Journalist Duong Trong Dat and his journey as a tireless educator

Journalist Duong Trong Dat is not only renowned for his journalism career but also for paving the way for the Public Relations and Communications major in Vietnam. Regardless of his role, he is recognized for his tireless work ethic and unwavering dedication to his lifelong passions.

In the later years, many people choose to retire and live in seclusion to enjoy their old age, Mr. Duong Trong Dat chooses to remain active as long as his health permits.

Work is Joy

At the age of over 70, Mr. Duong Trong Dat continues to serve as the Head of the Institute of Culture, Arts and Media at Van Lang University in Ho Chi Minh City, overseeing the Public Relations (PR) - Communications - Humanities and Applied Arts group. Through his contributions, Mr. Duong Trong Dat continues to demonstrate his commitment and responsibility toward the younger generation, inspiring them with invaluable knowledge and experiences drawn from his lifelong dedication to journalism and literature.

When asked about his motivation for continuous work, Mr. Duong Trong Dat mentioned, "I'm not accustomed to resting because it's ingrained in me that work is joy, and creativity. Moreover, coming from an educational background, I deeply understand and value education. And most importantly, I have great affection for the younger generation."

During his tenure as the Editor-in-Chief of Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper, Mr. Duong Trong Dat had the opportunity to travel to various countries, learning extensively about journalism. During each working trip abroad, he always researched and found that public relations is a highly regarded profession in developed countries, but it is not yet available in Vietnam.

Referring to the initial phase of pioneering a new academic field, he couldn't help but reminisce about the memories of 2006: “During the initial stage of developing the project, I had to explain and persuade everyone to understand. Even the deans of many schools didn't fully comprehend the concept of PR. I had to decode it for them to understand the significance of PR in the digital age.”

After convincing the universities, another challenge was finding qualified lecturers. At that time, there were no PR lecturers in journalism schools. Leveraging his connections and assembling a team of quality personnel, he personally persuaded individuals to teach. Most lecturers at the school at that time were journalists, such as Mr. Le Quang Trang, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hai, Mr. Tran Quoc Khuong, etc and Head of event organizing committees from newspapers, communication experts from major corporations, and conglomerates.

"Today, when we talk about the PR industry, Van Lang University stands at the forefront. Almost 100% of Van Lang graduates find employment in their field, earning the trust of various enterprises," - he proudly exclaimed when referring to his successive generations of students.

A Multifaceted Individual

Being an active person, his philosophy of life is to venture wherever there is an opportunity, fearlessly entering domains others shy away from.

The war shaped Mr. Duong Trong Dat into a versatile and resilient individual. Recounting the day he joined the Communist Party, in the resume section highlighting strengths, he self-identified as a "multi-talented" person because he could do anything from being a food distributor, warehouse keeper, accountant, to being a manager, etc.

"My goal was to become a versatile person. Thus, I was determined to impart this goal in educating my students to be as capable as possible, able to handle any task," shared by Mr. Duong Trong Dat.

As a person with an open mind, he consistently presents new perspectives to his students. "The important thing is not just imparting knowledge but igniting passion in students, making them more enthusiastic. It's about letting them embrace their passions. Learning is merely the first step towards greater knowledge. The crucial part is passing on the flame of passion for the profession. The potential within students is immense, and our responsibility is to guide them in the right direction," he stated.

With over 40 years in journalism and nearly 20 years as an educator, in his twilight years, Mr. Duong Trong Dat chooses to continue dedicating himself to the fields of journalism and communications. He considers himself fortunate to have the opportunity to be both a journalist and an educator. Every November 20th, receiving flowers from his students, he feels deeply cherished. He believes that the affection students show is more valuable than any reward or recognition. It's this sentiment that helps him overcome all challenges, persist in his dedication, and work tirelessly.

Source: Dai Doan Ket Newspaper