While studying finance and business administration at the Australian National University, Vu Hoang discovered his love for analytics. “I was introduced to business statistics and had the opportunity to conduct some research,” he says. “I built a strong foundation and wanted to take my knowledge to the next level.”

He began to look for business analytics master’s programs and narrowed his choice down to the Haslam MSBA. “The fact that it’s a three-semester program, including an internship, was very appealing,” he says. “They also provided financial assistance and had an outstanding placement rate upon graduation. Those are all things I considered.”

Hoang appreciates the program’s small class size and collaborative atmosphere. “All the people in our cohort work together,” he says. “There are plenty of chances to expand your network and grow your teamwork skills. The program is intense and hands-on, with a lot of personalized input from faculty members. We get a lot of high-quality professional development and advice about internships and other decisions.”

After he finishes the program in December 2020, Hoang plans to pursue a PhD in operational research and extend his research projects to new areas within analytics. Eventually, he hopes to find a position that focuses on mathematics and optimization. “My long-term goal is to return to my home country, Vietnam, and help small enterprises such as family farms take advantage of analytical tools and solutions,” Hoang says. “Business analytics is something that can seem out of reach for small businesses, especially in a small country. I’d love to find solutions that can help family businesses catch up to larger corporations in how they are utilizing analytics.”