Vietnam’s version of Oprah Winfrey, Bui Thu Thuy, hopes her upcoming PhD research at UQ will improve educational television programs targeting vulnerable groups in her home country.
Thuy is doing her PhD at The University of Queensland’s School of Journalism and Communication (SJC) in the communication for social change program.
A producer, then the host of the made-in-Vietnam game show Sunday at Home, one of the most successful programs in Vietnam, with audience figures topping 42 percent in Hanoi. Sunday at Home broadcast for nine years and won silver and gold medals at the National Television Festival.
In 2005, Thuy received an award from the Prime Minister of Vietnam acknowledging her contribution to television.
Thuy then became the Vice General Director of the Department of Sports, Entertainment and Economic Information at Viet Nam Television (VTV), and starred in live broadcast and talk-show programs such as New Year’s Eve transmission and Miss Vietnam Competition.
Prior to coming to Australia to start her PhD in 2011, she worked as executive producer on game shows such as Wheel of Fortune and The Price Is Right.
Thuy is one of five Vietnamese students who received the Australia’s Prime Minister Awards for Asia (Endeavour Awards 2011).
She hopes her PhD, entitled -An analysis of the challenges and opportunities for public television in Vietnam to offer effective educational programs to culturally diverse rural communities-will enhance the effectiveness of VTV’s educational programs targeting vulnerable groups in her home country.
“Seventy percent of the Vietnamese population, some 60 million people, live in rural areas,” Thuy said.
“Vietnam is hugely diverse, ethnically and linguistically, particularly in rural areas. This has resulted in significant educational challenges.
“In Vietnam, public television channels play a role in addressing this. But research needs to be done to enhance the educational functions of public television, so that people can gain access information, broaden their knowledge and build their capacity.
“This is undoubtedly a new trend in modern education, contributing to the development of an intellectual economy in Vietnam,” Thuy said.
Thuy completed a Masters of Journalism in 2003 and came to television after three years as a newspaper journalist with Vietnam Economic News, a magazine of the Ministry of Commerce. She has been working for the most popular TV channel in Vietnam for almost 15 years, VTV3. Thuy will complete her PhD in 2014.
Media: Siena Perry (siena.perry@uq.edu.au, 3364 3465)
