Attending the signing ceremony were Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem, Vice Chairman of the Central Executive Council and Head of the Central Propagation Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), and Head of the Hanoi Buddhist Association; Venerable Thich Chieu Tue, Member of the Central Executive Council, Deputy Head of the Central Propagation Committee of the VBS, and Deputy Head of the Hanoi Buddhist Association; Venerable Thich Dao Phong, Member of the Central Executive Council, and Chief Secretary of the Hanoi Buddhist Association; and Venerable Thich Vien Duc, Chief of the Office of the Hanoi Buddhist Association.
Representing the University of Social Sciences and Humanities were Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Party Secretary and Rector; representatives from the Cooperation and Development Department, the Faculty of History, and other scientists and lecturers of the University.
In his welcoming remarks, Rector Hoang Anh Tuan expressed his sincere gratitude to Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem and the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Hanoi for visiting and signing a cooperation agreement with the University in the early days of 2025. Over the years, leveraging its strengths as a leading institution with a long tradition and position in research and training in the social sciences and humanities, and a team of leading experts in history, cultural studies, literature, religious studies, philosophy, heritage, and Sino-Vietnamese studies, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has collaborated with the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Hanoi to implement numerous activities: professional development for staff, research, document collection, organizing seminars, and proposing valuable policy advice to the Government, ministries, central and local agencies. The cooperation agreement signed today will serve as an important legal basis, officially opening a new phase of deep and effective cooperation between the two units in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the nation.
Rector Hoang Anh Tuan delivered a speech expressing his expectations for sustainable and effective cooperation between the University and the Vietnam Buddhist Association in training and research.
Agreeing with the cooperation proposals from the University's leadership, Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem further emphasized: The University of Social Sciences and Humanities is one of the very few institutions in Vietnam with a long tradition and systematic training in religious studies, Sino-Vietnamese studies, history, cultural studies, etc., with a team of highly qualified lecturers and researchers. Therefore, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha believes that cooperative projects, especially those related to the collection, preservation, and promotion of heritage values in general, and Buddhist heritage in particular, will be successfully implemented with high scientific quality. On the occasion of the upcoming Year of the Snake, Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem extended his best wishes for health, success, and happiness to all teachers, students, and pupils; and wished the University of Social Sciences and Humanities continued growth and many brilliant achievements.
Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem expressed his gratitude for the warm feelings and thoughtful, respectful welcome extended by the leaders, staff, and lecturers of the School to the delegation.
Representatives from the Faculty of History and the Department of Religious Studies attending the signing ceremony expressed their appreciation and high regard for the value of this cooperation opportunity, aiming to leverage the strengths of their respective training institutions and socio-political organizations, and increase resources for research and preservation of national heritage. In addition, the representatives also proposed several specific areas for enhanced cooperation in the future: coordinating projects for translating archival documents, organizing scientific conferences, providing training to improve the skills of staff, and offering postgraduate training, etc.
Associate Professor Dr. Dang Hong Son (Head of the History Department) gave a speech.
Venerable Thich Chieu Tue, Member of the Executive Council, Deputy Head of the Central Propagation Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, and Deputy Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Hanoi, emphasized the value of Buddhist heritage and the prospects for cooperation between the two units in collecting, researching, and promoting the value of heritage in contemporary life.
Stemming from shared goals and leveraging the potential and strengths of its expert team, while upholding national responsibility in researching, preserving, and promoting the values of the nation's human resources, serving the goal of cultural revival in the era of national progress, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Hanoi City have agreed to sign a cooperation agreement covering three groups of activities:
- Conducting research and providing expert advice in the field of Buddhist cultural heritage; compiling and publishing Buddhist works on Thang Long - Hanoi; developing and implementing scientific research programs aimed at reviving national culture in the era of national development.
- Conducting research and providing policy advice in the fields of cultural construction and development;
Preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage; building and developing the cultural industry;
Managing and developing Buddhist cultural heritage.
- Cooperation in training and capacity building to improve the quality of human resources; cooperation in undergraduate and postgraduate education.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan and Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem, representing the leadership of the two units, signed the cooperation agreement.
This Memorandum of Understanding serves as the basis for both parties to implement specific cooperation programs and activities. Both parties commit to prioritizing the allocation of human resources, legal resources, and facilities to ensure the successful and effective implementation of cooperative activities.
