This morning, October 8th, 2024, the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities (HSSH) held a scientific conference with the theme "High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities: 5 Years of a Journey of Compassion (October 9th, 2019 - October 9th, 2024)".
The workshop was attended by Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-USSH, along with several heads of functional departments; scientists from Vietnam National University, Hanoi - who have been involved since the early days of HSSH's establishment; the Board of Directors, teachers, parents and students of the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities.
The strong policy and determination to build a specialized high school model within the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.The High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities is a public educational institution within the national education system. Established on October 9, 2019, by Decision No. 5673 of the Hanoi People's Committee, it is the third specialized high school under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and the first in the country specializing in social sciences and humanities. In the current international and national context, the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities is a young institution with significant potential for further development.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, emphasized the pioneering mission of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in educating and training outstanding students in the field of social sciences and humanities.
In his opening remarks at the workshop, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, emphasized: "Over the past five years, the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities has had an impressive journey." To achieve this historic milestone on October 9, 2019, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities spent considerable time preparing and nurturing the establishment of a specialized high school within a university, with many aspirations and expectations to fulfill its pioneering mission in education, training outstanding students in the fields of social sciences and humanities, and creating a source of talent in social sciences and humanities for the country.
Recalling the early days when VNU-USSH built its specialized high school model, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan said that HSSH was established in a special context, implementing major national policies on linking high school education with higher education. To achieve the results it has today, the school is grateful for the immense support and contributions of many experts, scientists, and administrators from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Professor Vu Duong Ninh, a People's Teacher, has devoted much of his passion to the establishment and development of the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities.
As one of the first academics to support the establishment of the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities, Professor Vu Duong Ninh - former Head of the Faculty of International Studies, President of the Association of Retired Teachers of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - emphasized that the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities has a great advantage as a "small specialized school" within a "large specialized school".
Accordingly, inheriting the more than 100-year tradition of Hanoi National University and the 80-year tradition of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - a leading prestigious university in the country for training and research in the field of social sciences and humanities, the Specialized High School has many great resources in training generations of elite students.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu - Principal of the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities, chaired the workshop.
Reporting on the achievements over the past five years, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu - Principal of the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities - affirmed that the school remains steadfast in its three main pillars: creative thinking education; languages and foreign languages; and information technology. Students at HSSH benefit from a comprehensive, dynamic, and confident education to become global citizens.
The dedication of reputable scientists and administrators to the development of the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities.
From the perspective of a leading expert in educational quality assurance, Professor Mai Trong Nhuan, former Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, highly praised the unique philosophy and quality of education at the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities. Accordingly, the school has implemented university governance based on output standards designed from the outset with the goal of training global citizens. The comprehensive yet high-level educational philosophy of HSSH is an approach modeled after the training models of several prestigious universities worldwide. The admissions process has selected high-quality candidates, the training organization is excellent, and the school effectively absorbs and transmits the humanistic values of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Professor Mai Trong Nhuan highly praised the philosophy and distinctive quality of education at the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities.
Professor Vu Duong Ninh emphasized that, building on the traditions of VNU-USSH, the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities has implemented a strategy of developing a workforce of excellent educators and accomplished scientists. With the advantage of being a member of a leading university, the policy of building a team of well-trained teachers with postgraduate qualifications is entirely feasible. Teachers not only teach well at the specialized high school but also serve as lecturers at the university, participating in scientific research activities, thereby conveying scientific content and a passion for research to students. "It is the teachers who guide the students into the vast world of science," Professor Vu Duong Ninh stated.
Currently, including visiting lecturers, the school's staff comprises 4 associate professors, 10 PhDs, 22 masters, and 6 bachelors. Over 80% of the staff hold postgraduate degrees. This is a very impressive figure for a secondary school.
Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc, Chairman of the University Council and former Head of Training at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, emphasized that the special feature of the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities is its team of high-caliber scientists, who inspire and instill in students a passion for scientific research, fostering noble ambitions and ideals. At the school, students are nurtured in knowledge, skills, intellect, culture, character, and experience... to become successful. Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc also expressed that, in addition to the general goal of education, the school should strive for the highest goal: discovering, training, and nurturing talent.
Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc, Chairman of the University Council of the University of Technology and former Head of the Training Department of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, shared many meaningful stories about nurturing talent in specialized high schools.
Professor Nguyen Quang Ngoc, a member of the Science and Training Council of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, expressed his hope that the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities would continue to implement its philosophy of comprehensive education for students. In this philosophy, teachers play a crucial role in guiding and nurturing students' ideals and aspirations. Professor Nguyen Quang Ngoc affirmed: "It can be said that the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities is a good environment for students to achieve success and build their careers."
Professor Nguyen Quang Ngoc expressed his wish that the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities would continue to implement its philosophy of comprehensive education for students.
Associate Professor Tran Khanh Thanh - Vice Chairman of the Central Council for Literary and Artistic Theory and Criticism, shared his views at the conference.
Associate Professor Dr. Ha Van Duc - Former Head of the Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, shared memories of the early days of developing the project to establish the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities, and expressed his pride in having a child who was a student in the school's first graduating class.
The journey of compassion has yielded many sweet fruits.The number of students admitted is not large (5 classes/course), but the quality of incoming students is high. All students at the school must pass a highly competitive entrance exam; they must have solid knowledge, good morals, and discipline.
The school emphasizes a combination of comprehensive and specialized training, focusing on developing students in specific subjects. In the high school graduation exam, the school consistently ranks among the top schools in Hanoi in strong subjects such as Literature, History, Geography, English, and Civic Education. In student competitions, students from the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities have achieved numerous successes: over the past five years, they have won 15 national-level awards and 161 awards in the Hanoi National University's High School Olympic competition.
The first and second graduating classes of the school have all been admitted to top-ranked universities in Vietnam, the region, and around the world, such as the University of Winnipeg - Manitoba - Canada; the University of Rochester, New York, USA; Rutgers University, New Jersey, New Brunswick, USA; the National University of Singapore, Korea National University, Japan National University, Eotvos Lorand University - Hungary, and a host of other top universities such as Hanoi National University, Foreign Trade University, Diplomatic Academy, National Economics University, Hanoi Law University… Not only have they been admitted to social sciences and humanities and economics, but some students have also become students at the University of Natural Sciences, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi University of Technology, Hanoi University of Architecture, and Vietnam National University of Agriculture…
The school has strengthened exchanges and cooperation with many units, especially specialized high schools in Hanoi and specialized high schools belonging to the Association of Specialized High Schools in the Coastal and Northern Delta regions, to help gifted student teams participate in experiential activities and accumulate experience. The school's teachers participated in writing research papers for the Scientific Conference of Specialized High Schools in the Coastal and Northern Delta regions in 2022 and 2023, and both won high awards.
The school's teaching staff consists of highly qualified, dynamic, and enthusiastic teachers and lecturers. In addition, the school also has visiting lecturers who are leading scientists from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and member units of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi. They are highly skilled in their fields, proficient in their profession, and utilize modern teaching methods; constantly improving their capacity and educational quality, and approaching the standards of advanced high schools in the region and around the world.
The training program has been updated to be modern, aligning with both the general curriculum of the Ministry of Education and Training and the specific characteristics of the social sciences and humanities, especially in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution's strong impact on Vietnam.
Mr. Nguyen Huy Hung – Head of the Parents' Representative Board – expressed his gratitude for the dedication of the teachers of the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy - a parent of a student - shared her experience during her child's time studying at HSSH and receiving a scholarship to study in the USA.
Scientists, the school administration, parents, and students of the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities pose for a commemorative photo at the conference.
Five years is a journey of hard work and creativity, a journey of building and establishing fundamental values to create the image of the Faculty of Humanities today, with core values: Quality - Creativity - Humanism.
Proud of the values it has built and continues to uphold, passionate about the missions it has undertaken, and confident in the leadership and support of its management, the School will strive tirelessly to further affirm its position as a high-quality training institution in the field of social sciences and humanities, strengthening its image and standing among specialized high schools nationwide and internationally.
