Opening the meeting, Professor Guy Le Thiec – Rector of the School of Arts, Literature, Languages and Humanities (Aix-Marseille University) – gave an overview of the university's history, scale, and strengths in training and research. He stated that Aix-Marseille University is currently the largest university in the Francophone community, with approximately 80,000 students, 19 research institutes, 12 postgraduate schools, and over 350 international partners. Among these, the School of Arts, Literature, Languages and Humanities (Faculté des Arts, Lettres, Langues et Sciences Humaines – ALLSH), located in Aix-en-Provence, is one of the largest and oldest units, with approximately 16,000 students and 26 teaching departments. Besides linguistics, anthropology, and sociology, ALLSH also excels in teaching and researching ancient languages such as Latin, Greek, Arabic, and Babylonian, demonstrating AMU's rich tradition of humanities and scholarship. Vietnamese language and culture are also among the programs offered at ALLSH.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, expressed his deep impression of Aix-Marseille University during his recent visit, emphasizing that the School of Arts, Literature, Languages and Humanities at Aix-Marseille University is an ideal academic environment for social sciences and humanities disciplines, bringing together a diverse faculty, students, and research units. As early as 2014, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Aix-Marseille University signed a framework agreement. Since then, the two universities have signed numerous cooperation agreements and implemented very effective activities: faculty and student exchanges; and the organization of many international scientific conferences. Notably, in July 2024, with the support and cooperation of Aix Marseille University, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities successfully organized the international scientific conference "21st Century Archiving: Scientific Knowledge or Information?", and simultaneously published the book "Archival Science and the Digital Transformation in Vietnam: Legal and Practical Issues for the 21st Century" published by Nomos Publishing House. These were invaluable opportunities for the university's scientists and lecturers to engage in academic exchange with international experts to enhance their expertise and research capabilities.
Rector Hoang Anh Tuan expressed his desire for the two universities to further strengthen cooperation in all areas where both sides have strengths, especially in developing a joint postgraduate training program in Archival Studies in the near future, while affirming strong support for cooperation projects between the faculties and departments of both sides.
During the exchange, Professor Nguyen Phuong Ngoc, Vice-Rector of Aix-Marseille University, introduced the university's outstanding training programs, including master's programs in "International Negotiation" and "Asian Languages and Cultures." She stated that Vietnamese language and culture have been incorporated into the curriculum for postgraduate and doctoral students at ALLSH, and expressed her desire to expand exchange programs for Vietnamese and French students. In the field of archiving and document preservation, Professor Nguyen Phuong Ngoc highlighted the valuable resources at the French National Overseas Archives, particularly the nearly 9,000-page dossier related to Nguyen Ai Quoc's activities in France, which has been digitized and published online. She expressed hope that Vietnamese lecturers, researchers, and students can effectively access and utilize this archive in their historical and cultural research.
During the meeting, representatives from the training units of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, such as the Faculty of Oriental Studies, the Institute of Journalism and Communication, the Faculty of Anthropology and Religious Studies, the Faculty of History, the Faculty of Linguistics, Vietnamese Language and Vietnamese Studies, the Faculty of Psychology, and the Faculty of Philosophy, introduced their key training and research areas and proposed specific collaborations: implementing joint research projects on Vietnamese-French history and cultural heritage, archaeology, linguistics, journalism, communication, psychology, philosophy, Southeast Asian studies, regional studies, etc.
The University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the School of Arts, Literature, Language and Humanities (Aix-Marseille University) have agreed to promote cooperation programs: academic exchanges, faculty and student exchanges, organizing research projects, collecting and translating archival documents about Vietnam abroad, as well as jointly organizing international conferences in areas of mutual interest. Initially, both sides will expedite the opening of a Master's program in Archival Studies and Digitization; and short-term courses in collaboration with Aix-Marseille University and the French National Overseas Archives Center.
The meeting further strengthened the long-standing cooperative relationship between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Aix-Marseille University.
A delegation from Aix-Marseille University held a working session at the Department of Archival Studies and Office Management, University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
USSH Hanoi Forum 2026