General Introduction

History of formation

The Faculty of International Studies was established on October 21, 1995, by a decision of the Director of Hanoi National University. To date (2024), after nearly 30 years of persistent and determined effort, the faculty members and students have transformed the Faculty of International Studies from a completely new training unit into a reliable, high-quality institution recognized by society and possessing its own unique identity. This is achieved through the combination of training and research on international issues linked to Vietnam's position and role in the international arena; between global and regional issues; and between theoretical issues and practical application to society.
In terms of staff and organization, the Faculty of International Studies currently has 17 staff members (16 lecturers and 1 specialist), including professors, associate professors, doctors, and masters/doctoral candidates. A prominent characteristic of the faculty of the Faculty of International Studies is their young age, the majority of whom have received their education abroad, possess strong professional and foreign language skills, and demonstrate the ability to inherit, innovate, and integrate.
In terms of training, the curriculum of the Faculty of International Studies is built on fundamental, systematic, modern, and integrated principles. In addition to the general knowledge provided by the Ministry of Education and Training, students majoring in International Studies are equipped with the following basic knowledge:
1) Fundamental knowledge of social sciences, political science, and law within the fields of social sciences and humanities and social and behavioral sciences;
2) The body of professional knowledge and skills in research, teaching, and practice in International Studies, along with soft skills, enables learners to solve practical problems, think critically, work independently, cooperate readily, and possess autonomy and accountability to society;
3) A comprehensive body of knowledge in International Studies with four specializations: International Relations, European Studies, American Studies, and International Development Studies.
Each year, the Faculty of International Studies enrolls approximately 80-100 undergraduate students. Beginning in 2004, the Faculty began enrolling master's students in International Relations, with an average of 25-30 students per cohort. Since 2014, the Faculty has also been enrolling doctoral students in International Relations.
Regarding scientific research and international cooperation, a prominent feature of the Faculty of International Studies is the harmonious combination of teaching and scientific research, and between scientific research and international cooperation. After nearly 30 years of research and teaching, the Faculty's staff has published 305 articles in domestic and international journals, 90 textbooks, monographs, reference books, and translated books, and has undertaken 72 scientific research projects at various levels and presented hundreds of scientific reports at international and domestic conferences. The Faculty has built reliable and effective cooperative relationships with many universities in France, Germany, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and many diplomatic agencies in Hanoi, as well as many international organizations such as the Ford Foundation, the Asia Foundation, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, and the Ireland Foundation. With the support of the Ford Foundation, the Faculty, together with the Diplomatic Academy and the Faculty of International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, has formed a network for research and training in International Relations/International Studies. With the support of the Asia Foundation, the Faculty has developed the first comprehensive American Studies curriculum in Vietnam. With the assistance of Irish scholars, the Faculty is currently undertaking a project to develop the field of International Development Studies. Simultaneously, the Faculty has collaborated with numerous universities in Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and An Giang to develop programs and share teaching and research experiences in American Studies, aligning with Vietnam's training objectives. Furthermore, the Faculty has received effective cooperation from most international research institutes under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.
To date, the Faculty of International Studies has built a solid foundation, affirmed its position, and defined a long-term, stable, and sustainable development direction.

Mission

As a member unit of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Faculty of International Studies is responsible for orienting teaching and scientific research activities according to the University's philosophy of "Liberal Education". The Faculty's mission is to train high-quality human resources with the ability to research international issues, contributing to policy advice for the Party and State on issues related to foreign policy and international relations. The unique characteristic of the International Studies field is "Learning the world to understand Vietnam," and its guiding principles are: Creativity - Inspiration - Responsibility - Student Support.

Key achievements

Development orientation