Abstract of the doctoral dissertation by Nguyen Chi Trung

 

 

LIST OF PUBLISHED SCIENTIFIC WORKS

BY THE AUTHOR RELATED TO THE THESIS

 

1. Nguyen Chi Trung (2018), “Students’ awareness of copyright issues - An approach from the perspective of open educational resources”,Vietnam Library Journal, 3(71), pp.29-33.
2. Nguyen Chi Trung (2020), “The current state of reading culture among students of Hanoi National University”,Information and Documentation Magazine, 4.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

1. The urgency of the topic

In today's information society, reading and reading culture have become crucial factors determining the overall development of society. The essence of higher education is in-depth professional education and the absorption of the latest scientific achievements to enhance individuals' work skills for maximum efficiency. Under the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the significant increase in scientific and technological information demands that individuals possess the skills to select, decode, absorb, and creatively apply information in practice. For university students, reading should not only focus on developing reading habits and understanding material, but also reach a higher level: critically absorbing knowledge from materials and creatively applying that knowledge in learning, scientific research, and practical applications.

Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi) is one of the multidisciplinary universities recognized in Vietnamese legal documents and has established a strong position in the region and the world. VNU-Hanoi has developed and is gradually implementing its development orientation with the overall goal of becoming a research-oriented, multidisciplinary university according to regional criteria, with some disciplines and fields reaching advanced Asian standards, meeting the requirements of national development.

Fundamental and comprehensive reforms in education and training, meeting the requirements of industrialization and modernization in the context of a socialist-oriented market economy and international integration, require Vietnam National University, Hanoi to change its development policies to adapt to reality.

Students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) are facing new opportunities and challenges. More than ever, they must be aware of their responsibilities and be equipped with the skills to work with materials, and must have a highly developed reading culture. However, currently, not all students have a high level of reading culture, nor do all students meet the requirements for working with materials. This significantly affects the quality of education at VNU.

The reading culture of students is influenced by many factors, including information and library activities. While numerous studies on student reading culture have been published in specialized research journals, scientific conferences, and master's theses, no systematic study has yet investigated a model for developing reading culture among students. Most studies are small-scale and lack comprehensive solutions. Therefore, researching and identifying the reading culture of students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) to determine whether the level of development meets the requirements of educational and training reform in general, and higher education in particular, and subsequently proposing a model and solutions to realize that model, in order to support the development of reading culture among VNU students and serve as a model for higher education institutions nationwide, is appropriate to the practical requirements. For this reason, the author has chosen to conduct this research."Reading Culture of VNU Students" to make it my research direction.

2. Research Objectives and Tasks

2.1. Research Objectives

Based on identifying the characteristics and factors influencing the reading culture of VNU students, this study proposes a model and solutions for developing a reading culture among VNU students that meets the requirements of innovative teaching and learning methods and international integration.

2.2. Research Objectives

- To clarify theoretical issues regarding reading culture and factors influencing students' reading culture.

- Analyze and clarify the characteristics of students' reading culture in the current period of educational reform and international integration.

- Analyzing and evaluating the current state of reading culture among students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, in the context of educational reform and international integration.

- To survey and evaluate the impacts of activities supporting and developing a reading culture for students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, through information and library activities, teaching activities, and student union activities.

- This research proposes a model and solutions for realizing a reading culture development model for students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, to meet the requirements of educational reform and international integration.

3. Research Hypothesis

The reading culture of students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) is changing and developing under the influence of the learning environment, including information and library activities. However, in the face of educational reform and international integration, students' reading culture still has many limitations: the demand for reading specialized materials is not truly high, especially digital materials; the ability to comprehend materials is limited, particularly the ability to absorb and creatively apply knowledge in the learning and research process; and awareness of respecting copyright is not high.

The reasons for the aforementioned limitations in the reading culture of students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi are primarily due to the lack of clear direction in developing a reading culture for students; the absence of a synchronized and effective mechanism for linking and coordinating relevant departments involved in developing a reading culture for students, such as the Information and Library Center, lecturers, and related departments; and especially, the role of the Information and Library Center in developing a reading culture has not been fully utilized.

To effectively develop a reading culture among students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, it is necessary to apply a collaborative model between the Information and Library Center, student organizations, and lecturers, with the information and library agency playing a central role.

4. Research Subjects and Scope

- Research subject: Reading culture among students.

- Scope of research: Vietnam National University, Hanoi, during the period 2015 - 2020.

5. Research Methodology

- The author bases his work on the methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism; and also on the views of the Party and the State on information and library work.

- Specific research methods: Document analysis and synthesis; Questionnaire survey; Interviews; Observation; Statistics.

6. Scientific significance and applications of the topic

ButThis thesis contributes to the refinement of the theory of reading culture and the development of reading culture among information users, specifically students.

- This thesis clarifies the current situation and proposes solutions for developing a reading culture among students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

- This thesis helps experts and librarians understand their position, responsibilities, capabilities, rights, and obligations regarding the development of reading culture.

- The research findings of this thesis are valuable documents for researchers and students in the field of library science in particular, and for researchers of Vietnamese culture and education in general.

7. Thesis Structure

Besides the introduction, conclusion, bibliography, list of published works related to the doctoral dissertation topic, and appendices, the dissertation comprises four chapters:

Chapter 1: Overview of the Research Situation

Chapter 2: Theoretical and Practical Foundations of Reading Culture Among Students at Hanoi National University

Chapter 3: The current state of reading culture and efforts to develop reading culture among students of Hanoi National University.

Chapter 4: Proposed Model and Solutions for Developing a Reading Culture Among Students at Hanoi National University

 

CHAPTER 1.OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH SITUATION

 

Numerous studies on reading culture have been conducted both domestically and internationally. These studies are divided into various approaches. The author has compiled and analyzed over 130 documents to understand the opinions and perspectives of previous researchers on the content related to this dissertation.

Within the scope of this research overview, the author examines two main aspects: research on reading culture and research on the reading culture of students.

Research on reading culture, both domestically and internationally, has been conducted in both theory and practice. The content presented is a summary of research worldwide and domestically focusing on reading culture and the reading culture of students.

Overall, the research has contributed to clarifying fundamental issues regarding reading culture, factors influencing reading culture, and the characteristics of reading culture among several representative groups, including students. However, some issues remain unresolved, which will serve as suggestions for further research in this direction, including research on the reading culture of students. The conclusions drawn in the chapter summarizing the research situation include:

The first,While research on reading culture has been addressed by many authors, there is a lack of consistency in explaining the concept, leading to differing, even opposing, perspectives on the characteristics of reading culture for specific groups. The role of reading culture in society in general, and for students in particular, has yet to be clearly explained.

Monday,Studies on students' reading culture primarily focus on manifestations of their ability to orient themselves towards the reading material, their ability to comprehend the material, and their attitudes towards the material. However, few studies have comprehensively analyzed the characteristics of students' reading culture, especially their reading culture with digital materials – a crucial factor related to the quality of university education in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Tuesday,No research has yet proposed an effective model for developing a reading culture among students in the context of modern society.

 

CHAPTER 2.THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL FOUNDATIONS

ABOUT READING CULTUREBY STUDENTS

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF HANOI

 

2.1. General issues concerning reading culture

2.1.1.The concept of reading culture

Stemming from the concept of culture and reading activity, reading culture has many different definitions. However, the trend of studying reading culture as a form of human behavioral culture in a specific period is quite common, and this is also the approach chosen by the author of this thesis to study the reading culture of a special group in modern society: students. Reading culture is the sum total of the abilities of the reader towards receiving and using information in a document, and is a measure of the subject's level of creativity in the reading activity.

2.1.2. Components of reading culture

Many authors have also proposed components of reading culture. However, starting from the perspective that reading culture is the totality of the subject's abilities towards receiving, decoding, and comprehending information in documents, the constituent components of reading culture are divided according to groups of abilities expressed in the reading process. The perspective of dividing the components of reading culture as proposed by author Tran Thi Minh Nguyet [63] is suitable for the research subject of the thesis. These abilities include: the subject's ability to orient towards the reading object, the subject's ability to comprehend the document, and the subject's attitude towards the document.

2.1.3. Model for developing a reading culture

There are two models for developing a reading culture in the community, each corresponding to a specific target group. The model centered around social organizations or individuals is suitable for developing a reading culture in the community. In addition, in the learning environment, especially in higher education and vocational training, where learning and scientific research are essential requirements for students, the model centered around information and library institutions is more appropriate for developing students' reading culture. Therefore, choosing the appropriate model requires careful consideration and research to ensure high feasibility, coupled with conditions that guarantee the model's quality.

2.2. Characteristics of students

Today's students, in addition to the typical psychological and physiological characteristics of youth, also possess distinctive traits such as: a focus on developing high-level professional skills; the ability to keep up with new scientific and technological achievements; a thirst for knowledge, a desire for innovation, and a high degree of self-awareness.

2.3. Characteristics of students' reading culture

From the perspective of reading culture and student characteristics, the reading culture of students has the following main features:

- Students possess a high level of ability to orient themselves towards materials relevant to their field of study.

- Students possess skills in reading scientific documents.

- Students are able to apply the knowledge from the materials to practical situations.

- Students are developing an awareness of respecting copyright.

2.4. Factors influencing students' reading culture

Factors influencing students' reading culture include:

- Characteristics of the habitat.

- Information and library activities.

- Personal characteristics.

2.5. Characteristics and requirements for reading culture among students of Hanoi National University.

2.5.1. Overview of Hanoi National University

Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) inherits the thousand-year tradition of national education and directly inherits the modern higher education system of Indochina University and Vietnam National University.

Through its formation and development, with the motto "Reaching the pinnacle based on knowledge" and core values ​​"High quality - Innovation - Pioneering - Integration - Responsibility - Sustainable development," and with a historical tradition of over 110 years accumulated from the University of Indochina, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) is steadily progressing on its path of development, striving to become by 2030 a multidisciplinary, multi-field research university center with high integration, in which some member universities and research institutes in the fields of basic science, high technology, and cutting-edge socio-economics will reach advanced Asian standards.

2.5.2. Characteristics of students at Hanoi National University

Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) is a multidisciplinary university center that places great emphasis on dynamism, creativity, and efficiency in all its work. Therefore, VNU students have some distinctive characteristics compared to students of other higher education institutions. These characteristics include:

- The majority of students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi are individuals with high cognitive abilities.

- Students are encouraged and provided with opportunities to participate in scientific research activities.

- The majority of students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi come from rural areas, regions with difficult or extremely difficult socio-economic conditions.

2.5.3. Requirements for the reading culture of students at Hanoi National University

Based on the experience of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), we believe that 100% of students need to have a reading need, with at least 70% possessing advanced research skills. However, special attention should be paid to and emphasis placed on the skills of reading specialized materials, the creative application of knowledge to practice, and an attitude of respecting scientific knowledge, copyright, and intellectual property. These are both requirements and criteria for evaluating the reading culture of VNU students.

The first,Students must possess creative and active reading skills with a minimum success rate of 80%. They must read specialized materials in depth and grasp the knowledge thoroughly. Students also need to know how to combine reading methods to decipher materials that closely match their learning and research needs. This is a crucial criterion for VNU students because failure to meet this criterion will prevent them from meeting the trend of innovation and improving the quality of education at VNU.

Monday,At least 70% of students must be able to select materials by mastering modern information search methods both domestically and internationally, and be able to apply them creatively not only to enhance their knowledge but also to their learning activities, tests, and assessments by instructors, or to participate in scientific research to address practical situations in life.

Tuesday,At least 80% of students must know how to appreciate scientific knowledge and respect copyright and intellectual property rights in citing and sharing information. This requirement is very much in line with the current trend of international integration.

CHAPTER3. CURRENT STATE OF READING CULTURE AND EFFORTS TO DEVELOP READING CULTURE FOR STUDENTS

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF HANOI

 

The current state of reading culture among students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) is described according to the following manifestations: Students' ability to orient themselves towards reading materials (Needs, ability to search for materials); Students' ability to comprehend materials (Reading skills, ability to understand and apply to practice); Attitudes towards materials (Awareness of preserving materials and respect for copyright). The survey results were presented and statistically analyzed using frequency and ratio to assess whether or not there is a relationship, as well as the strength of the relationship, between nominal and ordinal variables. In addition, the thesis also used the Chi-square test (c²) to determine whether or not there is a relationship between the variables and Cramer's V correlation coefficient.

The current state of reading culture development among students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) is described through the faculty, library staff, and the Youth Union - Student Association, encompassing teaching activities, information and library activities, and student union activities. Survey results are presented and statistically analyzed using frequency and percentage data to assess the existence and strength of the relationship between nominal and ordinal variables.

Some observations have been drawn regarding the current state of reading culture among students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, as well as efforts to develop reading culture for students as follows:

Strengths

- Students have a high reading need for specialized materials and know how to use diverse and modern research sources.

- Students have a certain level of reading comprehension skills.

- Students have demonstrated self-awareness in their handling of materials.

The reading culture of VNU students has the strengths mentioned above due to several reasons.

The first,The implementation of credit-based training at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) over the past nearly 15 years has achieved tremendous success. Simultaneously, the frequent changes in teaching methods; the review and updating of training programs; and the regulations on the responsibilities of VNU lecturers through guiding documents have impacted students' reading habits.

Monday,The library system has implemented many modern information products and services, along with organizing training activities and guiding information users, making it easier for students to access information.

Tuesday,The Youth Union and Student Association of Vietnam National University, Hanoi have begun implementing several activities to contribute to educating students' awareness and responsibility in developing a reading culture.

Wednesday,The majority of students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi are dynamic young people, selected from reputable secondary education institutions, so they possess a certain level of critical thinking and a passion for learning and scientific research.

Limit

ButSkills in understanding specialized subject matter are not yet high.

- Document searching skills are not yet well developed.

- Some students still lack awareness of the importance of preserving documents.

The aforementioned limitations in students' reading culture are due to

The first,Lecturers have not fully fulfilled their responsibilities as stipulated by the Vietnam National University, Hanoi in teaching and guiding students' studies. Some lecturers have to take on multiple jobs, so they have not been able to dedicate enough time to guiding and assisting students.

Monday,The activities of the Information and Library Center of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) have not yet met the reading needs of students. The document rooms/departments of the training institutions under VNU still operate independently, lacking connection with the VNU Information and Library Center.

Tuesday,There is a lack of close coordination between the library system and faculty members. Although faculty members rated the library's effectiveness in supporting their teaching and research, as well as student learning, as fairly well (46.2%), they frankly acknowledged that this coordination is not frequent. Among the faculty members participating in the discussion, only 22.8% regularly collaborate with the library to introduce materials to students, 49.3% occasionally collaborate, while as many as 27.9% do not have time to collaborate with the library. This lack of close coordination indicates that the awareness of relevant departments (management levels, library staff, faculty, etc.) regarding the role of reading culture and their responsibility in developing a reading culture for students is still insufficient. In other words, the impact of the library system, lecturers, and student organizations is still largely spontaneous, limiting the potential for developing a reading culture at VNU.

Wednesday,Although the activities of the Youth Union and Student Association are being implemented enthusiastically, they are still scattered and mainly superficial, lacking major programs or focuses to help students understand the importance of reading and researching materials to serve their professional and future careers after graduation at Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Thursday,Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) lacks a sufficiently strong mechanism for controlling copyright and intellectual property violations. This is not only the responsibility of VNU but also a shared responsibility of the entire society. Furthermore, VNU also lacks an appropriate mechanism for coordinating with relevant parties to promote a reading culture among students.

 

CHAPTER 4. PROPOSED MODEL AND SOLUTION

DEVELOPING A READING CULTURE FOR STUDENTS AT HANOI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

4.1. Model for developing a reading culture among students of Hanoi National University

Developing a reading culture for students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi is a complex issue requiring the coordination of lecturers, student organizations, and the library system under a suitable mechanism.

The proposed model is based on:

Theoretical basisRegarding trends in building models for developing a reading culture, these are: models with information and library agencies as the core and models with social organizations or individuals as the core;

Based on practical experienceSurveys and assessments indicate that while attention has been paid to developing a reading culture, the impact of the library system, lecturers, and student organizations remains largely spontaneous, resulting in limited effectiveness. This spontaneity leads to a lack of coordinated efforts among stakeholders, hindering the potential for developing a reading culture at Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Legal basisThis is achieved through the State's awareness of the role of reading culture and the work of developing reading culture in the community, and by supporting the development of reading culture through the promulgation of legal documents.

The proposed model for developing a reading culture among students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) emphasizes coordination between internal elements of VNU and between VNU and external agencies and organizations. Within VNU, coordination is needed between the library and training institutions and student organizations, with the VNU Information and Library Center playing a central coordinating role.

The quality assurance conditions for the effective operation of the model include: appropriate management mechanisms, emphasis on the human element, and efficient information and library services.

4.2. Solutions for realizing a model of developing a reading culture for students at Hanoi National University.

To realize the model for developing a reading culture among students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), we need several important solutions such as: renewing the awareness of leaders, lecturers, and library staff in developing a reading culture for students; thereby improving the effectiveness of management in developing a reading culture; enhancing the effectiveness of developing a reading culture for students in information and library activities from the perspective of focusing on training, guiding, and educating information users; improving the quality of information products and services; strengthening information resources and technological infrastructure; and promoting human resources and the role of student organizations within VNU in developing a reading culture for students.

CONCLUSIONEND

Reading culture is examined in this thesis as a behavioral culture of human beings. Reading culture is the totality of the reader's abilities directed towards receiving and using information in a document. It is a measure of the reader's level of creativity in reading, expressed through their ability to orient themselves towards the reading material, their ability to comprehend the document, and their attitude towards the document.

Students are a young, highly qualified force with outstanding advantages compared to other segments of young people in society. In response to the demands of innovative teaching and learning methods, students' reading culture exhibits many distinct characteristics compared to other groups. This is demonstrated by their high ability to orient themselves towards relevant materials, their advanced skills in reading scientific texts, their capacity to apply information from these materials to practical situations, and their growing awareness of respecting copyright and intellectual property rights.

Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) is one of Vietnam's leading multidisciplinary universities. Over more than 25 years of development, inheriting the traditions of the University of Indochina and the Vietnam National University, and with extensive participation in the Southeast Asian university network, VNU has affirmed its pivotal and pioneering role in Vietnam's higher education system in training, scientific research, university management, and international integration. In terms of university rankings, VNU is consistently highly rated by prestigious organizations, ranking among the top 75% of universities worldwide. With the philosophy of "Achieving excellence through knowledge," VNU has built and is progressively implementing its development orientation with the common goal of becoming a research-oriented, multidisciplinary university according to regional criteria, with some disciplines and fields reaching advanced Asian standards, meeting the requirements of national development.

Under the leadership and guidance of the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), key political tasks such as training, scientific research, cooperation and development, politics, and student affairs have always been addressed with groundbreaking, pioneering, innovative, and creative solutions. VNU places great emphasis on supporting students in their studies and scientific research, strengthening both the methods of implementation and the quality of execution to help students develop fully in both knowledge and skills. In particular, the development of a reading culture in the context of innovative teaching methods plays a crucial role.

This thesis surveyed the current state of reading culture among students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) through manifestations of their ability to orient themselves towards reading materials, their ability to comprehend materials, and their attitudes towards reading. Simultaneously, it analyzed current activities to develop reading culture among VNU students through the faculty, library staff, and the Youth Union - Student Association, encompassing teaching activities, information and library activities, and student union activities.

The survey results show that the reading culture of VNU students has developed under the influence of the educational environment, training programs, lecturers, information and library activities, and the activities of student organizations within VNU. Some notable advantages include: Students have a high demand for reading specialized materials and know how to use diverse and modern research sources; students have acquired a certain level of reading skills and have developed self-awareness in their approach to reading materials. This is due to the consistent attention paid to developing a reading culture for VNU students through teaching, information and library activities, and student organizations. However, there are still some limitations, such as: Students' skills in comprehending specialized materials are not yet high.;The skills in searching for materials are not yet high, and some students lack awareness of preserving materials. This is due to the spontaneous nature of the library system, faculty, and student organizations, resulting in limited effectiveness. This spontaneous nature leads to a lack of coordinated efforts among relevant parties, limiting the potential for developing a reading culture at Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

To develop a reading culture for students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) that meets the requirements of innovative teaching methods at VNU and aligns with the demands of educational and training reform in the new context, this thesis proposes a principled collaborative model for developing a reading culture among students, involving lecturers, information and library agencies, and student organizations, with the information and library agency playing a central role.

To realize the model for developing a reading culture among students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), several important solutions are needed, such as: reforming the awareness of leaders, lecturers, and library staff in developing a reading culture for students; thereby improving the effectiveness of management in developing a reading culture; enhancing the effectiveness of developing a reading culture for students in information and library activities from the perspective of focusing on training, guiding, and educating information users; improving the quality of information products and services; strengthening information resources and technological infrastructure; and promoting human resources and the role of student organizations within VNU in developing a reading culture for students.

The above model and solutions are suitable for the research area, which is Vietnam National University, Hanoi. To replicate this model in higher education institutions nationwide, we believe that the attention and guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Education and Training are needed in revising regulations on the organization and operation of university libraries, clearly stating the goals for developing a reading culture and the interaction between the library and relevant departments of the specific higher education institution.