From the Lecture Hall to HiCamping: Study Hard, Live Fully at HUST

Mentioning the Chemical Engineering (CH1) program at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, people often think of courses in inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, chemical engineering, and process equipment, or experiments demanding high precision alongside days of diligence with chemicals... However, interspersed within the rigorous academic routine are warm moments of pause—picnic trips named HiCamping by the teachers and students of the Chemical Engineering major, School of Chemistry and Life Sciences. There, laughter, sharing, and skill lessons co-exist, adding energy and bravery to young wings preparing to fly far.

Stepping through the Parabol gate, each student of the Department of Chemical Engineering - CH1, School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, carries their own expectations about a renowned technical environment. Some come to the major out of a school-age passion for chemical reactions; others are drawn by the wide-open career opportunities in oil and gas, electrochemistry, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, or construction materials. The early days are often a challenging period, requiring each individual to self-adjust and adapt. During those times, the dedicated guidance of the teachers becomes a fulcrum, helping students gradually shape their path and themselves.

Besides carefully crafting every lecture, accompanying in scientific research, supporting students to reach international awards, or opening study opportunities in the US, Singapore, Belgium..., the teachers of the Chemical Engineering - CH1 major still maintain meaningful bonding activities. HiCamping is one such hallmark. This activity has been organized 7 times over a decade, only paused during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is an occasion for the teachers and students of the Paper and Packaging Technology professional group, Department of Chemical Engineering, to leave the lecture halls, libraries, and laboratories, returning to the cool green nature at Ban Xoi Valley, Son Tinh Camp, or the poetic Dong Do Lake...
    In these trips gathering about 60 - 80 people, the distance between lecturers and students gradually narrows. Professors and doctors who are normally strict on the podium now join students in preparing meals, chatting, and singing loudly amidst the mountainous and forest space. The presence of alumni, graduate students, business representatives, and international friends creates a colorful atmosphere.
The smiles of Lao and Cambodian students bring a close, warm feeling. Sothun Sinet – a Cambodian international student – shared that those picnic sessions helped her ease her homesickness, allowing her to feel HUST as a second family. The image of Vietnamese and international students gathering around a charcoal stove, preparing simple dishes together, has become a beautiful feature of cultural intersection.

For many alumni, the memories of HiCamping always appear brilliantly. Tran Bui Phuong - a young HUST engineer currently working in an international environment at Lee&Man Paper Company - recalls the mornings busy preparing luggage, the evenings sitting by the lake quietly watching the clouds and sky. That is where they accumulated many lessons outside the curriculum: How to coordinate a large group, confidence in communicating with experts, or a flexible spirit in the face of unexpected situations. Those experiences contribute to nurturing maturity, helping them stand firm when entering a professional working environment.
  Nguyen Thi Van - an alumna of Cohort 62 - shared that thanks to participating in organizing the picnic trips of the Department of Chemical Engineering - CH1, she gradually overcame her shyness and learned how to arrange work more effectively when facing international recruiters at Stavian Group.

The combination of serious academics and emotionally rich extracurricular activities has created a comprehensive educational environment at the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences. Students in the Chemical Engineering - CH1 major have access to modern research equipment such as UV-Vis, LC-MS, HPLC... while also enriching their spiritual lives through practical experiences.

It can be seen that the technical path at Hanoi University of Science and Technology requires much effort, while simultaneously opening up many opportunities for personal development. Creative ideas that sprout from the lecture hall, are nurtured in the laboratory, and are energized through bonding activities will gradually become valuable solutions for the future.
  For students standing before career choices, a love for science will become a powerful motivation when placed in a suitable environment - where every lecture and laboratory hour can arouse great aspirations. At the Department of Chemical Engineering - CH1, School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, they find knowledge along with a tight-knit community. There, teachers always accompany and help each student overcome themselves to write the best version of themselves.

Closing the dense pages of documents, the HiCamping buses continue to roll, bringing the teachers and students of Chemical Engineering - CH1 to new horizons. For a decade, those trips have clearly depicted a very HUST spirit: Study hard, live fully, and always look forward with a warm heart.