THE TRADE UNION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES AND ITS ROLE IN POLITICAL, IDEOLOGICAL AND PROFESSIONAL WORK

Shortly after the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, on October 10, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 45/SL establishing the Faculty of Literature in Hanoi with the aim of bringing the country's science "up to par with advanced countries worldwide." On June 4, 1956, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2183/CP establishing the University of Hanoi. From 1956 to 1995 was a period of strong development for the University of Hanoi as a leading center for basic science research and training in the country, effectively serving the cause of national construction and defense. It also produced a team of leading professors and scientists of the country. The most fundamental foundations of Vietnamese science were built and their value affirmed.

In September 1995, building upon the foundation of the Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines of Hanoi University, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities was officially established and became a core member of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. For nearly 80 years of development, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has always been regarded by the Vietnamese Party and State as the country's largest center for training and research in social sciences and humanities, tasked with training highly qualified basic science personnel to serve the cause of national construction and defense.
Along with the school's development, over the years, the Trade Union organization has...University of Social Sciences and HumanitiesHanoi National University has become increasingly strong and developed in all aspects. With the motto of focusing resources and creating a strong transformation in the quality and effectiveness of trade union activities; fulfilling the task of representing and protecting the legitimate rights of union members, to consolidate and strengthen the close bond between union members and the trade union organization, contributing to building a strong trade union organization. On that basis, the University's Trade Union sets the goal of innovating the content and methods of departmental trade union activities, representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of teachers and workers; organizing widespread patriotic emulation movements and industry campaigns; promoting and participating in the innovation of management work; training and developing trade union officials, building the University's Trade Union to become increasingly strong, contributing to the fundamental and comprehensive reform of education, and helping the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to soon become a research university.
 

During the 2017-2023 term, under the direct guidance of the Party Committee of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Trade Union of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the Executive Committee of the University's Trade Union actively and proactively directed and implemented activities to fulfill the Resolution of the 6th Congress of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi Trade Union, the Resolution of the 15th Congress of the Vietnam Education Trade Union, and the Resolution of the 12th Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union, especially the 7 comprehensive work programs of the Vietnam Education Trade Union. These contents were concretized into the plans and activity programs of the University's Trade Union. The activities were carried out seriously and effectively, demonstrating a qualitative and quantitative improvement. The programs and plans of the Education Trade Union and the Hanoi National University Trade Union are implemented through various integrated, diverse, practical, and suitable channels such as websites, Facebook groups, Zalo, and email, contributing to the effectiveness of activities and creating widespread impact among all union members. This helps staff understand the policies, guidelines, and regulations of the government at all levels, especially those being implemented in the education sector. 100% of union members receive training, information, and dissemination of the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws, and the resolutions of the Trade Union at all levels.Regarding political and ideological work, the School clearly defines its position, role, and mission in cultivating high-quality talents for the country. Therefore, political and ideological work is given special attention by the School, and the School does a good job of disseminating information to raise political and ideological awareness among union members. Implementing the Party's leadership resolutions at all levels, carrying out Directive 40/CT-TW of the Central Party Secretariat on improving the quality of teachers and educational management staff by 2020, the campaign "Studying and following the thoughts, ethics, and style of Ho Chi Minh," and the resolutions of the Trade Union Congress at all levels, while closely adhering to the School's key political tasks, political and ideological work is continuously and regularly implemented by the Party Committee and the School's Trade Union Executive Committee. Political and ideological work is carried out in many rich, practical, and vibrant forms through political, cultural, and artistic activities, combined with summary activities and field trips to historical and cultural sites of the nation. During the period 2017-2023, the school's political and ideological education work achieved significant results, with the vast majority of union members maintaining firm ideological viewpoints and stances, upholding the ethical qualities of teachers and staff, and successfully fulfilling their assigned tasks.

With the goal of contributing to the rapid development of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities into a research university, the University's Trade Union Executive Committee regularly focuses on the education, training, and development of staff, "using work efficiency as a measure to evaluate and rank union members." At the same time, these activities aim to foster cohesion among union members within the University, enhance professional skills, understand the advantages and difficulties faced by union members, especially young members, and propose support plans accordingly. During the 2017-2023 term, the University's Trade Union implemented the policy of building union activities that are not merely superficial or culturally and spiritually enriching for union members, nor are they simply about visiting and encouraging members. In the new context, union activities must closely adhere to the University's goals and development orientation. We must work closely with the government to implement professional activities extensively in order to support and collaborate with the government in order to effectively achieve the school's goals and objectives.
During the 2017-2023 term, the University's Trade Union organized many professional activities such as: "Innovation in teaching and research viewed from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities" (2017); "Standards for academic titles for young lecturers" (2018); "Trade union members and improving English proficiency in teaching and research" (2019); "Exploiting learning materials and applying technology in teaching and research" (2019); Research on Vietnam's Highlands: History and Interdisciplinary Approach” (2020); “Designing Multimedia Lectures” (2021); “Applying Mendeley Software to Manage Citation Sources” (2022); “Promoting the Linkage Between Research and International Publication among Faculty Members” (2022). These seminars helped union members, especially young union members, identify shortcomings, particularly in English proficiency and scientific writing skills for high-impact journals (ISI, Scopus), thereby developing strategies for the development of the university's staff that align with current development trends.          
With the achievements made during the past term, the School's Trade Union has consistently been recognized as a strong grassroots trade union, excellently fulfilling its tasks, and has been awarded many emulation titles and commendations such as: Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor; Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Education and Training; Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam Education Trade Union; Emulation Flag from the Vietnam Education Trade Union; Emulation Flag from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.
It can be said that during the 2017-2023 term, despite nearly three years of complex impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused damage and difficulties to most socio-economic activities and affected many aspects of society, as well as significantly impacting the material and spiritual lives of the school's union members, the School's Trade Union Executive Committee overcame difficulties and led and participated in many practical activities to effectively support union members and society. The School's Trade Union successfully carried out propaganda and political and ideological education for staff, teachers, and workers; proactively participated in professional management, making important contributions to building an increasingly strong team of teachers and management staff to effectively implement the Party's Resolution on "fundamental and comprehensive reform of the Vietnamese education system" in the new period. Adhering closely to resolutions, term plans, and annual school plans, while focusing on professional expertise, overcoming difficulties, and successfully completing tasks. In addition, the school's trade union is gradually innovating the content and methods of its activities to suit current needs, focusing on effectively fulfilling its function as a representative protecting the legitimate rights and interests of teachers and employees.