of teaching its members. This presented challenges, but the payoff was rewarding.

“Being a leader isn’t easy when you have to multitask in many roles,” he says. However, the club has brought several distinguished trophies back to RMIT Vietnam. The most notable, according to Nhan, was their third place finish at the 15th Hong Kong Asia Open Kendo Championships, which featured competitors from over 20 countries.

Nhan believes he acquired strong leadership skills during his tenure in the Kendo Club.

“I’m able to communicate and give tasks to members in the most efficient way,” he says.

“I can also easily divide parts of work into the easiest and most effective order.”

Story: Michael Tatarski

Campus and community

01 December 2016