Is Philosophy a difficult field to study, or does it lead to career opportunities outside of one's field, as many people believe?

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, "It is through wonder that humankind, from the beginning as it is now, has begun to think philosophically." Wonder, curiosity, and a thirst for knowledge inevitably lead humanity to philosophy. AndphilosophyAs a field of study, it is the culmination of the most fundamental concerns and the deepest reflections on the nature of the world, society, and humanity.

From that fundamental level, philosophical knowledge can illuminate, apply, and verify various fields of science and life, providing learners with the ability to discover, question, explain, and answer many different problems in personal and social life.

Established in 1976, the Department of Philosophy,University of Social Sciences and HumanitiesHanoi National University is the leading institution in the country for training philosophers, theorists, and managers—individuals with knowledge of the essence of things, strategic vision, and critical thinking, capable of identifying problems, keeping up with and predicting changes in social awareness and life, serving in government organizations as well as other political, cultural, and social organizations.

Is philosophy really a difficult subject to study?

In an interview with a reporter from the Vietnam Education e-magazine, journalist Do Minh Ha - a reporter from the Television News Center, Vietnam News Agency, and a former student of Philosophy at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities,Vietnam National University, HanoiIt states:

Philosophy is the earliest form of theoretical knowledge in the history of human thought, existing in both Eastern and Western civilizations. Philosophy demands abstract thinking skills and a broad and deep knowledge base from ancient times to the present day; therefore, many students feel intimidated and find it difficult to grasp when they begin studying this field. However, practical experience in studying and researching philosophy shows that this vast and abstract body of philosophical knowledge actually has certain logical connections and layers upon each other.
 

Journalist Do Minh Ha - Reporter at the Television News Center, Vietnam News Agency, former student of Philosophy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Therefore, instead of simply rote learning, memorizing facts, or quoting from texts, young people should aim to build a core foundation of knowledge and understand the fundamental relationships between different fields of philosophy. Then, philosophical issues will become much clearer and simpler, and the integration of philosophical knowledge with other fields and the application of philosophy to real life will become truly natural and effective.

Specifically, in the case of Ms. Minh Ha, she shared that to be a good journalist, one must have good general knowledge, dynamism, the ability to identify problems and sources of information, diligence, not be afraid of difficulties and hardships, and a continuous learning attitude, as well as communication and problem-solving skills. As a female journalist specializing in "hot" topics like anti-smuggling, she greatly needs the ability to reason logically and handle situations quickly and effectively in all circumstances.

All the qualities needed to become a good journalist can actually be found or cultivated through philosophy, although on the surface, philosophy seems very static while journalism is very dynamic, a stark contrast. Therefore, the concept of "being in a different field" doesn't really exist when studying philosophy, because any profession requires philosophical thinking, the ability to discover the essence of things, and problem-solving skills.

Every field of study helps students develop their thinking skills, but only philosophy considers thinking ability as its primary training goal. It was philosophy that provided Ms. Minh Ha with the most systematic foundation in dialectical and logical thinking. This philosophical thinking enabled her to participate in research in journalism and serve on review boards for numerous ministerial-level media projects.

"That's why I say some of you are truly wasting your time by being afraid of philosophy. Most great politicians and economists are people who have studied philosophy very thoroughly, especially Marxist-Leninist philosophy. Many former students of the Philosophy Department are now very successful working in various professional fields such as the Propaganda Department, government management, business, large economic corporations, lecturing, research, etc."

"As for me, having worked as a journalist for many years, I find that my writing skills, situational reasoning abilities, and sensitivity in identifying issues from sources are thanks to the dialectical thinking I learned in Philosophy. This is an important skill for applying learned theories to current issues in order to make decisions," Minh Ha shared.
 

International Scientific Conference "Vietnamese Educational Philosophy: From Tradition to Modernity" at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Photo: USSH Media

As the world changes rapidly, the ability to seek out the stable, almost immutable, underlying essence of each issue becomes increasingly necessary. Philosophy is increasingly affirming its significance. Philosophy is a valuable resource of knowledge, a foundation for the thinking process that shapes future career choices for those who study it.

Therefore, in addition to philosophical theories, students need to explore and learn more about science and social life. The application of philosophy is not in something distant or grandiose, but first and foremost in one's own life, as the father of Western philosophy, Socrates, said: "An unexamined life is not worth living."

Sharing his views on this issue, Dr. Pham Hoang Giang - Head of the Philosophy Department,University of Social Sciences and HumanitiesAccording to Hanoi National University: To make students more interested in and less hesitant about Philosophy, firstly, from the teaching side, lecturers of the Philosophy Department in particular and the Philosophy major in general are always actively innovating teaching methods and course assessment methods.

If we only test students by rote memorization, they will easily feel bored and find the learning unengaging. Instead, instructors should stimulate interest and delve deeper into practical issues and content that is relevant to students' current knowledge. Applying technology to lectures is also a way to create a more impactful learning experience.

Dr. Pham Hoang Giang - Head of the Philosophy Department, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Photo: university website.

Secondly, from the student's perspective, due to the nature of theoretical studies, students who want to overcome their fear of this subject need to consciously cultivate their knowledge and social understanding. The reason students feel discouraged is because they don't know how to apply practical issues to the lessons, such as political, religious, cultural, and social activities that are constantly existing and evolving around us. Philosophy provides perspectives and methods of thinking to solve problems, but it doesn't directly offer solutions to real-world problems.

Therefore, if students do not observe, do not practice critical thinking, and only rely on applying pre-existing formulas to solve problems immediately, they will achieve no results, and may even become disillusioned and quickly lose interest. Philosophy requires time for practice and absorption. Therefore, true philosophy students need the ability to learn independently, be open-minded, and persevere.

Job opportunities are diverse because graduates possess both broad and deep expertise.

Regarding employment prospects, Dr. Cao Nguyen – Head of the Department of Political Theory, Construction College No. 1, said: Currently, educational institutions nationwide recruit many former Philosophy students, especially graduates from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, to work in both teaching (teaching assistants, lecturers) and administrative positions (Party Committee Office, Management and Training Department, Personnel Department, etc.).

Considering the overall comparison, the Philosophy Department of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, is a reputable unit, offering reliable quality. Graduates from the Philosophy Department possess both broad and deep professional knowledge, a strong foundation, and high discipline. Furthermore, in today's rapidly developing world, they are also equipped with essential soft skills, enabling them to quickly adapt and thrive in their work.
 

The international conference "Tran Duc Thao - Some Philosophical and Historical Issues" was held at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Photo: NTCC

Dr. Nguyen also believes that Philosophy is a fundamental science, heavily focused on theory, so students already possess relatively good thinking and research abilities. However, in the initial stages of teaching, they need further training in knowledge enhancement courses and pedagogical skills development to better utilize their strengths.

"From the perspective of someone with many years of teaching Philosophy, I believe that students graduating from this major can work in a wide variety of professions. Thanks to the foundational knowledge and philosophical thinking they acquire, they can apply it to their work and life, achieving many successes, not only in their field but also in related or closely related fields," Dr. Nguyen emphasized.

Sharing the requirements for the job, Mr. Nguyen said: Firstly, during their years in school, students must dedicate time to studying specialized knowledge. Deep thinking, diligent reading, practice, and research will help them build a broad, profound, and fundamental knowledge base.

Secondly, training institutions should survey students' career aspirations, identifying the fields and types of organizations they wish to work in. Based on this, the school can delve deeper into students' desires to provide appropriate guidance and support, connecting students with employers so they can participate in field trips, internships, and part-time work, thereby improving the quality of their graduates.

In addition to general activities at school-wide career counseling and recruitment events, educational institutions should support job placement for students at the departmental and faculty levels. This will open up more career opportunities for all students, instead of narrowing it down to individual connections between students and recruiting agencies, organizations, and units.

The graduation thesis defense ceremony of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Photo: Provided by the author.

According to Dr. Pham Hoang Giang, the career prospects for philosophy graduates are very diverse. In recent years, alumni have been involved in teaching from high school to university, in research, in both the private and public sectors, such as...Propaganda Department, Vietnam Fatherland Front, Women's Union, People's Committees of provinces, non-governmental organizations, news agencies, etc.

For example, during discussions with FPT Group, Professor Pham Hoang Giang mentioned that the organization needs to recruit personnel with strong problem-solving skills, critical thinking abilities, and teamwork skills. Therefore, graduates in Philosophy with a strong background in basic scientific research could apply for positions such as advisor, secretary, or planning organizer, etc.

It is crucial for students to be able to apply abstract knowledge from Philosophy to specific tasks through observation, problem-solving, understanding the core essence, critical thinking, and eloquent presentation skills in the face of countless life phenomena. With this ability, the vast and comprehensive body of philosophical knowledge, encompassing both Eastern and Western, ancient and modern, will become a valuable treasure trove of knowledge that students can gradually experience, absorb, and transform into practical experience in their lives and work.

Attractive scholarships draw talent to the field of Philosophy.

Since 2022, Vietnam National University, Hanoi has begun piloting scholarships for students in nine basic science disciplines. In implementing this policy, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has issued regulations on scholarship criteria for "Attracting Talent to the Fields of Study".basic science", including the Philosophy major. Accordingly, students can receive scholarships from their first semester in the Philosophy Department if they meet the criteria for admission results in the university entrance exam (all methods), have good conduct, and have achieved a GPA of "Good" or higher throughout their three years of high school. For students from the second semester of their first year onwards, scholarships are awarded based on their academic results from the previous semester, provided that students complete the minimum number of credits as prescribed."

Faculty and students from the Philosophy Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, participate in extracurricular activities. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Specifically, the scholarship amount is as follows: In addition to receiving a scholarship equal to the tuition fee for each academic year, students also receive a living allowance of VND 2,000,000 per month and priority in being allocated free accommodation in the dormitory. Furthermore, students who have received the "Talent Attraction" scholarship are given priority consideration for other scholarships with higher support levels if they meet the requirements, are assigned a scientific mentor, and participate in scientific research and experiential activities throughout their course of study.

Regarding the quota, each major is awarded at least 5 scholarships per cohort/major. Thus, with a 4-year training program, students in the Philosophy Faculty have a minimum of 20 "Talent Attraction" scholarships. This number may be higher depending on the quantity and quality of applications from across the university, as determined by the rector.

Dr. Pham Hoang Giang assessed that the "Attracting Talent" scholarship is an opportunity to "nurture" and encourage students to strive for excellence in their studies. This serves as both a motivation for students to develop and improve themselves, and a criterion for teachers to screen and evaluate students' abilities and qualifications, as demonstrated through their academic achievements and personal development.

In addition, according to regulations ofMinistry of Education and TrainingIn their fourth year, Philosophy students can choose from several specializations, including two specializations in Marxist-Leninist Philosophy and Scientific Socialism, which receive 100% tuition fee waivers in their fourth year without any additional criteria.

Students from the Philosophy Department, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Sharing his "secrets" to securing scholarships, Professor Pham Hoang Giang also stated that students need to strike a reasonable balance between theoretical learning and practical skills to achieve the best possible results. Students should proactively seek out and learn additional knowledge from official sources such as libraries, books, newspapers, and the internet. Participating in scientific research and student union activities are supplementary criteria, and in some cases, mandatory criteria, to win good scholarships, both from within and outside the government budget.

When students leave high school to enter university with new subjects, they will have to adapt to new approaches to knowledge, learning methods, and research techniques that are completely different from before, thus facing some challenges. To become good or excellent students, they need to maintain the diligence, discipline, and perseverance they learned in high school, while actively seeking out information and adapting to the university environment.

For students who are passionate about and aspire to pursue a career in Philosophy, from the Faculty leadership to all the lecturers of the Philosophy Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, we always strive to care for, wholeheartedly support, and pay attention to nurturing students throughout their studies and training.

At the same time, the faculty members always support students in seeking scholarships abroad for master's degrees in countries such as Russia, China, Germany, South Korea, etc. The Philosophy Department and the university are always striving to "open their arms" to welcome young people to the Philosophy Department, for a future development of this particularly interesting and important field of study.