For the first time conducting scientific research, the student group from class QH-2020-E KTPT 2, comprising Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, Tran Thi Minh Ngoc, and Nguyen Tung Lam, under the guidance of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen An Thinh - Head of the Faculty of Development Economy, VNU University of Economics and Business (UEB-FDE), has excellently won the First Prize in Student Scientific Research at the University level and the Third Prize at the VNU level. Additionally, they published their research findings in a prestigious international journal listed in the SCOPUS database. The project was carried out within the framework of cooperation between UEB-FDE and the Faculty of Economics, Pusan National University, South Korea.

Embarking on a Challenging Journey 

"Right from the start of the scientific research project, we were determined that 'if we participate, we must win a prize.' With clear spirit and goals, our team began the research journey with steadfastness, putting in our utmost effort to achieve the desired results," shared Nguyen Tung Lam. Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang reminisced about the initial days: "Choosing and deeply understanding the topic was the biggest challenge for students in scientific research. Our team was no exception. We spent a lot of time on this initial step. However, with the support of our supervisor, Prof. Dr. Nguyen An Thinh, we could closely follow and gradually conquer the topic. Finally, we chose the topic 'Determinants of agritourism development in green tea farms of the northern mountains of Vietnam: A hybrid approach based on the combination of diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory and PLS-SEM.' To complete this research, both teacher and students collaborated for about a year."

"Hard work pays off" - Overcoming Difficulties to Reap "Sweet Fruits"

In January 2023, the research group conducted a field trip in Thai Nguyen to survey cooperatives in Tan Cuong, Thai Nguyen (such as Hao Dat, Tien Yen, Thang Huong cooperatives). The outcome was beyond expectations with 344 relevant data collected for analysis.

Tran Thi Minh Ngoc recalled the trip to Thai Nguyen: "The trip started early from Hanoi and took place in just one day, so everything had to be meticulously prepared. Upon arrival, we immediately started our work to ensure we were on schedule. Despite facing several challenges in data collection, our determination and enthusiastic support from our supervisors helped us overcome difficulties and complete our task as hoped."

"The support of our teachers was the most valuable thing during our research journey. Especially, their enthusiastic support in the field trip for data collection was outstanding. They didn't hesitate to travel far and leave their busy schedules to help us as much as possible. I remember on the day of the field trip, our teachers put aside their work at the university and quickly moved to the survey location with us. This enthusiastic support really touched us and made us very grateful," expressed Nguyen Tung Lam. 

"After a year of participating in scientific research, our team can confidently say that we have learned a lot of valuable knowledge. We had a journey of learning and discovery, guided by enthusiastic and experienced teachers. Thanks to their support and guidance, we could easily approach and understand more deeply about our research topic. All of these have turned our research journey into a memorable experience, marking a significant development in knowledge and practical experience for each team member," shared Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, one of the participating students.

Significantly, the student research paper was supported by an international cooperation project between the Faculty of Development Economy, University of Economics and Business - VNU, and the Faculty of Economics, Pusan National University, South Korea. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen An Thinh - Head of the Faculty of Development Economy and Prof. Dr. Keunjae Lee - Head of the Faculty of Economics, Pusan National University, South Korea, conducted a preliminary survey before the team officially launched the research.

With these "sweet fruits," the teacher-student team completed the article and successfully published it in an international journal listed in the SCOPUS database.

"When we found out that our group won prizes in the university's scientific research competition as well as at the VNU level, we were overjoyed, and this became a motivation for us to further develop and expand our research topic. We are truly happy and honored that our research efforts have been recognized and published in a prestigious international journal," shared Tran Thi Minh Ngoc with a smile. 

Thanks to their dedication and effort in each research task, the teachers and students of the Faculty of Development Economy achieved well-deserved results. Scientific research not only helps students understand their field of study better but also offers opportunities to learn and hone skills such as teamwork, logical thinking, analytical abilities, and problem-solving. Importantly, having a research paper published in an international journal enhances a student's CV, making it more impressive to potential employers and increasing the chances of securing prestigious international scholarships.