Confidential recipes for survival and success: Revealing the Power of Inquiry and Lifelong Learning

This is the sharing of experts in the talk show series ‘Lifelong Learning’ at Hoa Sen University on April 19, 2025, with the topic “Think differently, act differently”.

Creative thinking is the key to 21st-century success

On April 19, 2025, the talk show “Think differently – Act differently” was also the published of the book of the same name by Professor Truong Nguyen Thanh, Vice Chairman of Hoa Sen University Advisory Council, took place with the participation of Ms. Tra Nhu Linh, Chief of the Office of the Council, two Vice Presidents, Dr. Tu Minh Thien and MA. Doan Ngoc Duy. The event featured guest speakers Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of Thai Ha Books Joint Stock Company (THAIHABOOK., JSC); Mr. Vo Quang Hue, former General Director of Vingroup Joint Stock Company overseeing Vinfast; Mr. Tran Si Chuong, an expert in Economic and Business Development Strategy; and over 300 individuals attended the event.

Within an open dialogue space, it provided participants with valuable opportunities to discuss and listen to the practical insights shared by Professor Truong Nguyen Thanh and distinguished guests on strategies to FLIP their thinking and THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX for enhanced study and work effectiveness. The speakers emphasized that creativity was the primary issue for an individual’s existence and success in modern society.

He also confirmed that education was about imparting knowledge and encouraging students to develop creative thinking and learn new skills. Creative thinking and open-mindedness empowered the young generation to adapt and thrive in a non-stop changing world. However, a major obstacle to creative thinking was the tendency to think and act out of ingrained habit, without considering whether it was indeed the right thing to do
To overcome this limitation, everyone, especially the young generation, should change their thinking by ASKING THESE QUESTIONS to themselves:

Why do I think so?
Is there a better way?

By asking questions, we will broaden our perspective, gradually forming an open and flexible mindset in approaching problems. This is also the premise for developing critical thinking – an essential skill in an era of constant innovation.

Sharing at the talk show, Mr. Tran Si Chuong also affirmed that Creativity was the key to survival and success of each individual in modern society: “To survive in a non-stop changing world, we must be creative. If you don’t change your mind and innovate, you will be eliminated. So, creativity helps you adapt and overcome challenges”.
Mr. Vo Quang Hue stated that while finding answers was important, it was equally vital to dare to ask the right questions and be willing to take risks, because from familiar things, if we know how to look at them with a new perspective, people can create breakthroughs.

“Think Differently – Act Differently” does not mean breaking the framework

Thinking differently does not necessarily mean immediately acting differently, but it does involve breaking the framework of social norms, which can eventually lead to different actions. According to the speakers, innovation needs to be linked to knowledge and discipline.

To help the audience visualize this point, Mr. Vo Quang Hue used the example of a production line that could not innovate independently and was bound by planned processes. To propose or realize a new idea, young people needed to be certain of its effectiveness to convince and gain commitment from their superiors.

At the end of the event, Professor Truong Nguyen Thanh and other distinguished guests left the young generation inspired by the spirit of LIFELONG LEARNING. They concluded that learning was a fundamental human need and an innate instinct. Everyone needed to arouse, nurture curiosity, foster a desire to explore, and a spirit of progress for Lifelong learning. Only by constantly updating our knowledge and skills can we survive and develop in a constantly changing society.

Think differently – Act differently served as the opening activity for the “HSU – Lifelong Learning” Talk Show series, organized with the aim of disseminating the spirit of innovation, lifelong learning, and fostering critical thinking within the student community and society. Stay tuned for the upcoming workshop, where ideas will be sparked and the spirit of lifelong learning will spread more strongly than ever.