General introduction

Friday - September 1, 2017 00:41

1. History of formation

The Faculty of Philosophy, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (formerly Hanoi National University) began training undergraduates in Philosophy with a major in Religious Sciences in 1976.
In 1980, the Department of Scientific Atheism was formed in the Faculty of Philosophy, Hanoi National University.
In 1999, the Department of Religious Sciences was established and began training bachelors of Philosophy majoring in Religious Studies.
In 2004, the Department of Religious Studies started training Master of Philosophy majoring in Religious Studies under the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
In 2014, the Department began training Masters in Religious Studies and PhDs in Religious Studies (2015) and began enrolling Bachelors in Religious Studies in 2016 (In 2016, the Department of Religious Studies was established under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities).

Since 1999, the Department of Religious Sciences has trained bachelors in Philosophy, specializing in Religious Studies, with the number of students each year being about 200 for many different subjects such as: full-time students, part-time students from provinces, religious monks, state management officials on religion, culture... By 2004, when the Master of Religious Studies major code was approved, the training of subjects was expanded: many high-ranking religious leaders, many provinces and cities registered to open part-time classes for officials doing research, managing religion or related to religion to study. Therefore, each year there are over 15 master's students majoring in Religious Studies and about 6-8 PhD students studying.
However, in reality, up to now in Vietnam, there are still many inconsistent concepts about beliefs and religions. Many theoretical issues about religion need to be clarified, many practical activities need to be researched and summarized fully and comprehensively. Meanwhile, the theoretical systems of Religious Studies of developed countries cannot be mechanically applied to the specific conditions of Vietnam. Therefore, the establishment and development of the Department of Religious Studies under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi is inevitable in the current social needs in research and training in the field of Religion.

On July 26, 2016, the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi signed Decision No. 3252/QD/XHNV-TC to establish the Department of Religious Studies under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. This is an important milestone opening a new development page for the training of Religious Studies in Vietnam. From here, Religious Studies in Vietnam is trained independently, systematically, and completely at a prestigious, high-quality university. With this important turning point, the Department of Religious Studies has affirmed its position, independence, and maturity in the regional and international forums.

2. Mission

The Department of Religious Studies aims to develop into a unit with a national brand and international stature in training and scientific research on Religion. Specifically: Methods of Religious Studies Research; World and Vietnamese Religions; Religion, beliefs and social life. The Department is a leading unit in training high-quality human resources, creative research and dissemination of scientific knowledge on Religious Studies, Party policies and guidelines, State laws on Religion, in order to serve the cause of building and developing a prosperous country.
Development orientation
The Department of Religious Studies is constantly innovating and developing to build an international brand and establish value chains:

Regarding core values: creating the most quintessential value chain, having the capacity to participate in the global scientific development chain with high international integration; training sharp, dialectical scientific thinking; stimulating and cultivating a humane soul, self-awareness of responsibility towards society.
Regarding the goal: to become a quality and prestigious training, basic and applied research center in Religious Studies in Vietnam and in the region.

Author:USSH Media