Anthropology: A highly applied and international science

In the context of Doi Moi since 1986, many young Vietnamese intellectuals have been trained in Anthropology at advanced universities in Europe, America, and Australia. Since the early 2000s, Ethnology in Vietnam has been transformed and developed into the field of Anthropology following the model in North American countries, Australia, etc. Anthropology in Vietnam not only has the ability to integrate internationally but also continues to train Anthropologists with professional knowledge and skills, understanding the realities of the country, society, culture and people of Vietnam, making practical contributions to the work of planning and implementing policies of the State and organizations at home and abroad.

Anthropology is currently divided into five sub-disciplines: Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, Archaeological Anthropology, and Applied Anthropology. In which, Anthropology explains the biological origins of humans, the evolutionary development and genetic diversity of humans. Cultural Anthropology studies human societies through ethnographic description. Linguistic Anthropology is concerned with the nature of language and human language use. Archaeological Anthropology, or archaeology, deciphers past societies. Applied Anthropology implies that anthropologists apply anthropological approaches, methodologies and knowledge to solve problems of social practice.

The Faculty of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities has a team of highly qualified lecturers, who have been trained at prestigious universities in Vietnam and some European and American countries such as the Australian National University (Australia), the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), the University of Cambridge (UK), the University of Colorado, Harvard University (USA), the Graduate School of Social Sciences (France) ... With a team of staff with diverse expertise, good foreign language skills, extensive international and Vietnamese practical experience, the lecturers of the Faculty of Anthropology are always pioneers and committed to researching many scientific, interdisciplinary and highly practical issues of society and the country, such as land issues, livelihoods, ethnic groups, ethnic cultures, ethnic relations, ethnic policies, cross-border relations, family, clan, gender and culture, labor, migration, urbanization, cultural heritage, climate change, writing, religion, beliefs, ...
Over the past ten years, the Faculty's teaching staff has undertaken many major scientific research topics, implemented many research projects sponsored by international organizations, and regularly conducted exchange activities, training cooperation and research with international scientists.
The Faculty of Anthropology is always at the forefront of publishing high-quality scientific works in English and French in prestigious journals and publishers around the world. Statistics from the University show that the Faculty's teaching staff has the highest rate of international publications in the whole university. This achievement clearly demonstrates the regional and international scientific research capacity of the Faculty of Anthropology's teaching staff, which is recognized by colleagues, the University and society.
In addition to the permanent teaching staff, the Faculty of Anthropology also has the responsible and dedicated teaching of Anthropologists with good professional qualifications working at the Institute of Ethnology, Museum of Ethnology, Vietnam Association of Ethnology and Anthropology.

Associate Professor Lam Minh Chau, Faculty of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, became a member of the Editorial Board of PoLAR - Journal of Political and Legal Anthropology of the Political and Legal Anthropology Association, USA.      
  

The results of scientific research are applied by the Faculty's teaching staff in lectures and scientific seminars to train and guide students, graduate students and postgraduates of the Faculty, and at the same time use Anthropological knowledge to advise state agencies and international organizations to solve practical social problems in many areas across the country, especially in ethnic minority, mountainous and highland areas.

The Faculty of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities is also the only Anthropology training center in Vietnam with a system of bridging training programs from Bachelor to Master and Doctorate levels. All three Anthropology training programs (Bachelor, Master and Doctorate) are highly international, thanks to the reference to the Anthropology training model of advanced universities in the US, Canada, and Australia. Thanks to that, Anthropology students study many subjects compatible with the training programs at universities in developed countries. The faculty's teaching staff applies modern teaching methods, such as teaching in the form of seminars, project-based learning, group learning, group discussion, etc. Many subjects in the Faculty's Bachelor's program have referenced the most modern knowledge in textbooks of advanced universities in the world.

With the teaching motto of putting students at the center, the Faculty always supports students to develop their thinking and practice according to their abilities and passions. In a dynamic, open and creative academic environment, students of the Faculty of Anthropology are taught comprehensively: from basic knowledge in the classroom to experiences, research practice in the field, participation in extracurricular activities at museums, NGOs, and exchanges with international students and scientists.

Anthropology students have many opportunities to interact and learn from scientists and participate in international research projects. In the 2018-2019 academic year, student Pham Thi Kim Tam (4th year) of the Faculty participated in a research project on indigenous rice varieties in Lao Cai province implemented by French scientists. Student Phung Manh Cuong participated in a research project on the use of antibiotics in animal feed in some provinces in the Red River Delta. Both students benefited from funding from the projects and completed their graduation thesis research with good quality.

In addition, the international cooperation network of the Faculty of Anthropology provides students with scholarship opportunities to study abroad. “The Faculty of Anthropology has been implementing lecturer and student exchange programs with the Faculty of Anthropology of the University of Toronto (Canada), the Institute of Anthropology of the University of Gottingen (Germany), the Faculty of Anthropology of Uppsala University (Sweden)... Through these exchange programs, excellent students of the Faculty have the opportunity to study abroad and thereby seek scholarship and career opportunities in an international environment. For example, in 2017 and 2018, the Faculty of Anthropology sent 3 students and 1 lecturer to Gottingen University (Germany). In 2019, 2 students and 1 lecturer went to Uppsala University (Sweden)” - Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Suu informed.
The training motto provides future Anthropologists with extensive knowledge and systematic professional skills, helping learners access wide and diverse career opportunities. Many Anthropology graduates are working in agencies and organizations related to people, culture and development at home and abroad. A clear proof is that right in Hanoi, every week there are recruitment notices from international organizations for many positions suitable for the expertise and skills of Anthropology graduates. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Suu, this reality comes from the fact that: “Development programs, projects, and cultural heritage projects in Vietnam, especially in ethnic minority areas, all have the contribution of Anthropologists in using the knowledge, methods, and approaches of Anthropology to advise on the construction and implementation of development programs and projects that are suitable to the culture and lifestyle of local people. This is a good opportunity for Anthropology graduates.”.