Anthropology Department Party Branch: Bright Spots in the Efforts for Integration and Internationalization

The quality of the staff is the foundation.

The Party cell of the Faculty of Anthropology places special emphasis on political and ideological work, consistently providing close guidance and instilling in its staff, students, and trainees the importance of cultivating revolutionary ethics and the conduct befitting a staff member, lecturer, and student of one of the country's leading centers for anthropological research and training.

Party Branch Secretary Nguyen Van Suu presented the decision to admit new Party member Tran Thi Nhan.

During the 2017-2020 term, the Faculty of Anthropology made further progress in both the quantity and quality of its staff: adding one Associate Professor; supplementing one lecturer for the Department of Economic and Social Anthropology, bringing the total number of staff to 16 (including 14 lecturers and researchers, of which 1 is an Outstanding Teacher, 5 are Associate Professors, 9 are PhDs, 4 are PhD candidates, 2 are Masters, and 1 is a Bachelor). In addition to the permanent staff, the Faculty's international visiting lecturers were strengthened, making a positive contribution to the Faculty's training quality in line with international integration. In 2019 alone, the Faculty had 8 international scientists conducting research and teaching. In the first half of 2020, the Faculty had 4 foreign professors collaborating: Dr. Philip Taylor (Honorary Professor at the Australian National University), Dr. Frank Proschan (Fulbright Lecturer 2019-2020), Dr. Annie-Marie Hilsdon (Australian Government Volunteer Lecturer), Dr. Emmanuel Pannier (Research Officer, French Development Agency).

Master's thesis defense ceremony for graduate students from the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Focus on international publications.

Regarding scientific research, the Party Branch has directed efforts to promote and improve the quantity and quality of scientific publications, especially international publications, to meet the requirements of building a research university and international integration; promoted a series of scientific seminars; directed efforts to promote the application of science and technology; and provided expert advice and opinions to central agencies through the Northwest Key Science and Technology Program, the Ethnic Minority Program, etc.

Vietnamese and international students and trainees from the Faculty went on a field trip to Thai Nguyen in 2019.

For three years (2017-2019), the Department of Anthropology consistently ranked among the top units in the university in terms of the number of internationally published works. Faculty members with outstanding achievements in scientific research and international publications include: Mr. Lam Ba Nam - leading a state-level research project; Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, who achieved high international publication rates in 2017-2019; and Mr. Lam Minh Chau, who had exceptional international publication achievements in 2019. In addition, domestic research and publications also yielded high results with dozens of articles/chapters/books per year; in the 2018-2019 academic year alone, the Department published 4 monographs/reference books.

The Party Committee, the Dean's Board of the Faculty of Anthropology, and domestic and international scientists attended Dr. Frank's scientific presentation at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in 2019.

International exchange programs are a highlight.

Over the years, the Party Committee of the Faculty of Anthropology has directed efforts to promote and improve the quality of international cooperation, linking international cooperation with faculty development, strengthening scientific research, and enhancing the quality of teaching within the Faculty. Year after year, international cooperation has achieved outstanding results.

Party Secretary Nguyen Van Suu and Deputy Party Secretary Nguyen Truong Giang attended the Scientific Conference on Sustainable Development in Phu Yen in May 2019.

The Faculty has effectively developed and implemented three faculty/student exchange programs with international partners, specifically: A faculty and student exchange program (in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020) with the Institute of Cultural and Social Anthropology of the University of Göttingen (Federal Republic of Germany); sending 2 lecturers and 6 doctoral candidates, graduate students, and undergraduate students to teach and study at the University of Göttingen; and receiving 5 lecturers from the University of Göttingen to teach and study at the Faculty. In 2019, the Faculty's faculty and student exchange program with Uppsala University (Sweden) was implemented, sending 1 lecturer and 2 graduate students from the Faculty to teach and study at Uppsala University; and receiving 1 lecturer and 2 graduate students from Uppsala University to teach and study at the Faculty. The summer courses with the Faculty of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies – University of Zurich (Switzerland) in 2017, 2018 and 2020 resulted in 3 lecturers and 8 students, graduate students, and doctoral candidates participating in teaching/learning.

The workshop "Digital Anthropology in Vietnam: Trends, Potential and Prospects" was organized by the Faculty of Anthropology in 2018.

The effective implementation of these international cooperation activities has provided faculty and students of the Faculty with opportunities to experience teaching and studying abroad in international environments, especially at prestigious universities. In 2019 alone, the total direct funding for faculty and students to study and teach through these exchange programs amounted to over 1 billion VND. In all overseas teaching activities, the Party Committee has members who directly participate in implementing exchange and cooperation programs with partners.

Furthermore, the Party Committee effectively directed the connection, development, and reception of international scientists to the Faculty for teaching and research, contributing to the creation of an increasingly international academic environment within the Faculty. Notable scientists include: Dr. Frank Proschan (USA), Dr. Philip Taylor (Australia), Dr. Annie-Marie Hisldon (Australia), Dr. Emannuel Pannier (France), Prof. Laura Andrea, Dr. Jovan Maud (Germany), Assoc. Prof. Annika (Sweden), etc.