Hung’s choice of RMIT’s master’s program was strategic, driven by his desire for a curriculum that balanced theoretical knowledge with practical application. "I did deep research into the master's programs I wanted to take," he explains. “Unlike many programs in the UK or at other universities in Australia that I found too theoretical, RMIT's program offers a pragmatic approach. This practical focus was evident in courses like Computational Machine Learning, taught by Dr. Quang Tran.”
Understanding the synergy between different fields allowed Hung to collaborate with Dr. Quang on a research paper forecasting agricultural prices, specifically rice. This project, evolving from an assignment to a published paper, underscores the program’s emphasis on real-world AI applications. "We built a foundational forecasting price system. Vietnam, who is a large agriculture exporter, does not have an effective solution yet to help with price forecasting. Now imagine we had a system to do just that – this is what makes Dr. Quang’s and my research a significant milestone," Hung admits proudly.
Hung’s experience was further enriched by the mentorship and teaching he received in Dr. Nguyen Thao’s Discrete Mathematics course. It was during this course that he had his ‘A-Ha” moment, transforming his attitude towards mathematics. Hung reflects, "Dr. Thao’s ability to turn mathematical concepts into practical and understandable examples allowed me to actually start liking math!"
Looking ahead, Hung is contemplating further academic pursuits, including a potential PhD. His future ambitions are fuelled by a desire to contribute to macroeconomic indicators and business processes, with a broader vision of how AI can drive economic and policy change. "Reliable forecasting has profound effects on economies and countries. It shapes national policies and direction," he asserts.
Hung’s journey is deeply personal. He confides that “right out of high school I knew I wanted to get into finance. My dad is a trader, and my older sister is working in finance in a bank overseas. But the more I researched finance, the more I felt that it needs to be linked to ML and data science. Not many people have created a reliable system that is set up to forecast macroeconomic variables.” Hung also aspires to be the first in his family to earn a PhD, motivated by a desire to honour his father's sacrifices and achievements. "We come from a slightly difficult background, and both my parents fought hard to raise the family while also running a business. I want to be a source of pride for my family," he says.
You too can become a true AI professional, even if your background isn’t a fully technical one. It requires a lot of hard work, but you can start by checking out RMIT’s Master of Artificial Intelligence program webpage and reaching out to a program advisor today!
