From Vietnam to Regina: A Student’s Hill School Experience
“This exchange brought out another version of myself.”
— Tu Anh Tran, exchange student from Vietnam
Tu Anh Tran, a business student from Vietnam, recently completed a four-month exchange at the Hill School of Business. What began as a pursuit of academic curiosity ended up becoming a deeply impactful experience—both personally and professionally.
Arriving in late December, her first memory of Regina is vivid: “It was terrible because it was too cold—minus 25 degrees!” With the buses not running, she ended up asking a stranger for help getting groceries. That stranger became her first friend in Canada—an alumnus of the University of Regina.
Tu Anh had already dipped her toes into international education with a short-term experience in Thailand, which sparked her desire to explore further. “I always wanted to study abroad to see how education differs from country to country,” she shared. The Hill School of Business caught her eye specifically because it offered a negotiation course—a subject not available at her home university in Vietnam.
Negotiation with Dr. Andrew Stevens quickly became her favourite class. The class stood out for its practical, case-based approach and engaging format. Tu Anh found the lessons especially valuable for real-life contexts such as job interviews, daily decision-making, and entrepreneurial situations. It also offered a unique opportunity to connect with classmates through interactive exercises.
Although Tu Anh was only at the Hill School of Business for one semester, she felt she made more meaningful friendships than ever before. She found the people incredibly supportive, especially since English is not her first language. “They give you space to express yourself and help you understand the material,” she said. This welcoming environment extended beyond friendships into the diverse student community, where she connected with peers from over ten different countries. Cultural exchanges, like learning about Ramadan through her roommate from Bangladesh, enriched her experience. In the classroom, her Consumer Behavior instructor, Dr. Magdalena Cismaru, encouraged exchange students to share perspectives from their home countries, fostering greater engagement and making the learning experience even more inclusive.
Before the exchange, Tu Anh often felt intimidated reaching out to professionals. That changed in Canada. “When I met industry mentors who were genuinely curious about my story, I realized I also have value to offer,” she said. “That made me more confident in networking, which used to scare me.”
Reflecting on her time in Regina, Tu Anh noted that the Canadian academic approach—more student-centric and discussion-based—was a significant shift from what she was used to in Vietnam. The emphasis on preparation and participation helped her understand the material more deeply and grow more confident. It’s this teaching style, along with the way professors actively engage with students, that she hopes will influence her future learning and that she can share with peers back home.
Tu Anh made the most of campus and community life, participating in events like a skiing trip and a startup bootcamp hosted by the Graduate Advanced Training and Entrepreneurship (GATE) Centre. Not only was it her first time skiing, but she also won second place at the bootcamp—boosting her confidence in entrepreneurship and networking.
Her advice for students? “Say yes to everything—but balance it with your limits. Try as many things as you can, but don’t feel like you have to do it all.”
Tu Anh came to Regina looking for academic enrichment, but she’s left with something even greater—a renewed sense of self, lifelong friendships, and memories that will continue to shape her future.