The university has a strategy when training History majors to increase job opportunities for students.

In the trend of global development and integration, applied sciences are increasingly having many advantages for development.

Current reality shows that the labor market also favors human resources in the fields of economics, technology, finance, etc., and pays less attention to basic sciences, including History.

History always has an important position

Talking to reporters of Vietnam Electronic Magazine, Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Hong Son - Deputy Head of the Department of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities,Vietnam National University, HanoiAffirmation: History, although not a "hot" subject, has not lost its position in society.

Any field of study has the goal of providing human resources for society.

In fact, whenscience and technologyAs the world is growing, the demand of society for human resources in the fields of science, technology and engineering, people with knowledge and understanding of economics, finance, and talent and skills in communication will increase. This is easy to explain because according to the law of nature, where there is demand, there will be supply.

Above all, looking at reality, in any society, there will not be a need for many historical researchers or historians. However, history never fades away and the development process of each country cannot "miss" a part of history.

In terms of competitiveness in university education, History is not "strong enough" to compete with other "hot" majors according to trends, but in terms of position and role in society, History's position is extremely solid.

Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Hong Son expressed that society still understands and refers to History as a field of study that provides knowledge about events that have occurred in the development process of humanity, of each country and nation, and this knowledge is only suitable and for researchers and has no value in serving society.

However, in reality, there are many professions that are using and need knowledge from History. Therefore, studying History is not only learning dry numbers and dates but also receiving a lot of knowledge in many different areas of society.

New direction in history training

Looking at the social context and practical needs, the Faculty of History, University of Education, University of Danang has built a training program for the major of History that is different from some other training units, which is in-depth training with the major of International Relations.

Dr. Truong Trung Phuong, Deputy Head of the Faculty of History, University of Education, University of Danang said: The trend of globalization is taking place strongly and comprehensively in all aspects of life, leading to an increasing demand for human resources serving in the fields of diplomacy and foreign affairs at diplomatic agencies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, foreign affairs departments of multinational corporations, media, press, public relations, etc.

Therefore, training in the major of International Relations in the Faculty of History will help learners to comprehensively and deeply research the process of national history, human history; knowledge of bilateral and multilateral international relations, foreign policies of major countries, international organizations, international law, etc.

In addition, according to Dr. Truong Trung Phuong, students will be trained in communication skills, international negotiations, diplomatic reception, foreign office operations, and specialized English proficiency to be able to work in an international, multicultural environment.

Thereby, helping learners gain more understanding of global issues, of international relations in the middle, modern and contemporary periods in fields such as politics - diplomacy, trade - investment, security - defense, culture, and international law.

According to Mr. Phuong, the training program for History, majoring in International Relations, is designed to be open, creating many conditions for students during the learning process.

Specifically, in addition to studying the History and International Relations majors, students can study two programs in parallel by registering for additional courses at foreign training institutions that cooperate with the school or outside the school to accumulate conditions to meet the output standards of the training program.

Courses with practical content are arranged in a 50/50 or 30/70 ratio to improve students' professional practice skills.

On the other hand, the faculty has connected with units such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Center for International Cooperation Development, the Union of Friendship Organizations, a number of non-governmental organizations and many units with areas of work suitable to the expertise and profession of learners to organize internship and practice courses.

Meanwhile, due to concerns that the specific nature of the History major will limit students' ability to find jobs, the Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, has promoted the transfer of research results and application to serve the community in the fields of historical science, cultural studies and cultural management.

Currently, the field of study is built with two main knowledge blocks, including knowledge of different fields in the field of social sciences and humanities; knowledge block of historical sciences such as Vietnamese History, World History, History of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Cultural History, Urban History, knowledge of historical theory and archaeology.

Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Hong Son emphasized that the History training program especially focuses on skills and practical applications in practice, following the motto "learning goes hand in hand with practice" to achieve the highest efficiency in the training process.

If in other basic science majors, students get to experience internships and practical work from the second and third years, then for History students, right from the first year, they get to do an archaeological excavation internship for 15 days.

This is one of the most special and unique features of the History Department at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, which has been implementing this activity.

Tran Tam Nhu, a student of the Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said that throughout the learning process, history students are given the opportunity by teachers to approach and get closer to history through the process of seeing and hearing with their own eyes.

Archaeological internship at sites and monuments can be considered a "specialty" of the History department, a privilege reserved for History students when they become "trainee archaeologists".

“We were able to hold hoes and scrapers ourselves, and dig each layer of soil. Every action at the site was a valuable lesson, through which we learned how to handle artifacts found and how to observe geological stratigraphy from each perspective.

In particular, through each trip, students will gain more communication, behavioral and working skills at local agencies and specialized agencies that have supported them throughout the internship.

15 days of internship are enough for students to feel the dedication of teachers as well as the hardships of the profession. Above all, students have gained many valuable experiences, knowledge and valuable skills to supplement their future work", Tam Nhu expressed.

Studying History is not just about becoming a "historian"

In the context of increasingly rich and diverse training professions, to help the History industry adapt and develop more, training units have actively changed their perspectives, diversified training methods to expand the output for History students, and eliminated the notion that studying history can only make you a "historian".

Dr. Truong Trung Phuong said that training in History majoring in International Relations at the University of Education, Danang University will help students have many job opportunities in the context of globalization.

Accordingly, students have the opportunity to work at foreign affairs agencies and units of the Party and State from central to local levels.

History graduates can also work in international organizations, non-governmental organizations, embassies, consulates, foreign affairs offices or take on positions as foreign affairs specialists, interpreters, translators, project coordinators, assistants at foreign-invested enterprises, joint ventures and state-owned enterprises, and multinational corporations.

In addition, graduates can work as lecturers or researchers at universities, colleges, and research institutes domestically and internationally.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Hong Son, in addition to the traditional working environment, the school has gradually shifted to non-public agencies by enhancing comprehensive professional skills in history, culture and focusing on close professional directions.

On that basis, the curriculum framework from 2019 to present has been expanded to include subjects in fields close to History such as Tourism Studies, Journalism and Communication, Political Science, Anthropology, Vietnam Studies, Cultural Studies, etc. Job opportunities for History graduates have also been expanded.

Specifically, History graduates can work as researchers at historical and cultural research institutes or as state managers of historical documents, cultural heritage and museums.

At universities, academies, colleges and high schools, History graduates have sufficient knowledge and ability to teach courses and subjects related to history, and jobs related to comprehensive knowledge of social sciences and humanities.

History graduates can also take on positions as historical-cultural consultants, organizational developers, and organizational culture builders in domestic and foreign companies. They can work in press, media, and publishing organizations, and even in the tourism and travel industry.

Currently, the school is actively promoting the policy of expanding training related to practice, applying technology in historical research and restoration, focusing on strengthening the work of "hand-holding", forming working groups between teachers and students to promote the process of teachers and students interacting, supporting each other to grow together.

In subjects, the Faculty's leadership also emphasizes expanding learning space outside the school area.

Accordingly, the learning and teaching process not only takes place in school lecture halls but also in museum systems, relics, and ancient villages around Hanoi and the North.