Professor Philippe Papin was awarded the Medal "For the Cause of Education"

Attending the ceremony were Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Hung, Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Information, Ministry of Education and Training, Professor Nicolas Maïnetti - Director of the Francophone University Organization (AUF), Asia - Pacific region, leaders of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, along with experts, students and postgraduates participating in the Vietnamica Project.
Prof. Philippe Papin is a Professor of Vietnamese History at the Faculty of History and Texts, Institute for Advanced Studies (École Pratique des Hautes Études – EPHE), Republic of France. Although he is a French historian, he has a special love and passion for researching and teaching about Vietnamese history and culture, especially about Hanoi history. He came to Vietnam in the late 1980s, belonging to a class of foreign scholars who came to Vietnam very early and pioneered research on Vietnamese studies. Since then, for nearly 40 years, he has been tirelessly collecting, researching documents, researching and publishing excellent publications on Vietnamese history and culture. He is the author of many research works and articles; chaired and participated in many projects to collect documents, preserve cultural heritages in Vietnam; and connected joint research projects of Vietnamese and French scholars. Professor Philippe Papin is also the initiator and Director of the Vietnamica Project - one of the prestigious projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC) of the European Union for 5 years, from 2019 to 2024, researching the history of Vietnamese offerings through steles (focusing on Hau stele), digitizing Vietnamese social science documents archived in Europe and Vietnam; participating in Master's and PhD training in epigraphy; establishing an electronic library, translating and publishing monographs and comprehensive research on the history of Vietnamese offerings from the first half of the 20th century and earlier.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) emphasized: "The results of the Vietnamica Project are a testament to the tireless efforts of the entire research team and the persistent support of international scholars. But first and foremost, it is the contribution of Prof. Philippe Papin, who accompanied and managed the project remotely, provided research orientation, and directly participated in academic activities in Vietnam, making an important contribution to the brilliant success of Vietnamica. Not only contributing to a specific project, for nearly 40 years, Prof. Philippe Papin is truly a Vietnamologist with excellent research works, connecting Vietnamese scientists with the French and international academic community.
On behalf of the leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Hung spoke in recognition and appreciation of the outstanding contributions of Professor Philippe Papin to the construction and development of Vietnam's education and training career, strengthening the friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnamese and French education and the international community through specific projects and academic activities. Congratulating Professor Philippe Papin, Director Pham Quang Hung expressed his hope that the Professor will continue to connect. Professor Philippe Papin emotionally shared:“I am extremely surprised and proud to be awarded the Medal “For the cause of education” by the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training. For a foreigner, this is truly a noble award and also a motivation for me to try harder and be more active for Vietnam - the country that I am attached to, which attracts me with its massive cultural treasure, talented and dedicated scientists. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the leaders of the Minister of Education and Training; personally, Minister Nguyen Kim Son, the leaders of the universities and research institutes that I have had the honor to collaborate with, my friends and colleagues in France and in Vietnam who have always supported and accompanied me to have the honor today”.