Since the establishment of the Department of Construction and Environmental Engineering in 1998, a professor from Vietnam was appointed. After acquiring a doctoral degree in the construction and environmental engineering, he was appointed as a lecture-focused professor of the Dept. of Construction and Environmental Engineering and is giving lectures of ‘Plastic Analysis and Design.’
Professor Kien who had dreamed of being a professor while serving as a lecturer in Vietnam was paid a low salary, so he worked as an engineer in the industrial field. Then in2011 Professor Kien discovered Sejong University’s International PhD Scholarship in the field of Steel Structure Lab through the internet.

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<Sejong university professor Kien from Vietnam >

Professor Kien had to post 3 papers on ISI journals to acquire a doctoral degree. “Thanks to the guidance of Professor Kim Seung-euk of the Department of Construction and Environmental Engineering who supported me for a laboratory and software and encouraged me, I could complete the degree in 3 and a half years. In the end, I could finish the doctoral course after posting a total of 7 papers,” he said.
Kien finished the doctoral course and wanted to be a professor at Sejong University; however, it was not an easy goal. Professor Kien had to return to Vietnam again. A year later,, he heard the news of a position available for employment of a professor for the Dept. of Construction and Environmental Engineering at Sejong University, and he came back again to Sejong University.
"I was in the industrial field more often than was teaching students. Now I am really happy that I can concentrate on research while doing what I like to do. At Sejong University where there are great professors and friendly colleagues and a comfortable study environment I want to work until retirement,“ Professor Kien said.