A dedicated teacher inspires students.After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Rostov University, Soviet Union (formerly) in 1986, Professor Nguyen Quang Hung began teaching at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-USSH). From 2004 to 2015, he served as Head of the Department of History of Philosophy, and from 2007 to the present, he has been Deputy Director, and later Director, of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies (CECRS), also having previously held the position of Deputy Head of the Faculty of Philosophy. To date, Professor Hung has been associated with VNU-USSH for nearly 40 years.
Professor Hung shared that his entry into Philosophy was quite accidental. From aspiring to study Chemistry at the University of Hanoi, to being a student in the Political Economy department, Professor Hung was sent to study in the Soviet Union and chose to study and research Philosophy. Later, he had the opportunity to go to Germany to pursue a Master's and Doctoral degree in Religious Studies. His love for these sciences grew during his years of study in Russia and Germany. And that love has been passed on by Professor Nguyen Quang Hung to many generations of students, trainees, and researchers of the Philosophy Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Professor Nguyen Quang Hung is passionate about his lectures in the lecture halls of the Philosophy Department, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.During his career, Professor Hung received many attractive offers from universities and research institutions; however, he still chose to remain affiliated with VNU-USSH.
For me, Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities are my second home, a place where I trust to teach and dedicate my life." - Professor Hung shared.
For Professor Nguyen Quang Hung, witnessing generations of students mature, including many who are passionate about researching in the field of Philosophy, is a great motivation for generations of teachers in the Philosophy Department to continue to be dedicated, to continue to cultivate and impart knowledge.
The simple acts of care and sharing from the students are also a source of joy for the professors in the university lecture halls.
I vividly remember the image of the two students from 3-4 years ago, first the older sister and then the younger sister, both studying Philosophy, coming to my house on the 30th of Tet (Lunar New Year's Eve) to give me a pair of banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) because they were afraid my family wouldn't be able to make them. It was their sincere and simple affection that motivated me to always want to be connected with students and with the university."—Teacher Hung recounted, visibly moved.
The students in Professor Hung's story are Dinh Thi My Linh (K61) and Dinh Thuy Duong (K66), Philosophy Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Professor Nguyen Quang Hung instilled in these students, and their fellow students, a love and passion for studying Philosophy – a fundamental science that might seem less appealing to young people.
Expressing gratitude to the professors in the Philosophy department, especially Professor Nguyen Quang Hung, student Dinh Thuy Duong shared:
Thanks to you, Professor, I chose to study Philosophy, specializing in Western Philosophy, and I am completely satisfied with that choice!"Thuy Duong's older sister is a former student of the K61 Philosophy major, so Duong was exposed to this field of study and learned about Professor Hung through her sister's stories and those of her classmates."
According to a fourth-year student, with his innovative teaching methods and the mapping of scientific knowledge to reality, each lecture by Professor Nguyen Quang Hung has given students a multifaceted perspective on phenomena in life. Philosophy students were particularly impressed with Professor Hung's lectures in courses such as "Methods of Studying the History of Philosophy through Classical Works," and "Current Trends in Christian Philosophy," among others.
And perhaps for the philosophy students, the simple appearance, witty stories, and genuine concern of Professor Nguyen Quang Hung truly earned their respect and trust. Standing on their podium was not a stern, elderly professor, but a teacher who was always approachable and empathetic. That's why philosophy students didn't hesitate to chant his name at the small celebration after winning first prize in the 2024 Vietnam Philosophy Olympiad, or the heartfelt greetings from alumni to him many years after graduation.
Scientists persevere on their research journey and provide policy advice.Professor Nguyen Quang Hung has spent many years studying and researching in countries with strong development in philosophy. He completed his studies and was awarded a Master's degree in Southeast Asian Studies - Religious Studies from the University of Passau, Germany (1998); and a PhD in Southeast Asian Studies from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany (2004).
Professor Nguyen Quang Hung's main research areas include: Classical German philosophy, history of missionary work, Catholic and Protestant communities in Vietnam; the relationship between religion and culture from a theoretical research perspective; and aspects of cultural and political conflict in the relationship between religion and culture when studying the Hmong ethnic community in Vietnam.
During his tenure, the professor successfully supervised 6 doctoral candidates in defending their dissertations, and dozens of master's students in successfully defending their theses; completed 1 research project funded by the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED), and 1 state-level research project; published nearly 90 scientific articles domestically and internationally; and published 10 books (including co-authored, edited, and original works), of which 3 were published abroad, including works published by prestigious publishers worldwide.
Currently, Professor Nguyen Quang Hung is making many positive contributions at the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies, the Advisory Council on Religion and Beliefs of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Government's Religious Affairs Committee, etc. During his time in charge of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies, he played a significant role in successfully organizing 12 international scientific conferences and numerous domestic seminars on the field of religious studies.
Professor Nguyen Quang Hung presented a report on "Promoting religious and belief resources for sustainable development" at a scientific seminar and policy consultation meeting organized by the Center for Contemporary Religion Studies on December 26, 2023.
Professor Nguyen Quang Hung and scientists from the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies at the handover ceremony of research results to the Government's Religious Affairs Committee in December 2023.Given the current situation where basic sciences, including the social sciences and humanities, are less competitive than applied sciences, Professor Nguyen Quang Hung stated that this issue is not unique to Vietnam but is present in many countries worldwide. As a scientist who has dedicated his life to research, Professor Nguyen Quang Hung believes that, in its role as an institution training high-quality, highly skilled human resources, nurturing talent, conducting scientific research, developing technology, and transferring knowledge across multiple disciplines and fields, the Vietnam National University, Hanoi in general, and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in particular, need to move forward on two fronts: developing basic sciences alongside applied sciences, and advising on policies for relevant Party and State agencies. Basic sciences will continue to play a fundamental role, serving as the foundation for application in applied sciences. If applied science is likened to the trunk of a tree with lush branches and leaves, then basic science is the solid root system that supports the development of science and life.
For the field of Philosophy, building upon the achievements in the history of philosophy research formed over thousands of years, it has now developed into applied philosophy in various aspects of life such as medicine, environment, religion, economics, culture, and politics. The unwavering commitment to academic training and research, thereby laying the foundation for applied science, has become the guiding principle of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, in recent years.
Teacher Hung shared:
"I've always believed that as long as I have my health, I will continue to contribute to scientific research. I'm not only passionate about academic scientific issues but also conduct field research and provide policy advice on issues related to religious life and beliefs in Vietnam."For his unwavering dedication to teaching and research over nearly 40 years, in November 2024, Professor Nguyen Quang Hung was recognized as a Professor of Philosophy by the State Council of Professors.
