The seminar was attended by leading scientists in the fields of research and training related to religion, beliefs, philosophy, cultural studies, and more.
In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities; Director and Vice Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies, emphasized that policy consultation is one of the core activities of CECRS. The scientific seminar and feedback on the policy consultation report is a prestigious scientific forum to gather valuable exchanges from leading researchers in the fields of religion, philosophy, cultural studies, etc., to refine important policy recommendations.
Expressing sincere gratitude for the dedication and intellectual contributions of leading scientists, Associate Professor Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh believes that the seminar in particular, and subsequent research and knowledge transfer activities of the Center for Contemporary Religion Studies, will continue to bring valuable contributions to the management agencies of the Party and Government.
Appreciating the significance of the seminar and contributing to the policy advisory report organized by CECRS, Professor Dr. Do Quang Hung - Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Center for Contemporary Religion Studies, said that the Center's policy advisory activities will be a prestigious scientific forum, providing an opportunity for scientists to share their research in the field of religion and belief.
Associate Professor Lai Quoc Khanh emphasized that policy consultation is one of the core activities of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies.
Professor Dr. Do Quang Hung - Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Center for Contemporary Religion Studies - chaired the seminar and exchanged papers and presentations.
At the seminar, scientists exchanged views on current issues of religious belief. Professor Dr. Do Quang Hung presented a report on the topic "Discussion on the 2016 Law on Religion and Belief: Several Issues Ahead"; Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Hung presented two reports on "Normalizing Relations between Vietnam and the Vatican (Inspiration from Vietnamese Leaders' Visits to the Vatican)" and "Promoting Religious and Belief Resources for Sustainable Development"; and Dr. Nguyen Huu Thu presented a report on "The Current State of Religious Practice in Vietnam: Some Issues to be Raised". Leading scientists discussed and contributed scientific opinions aimed at advising on religious and belief policies in Vietnam to the content of the reports.
These scientific reports are expected to be handed over by the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies to the Government's Religious Affairs Committee to supplement and refine current policies and laws on religion and belief in Vietnam.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Hung - Standing Vice Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies
Dr. Nguyen Huu Thu presented a report on "The current state of religious practices in Vietnam: Some issues to be raised".
Professor Phung Huu Phu shared his delight at the strong development of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies in recent times.
Attending the seminar, Professor Phung Huu Phu, Chairman of the Policy Advisory Council and Chairman of the Scientific Council of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, shared his delight at the strong development of the Center for Contemporary Religion Studies over the past period, thanks to the close guidance of successive generations of leaders and the dedicated contributions of scientists; the scientific seminar and feedback on the policy advisory report are a testament to this. Professor Phung Huu Phu assessed that the seminar had very accurately identified current issues of religious belief, contributing theoretical and practical foundations for policy advice to state management agencies in this field.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh - former Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
Associate Professor Pascal Bourdeaux - Paris Graduate School of Applied Sciences, France, Member of the Scientific Council of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies, discusses methods for comparing beliefs and religions of different countries.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lam Ba Nam - former Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Xuan - Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Member of the Scientific Council of the Center for Contemporary Religion Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Associate Professor Tran Thi Kim Oanh - Head of the Department of Religious Studies, Member of the Scientific Council of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, shared some experiences in research and training at the Department of Religious Studies.
During the seminar, the organizing committee announced the Decision on the restructuring of the Scientific Council of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies. Accordingly, the Center's Scientific Council brings together leading scientists in research and training in the fields of religion, beliefs, philosophy, cultural studies, and religious leaders from domestic and international universities, academies, research institutes, and ministries/departments, such as: Prof. Dr. Do Quang Hung, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Hung, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh, Prof. Dr. Tran Van Doan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Xuan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh, Prof. Dr. Le Van Loi…
Speaking at the ceremony announcing the Decision on the restructuring of the Scientific Council of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh shared his confidence that with the intellect and dedication of the team of reputable scientists, the Center will achieve many accomplishments and make important contributions in research, training, knowledge transfer, and policy advice in the field of religious beliefs.
Associate Professor Lai Quoc Khanh expresses his gratitude to the generations of leaders of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies (CECRS).
The Director of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies presented the decision on the restructuring of the Center's Scientific Council to the Council members.
The publications of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies are of high scientific and practical value.
Delegates pose for a commemorative photo on the campus of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi.
Center for Contemporary Religious StudiesThe Center for Contemporary Religious Studies (CECRS), located at Room 507, Building A, 336 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, was established on October 17, 2007, as a result of a collaboration between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Institute of Missiology (Missionswissenschaftliches Institut Missio e. V), based in Aachen, Germany, to promote the training and research of religious issues at Hanoi National University. Immediately after its establishment, the Center undertook a series of activities. Each year, the Center invites visiting professors from various countries to lecture on topics related to religious studies and philosophy.
A key activity of CECRS is policy advisory work. This work had actually been carried out by scientists individually even before the establishment of the Center. Besides professional and academic matters, the Center's staff actively contributed opinions to help relevant agencies such as the Government's Religious Affairs Committee and the Vietnam Fatherland Front improve state legal documents related to religion, such as the Ordinance on Beliefs and Religions (2004); the Law on Beliefs and Religions (2016) and many other legal documents, contributing to resolving sensitive issues related to religion and ethnic groups. With the establishment of the Center, policy advisory work has been further promoted and diversified. Through its activities, the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies truly serves as a bridge connecting officials, religious leaders, clergy, and researchers both domestically and internationally, fostering mutual trust and exchange of ideas.
Since 2009, CECRS has regularly conducted annual international and domestic seminars/workshops on religious topics, attracting numerous scholars from Europe, North America, and other countries in the region.
The Center has collaborative relationships with numerous universities and research institutes both domestically and internationally in the exchange and transfer of research results. The Center acts as a bridge in securing scholarships for master's and doctoral programs related to religious studies. To date, the Center has recommended and received five scholarships for its staff members to pursue master's and doctoral degrees in religious studies at leading universities in the region, as well as in Europe and North America.
In the coming period, the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies will implement a roadmap to develop into a key research center at the Hanoi National University level.
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