An U90 Petrochemist Travels Thousands of Kilometres to Teach HUST Students

Professor Robert Pelletier - a professor of Total Professor Association (TPA) – stated: "I jumped into that chance as soon as I received the invitation to lecture at HUST. Two visits to HUST are the two most wonderful experiences that I have ever had in my life!”

Talk to Professor Robert Pelletier, it's hard to believe he's 82 years old and has been retired for over 20 years! His enthusiasm and cheerfulness radiate from every word, energizing everyone. He shared: “I'm well past the age for working, but my passion for teaching has never diminished! I love the feeling of being in the classroom, passing on to the younger generation the knowledge I've accumulated over many years of teaching. I just share practical experiences from my own life to them.”

Professor Robert considers sharing his knowledge with the community and society as a mission of an educator. As long as there are students willing to learn, he will teach wholeheartedly and with all his heart. He jokingly remarked, "When I came here, I brought all the materials, books, and knowledge I have; I'm not hiding anything!"
  With decades of experience, Professor Robert Pelletier has managed 10 petrochemical and polymer production plants for TotalEnergies in 9 countries. He expresses his happiness at living two lives: An industrial expert and a professor at the Institute of French Petroleum (IFP). Occasionally, he appears as an expert evaluating engineering training programs at CTI (The Commission des titres d’ingénieur).
 
Professor Robert used to visit HUST in 2009. As a result, his return felt familiar, as if he were seeing a friend. Despite having travelled to many countries and worked at numerous prestigious universities around the world, Professor Robert affirmed: "Nowhere have I felt as comfortable and impressed as I have been in Vietnam and working at the HUST!" That's also why he didn't hesitate to accept the invitation to teach at HUST.

After 16 years, the only thing Professor Robert noticed that had changed at HUST was the significant improvement in the university's facilities. Many new, beautiful, and spacious buildings and classrooms have been constructed, providing students and lecturers with a modern and well-equipped learning and working environment. “Not only has HUST changed, but the infrastructure in Vietnam are also developed. I am quite surprised by the pace of development of the HUST and Vietnam in general. It seems that HUST is developing in sync with the growth of the nation!” the French expert emphasized.

“HUST students are still the same!” – Professor Robert smiled. In his memory, Vietnamese students are very eager to learn, diligent in listening to lectures, and actively interact with lecturers. He was impressed by how proactively students asked questions and needed further explanation.

According to Professor Robert, HUST students were very well-behaved and polite, always greeting their teachers. Many even asked about the teachers' well-being, helped carry their bags and documents, etc. HUST students made the French expert clearly feel the beautiful Vietnamese tradition of "respecting teachers and valuing education," highlighting the nobility of the teaching profession.
   However, what the foreign lecturer liked most about HUST was the warm and kind welcome from the University's lecturers. He felt like he was part of the University. “When I was at a Russian university last month, I only received an email notifying me of the teaching schedule and classroom location, and I had to find my way there myself. But here, I receive support from A to Z: Students will greet me at the school gate and lead me to the classroom; HUST lecturers will wait for me, accompany me throughout the lesson, and teach students bilingually with me!” – the French professor expressed his surprise and excitement.

Not only did he receive support in the classroom, but Professor Robert also had close friends who were HUST lecturers, who took him to experience the Vietnamese capital. He was driven on a motorbike by his Vietnamese colleague, exploring the streets of Hanoi and trying the delicious and diverse Vietnamese cuisine.
  HUST students have the opportunity to register for free short-term courses with foreign experts. Not only undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers, but also faculty members in the field enjoy attending lectures by international experts invited to HUST.

This can be considered a win-win model, benefiting both sides. Foreign lecturers are provided with the best environment and conditions to enthusiastically share their knowledge and experience; learners are immersed in real-life stories and compelling examples from seasoned professionals in their respective fields.

The international academic environment provided by the University has given many Vietnamese students the opportunity to experience being an international student right in their own country. “We don’t need to go far; we’re participating in a very professional class with leading professors! Thanks to the University for bringing this valuable opportunity to us. We love Hanoi University of Science and Technology very much!” – Students participating in the short-term Project Management course of the TPA shared the same sentiment.