Dr. Le Duy Anh (32 years old), Head of Public Policy Department, VNU University of Economics and Business, is one of 10 young face representing scholars and intellectual attending the 13th National Party Congress.

At the age of 17, when being a chemistry student at the High School for the Gifted Student, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, he went to the UK. After graduating with a master's degree in Development Science from Cambridge University, Le Duy Anh returned home and worked for 2 years at the Institute of Policy & Development (Ministry of Planning & Investment). In 2015, he returned to Cambridge University to pursuit a doctorate.

12 years abroad did not change his intention of coming back. After defending his doctoral thesis in 2019, Duy Anh returned Vietnam and took the teaching position at the VNU University of Economics and Business.

 

Duy Anh went to the UK at the age of 17

"Why didn't you stay but return?" That is the question Duy Anh received most when he came home. Instead of answer it, he reversed the question "Why shouldn’t you come back and stay?".

“I have had many opportunities to stay and live in the UK, but returning has been my default choice. My major is development science, I am interested in the problems of developing countries, 17 sustainable development goals, problems that poor countries are facing such as environment, health, education, equity, sustainable development…”.

Duy Anh's doctoral thesis at Cambridge University also addresses environmental issues in Vietnam. There, he worked with a famous professor of Cambridge University - Prof. Peter Nolan. As someone with a special interest in developing countries, he was the one who inspired Duy Anh.

Prof. Peter Nolan said, right now the best people in the world are trying their best to serve the 1% richest of the population. We have experts in finance, law, science and technology who have been serving 1% of the world's population. However, if only 1% of the best thinkers could return to serve the 50% poorest of the population, the world would be a much better place. His statement made me think about my responsibility and direction. Returning to work and study in my hometown is an orientation that has never wavered...", Duy Anh recounted.

 

Le Duy Anh and friends at Cambridge University

Returning to the country in 2020, the 32-year-old PhD participated in the Vietnam Young Knowledge Forum organized by the Central Committee of the Youth Union, meeting like-minded people further strengthened his belief in the return.

 

Dr. Le Duy Anh at the Young Intellectuals Forum in 2020

Through the forum of young intellectuals, he had the opportunity to meet Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Truc Le - Rector of UEB. “Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Truc Le's sharing about the UEB’s orientations, plans and goals as well as its contribution to education course, the national economy and community responsibility made me excited to return to teach at the university."

 

With a major in development science, especially in the study of human behavior affecting the environment, Dr. Le Duy Anh is implementing a number of university and ministerial level projects in this field.

He has completed a project to study the factors affecting behavior of using plastic bag to prevent pollution and the risk of ocean plastic waste in Danang.

With this project, the research team wants to combine behavioral theory and nudge theory to intervene to change people's behavior and scale it up nationwide.