Vietnamese Studies, as a field of study at universities, has been around for nearly three decades. During this development, it has inherently demanded exchange, dialogue, and integration. With its research focus on Vietnam's land, people, society, and culture, scholars, professionals, and especially Vietnamese Studies training institutions nationwide, all aspire to exchange and discuss interdisciplinary approaches to Vietnamese Studies training and research. In this spirit, a conference on the theme "Interdisciplinary Research and Training in Vietnamese Studies" was held in Da Lat on August 3, 2023, co-organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and three other universities: Da Lat University, Hong Bang International University, and Hue University of Foreign Languages.
Attending the workshop, on behalf of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, were Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the university, Dr. Le Thi Thanh Tam - Head of the Department of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language, and Dr. Bui Van Tuan - Deputy Head of the Department of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language;
Representing Da Lat University were Dr. Le Minh Chien - Rector of the university, along with faculty members from the Board of Directors and heads of functional departments, and representatives from the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies.
Representing Hong Bang International University were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Khac Cuong - Vice Rector of the university, along with representatives from the leadership of the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies;
Representing the University of Foreign Languages - Hue University were Dr. Nguyen Ho Hoang Thuy - Vice Rector of the university and the Dean and faculty members of the Department of Vietnamese Studies.
A prestigious academic exchange space for leading scientists in Vietnamese studies across the country.In his opening remarks at the workshop, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, emphasized that the workshop is a meaningful scientific forum to connect scientists and experts in the field of Vietnamese studies from the four co-organizing universities, as well as from the research and training community in Vietnamese studies nationwide. The topics discussed at the workshop will contribute to improving the quality of training, strengthening the development of applied scientific research in various fields based on the strengths of each university, and working towards coordinating the implementation of programs, projects, and scientific research topics on the socio-economic development and national defense and security of the Central Highlands region until 2030, with a vision to 2045, in accordance with Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW dated October 6, 2022, of the Politburo.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, emphasized that the conference is a meaningful scientific forum to connect scientists and experts in the field of Vietnamese studies. According to Dr. Le Minh Chien, Rector of Da Lat University, the conference is a forum for academic exchange among institutions in the field of Vietnamese Studies, opening up opportunities for cooperation, collaborative training, and improving the quality of research, training in Vietnamese Studies, and Vietnamese language teaching in the current context. The conference focuses on core topics aimed at further refining the training program framework and solutions to improve the quality of Vietnamese Studies training in an interdisciplinary direction.
With that in mind, the conference focused on the following issues: Vietnamese studies research to support interdisciplinary training; Vietnamese studies training at universities; and issues related to Vietnamese linguistics and methods of teaching the Vietnamese language.
The conference selected 66 papers out of 72 submitted by researchers from Vietnamese studies training institutions and related fields. The content of the papers shows that research and training in Vietnam is not only urgent but also a promising prospect in today's trend of globalization and international integration.
The expert council conducted thorough research, evaluation, and selection to present 66 full-text reports to the Conference. The Hanoi National University Publishing House promptly edited and published all of these reports in a proceedings volume entitled “Interdisciplinary Research and Training in Vietnamese Studies,” with 200 copies in A4 size, softcover, and 822 pages, for the Conference.
Notably, what was initially planned as a workshop for four Vietnamese Studies training institutions has, due to its significance, reach, and the empathy felt by Vietnamese Studies training institutions nationwide, attracted the attention of experts and professionals from other Vietnamese Studies training institutions across the country, such as Hong Duc University, Phu Yen University, Saigon University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Duy Tan University, Van Lang University, and others.
Dr. Bui Van Tuan - Deputy Head of the Department of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, assessed that this was a large-scale conference that attracted enthusiastic participation with a deep love for Vietnamese studies from experts, scientists, and practical managers.
The inter-faculty, inter-university scientific conference on the theme "Interdisciplinary Research and Training in Vietnamese Studies" was truly a landmark and profound event, contributing to elevating the scientific, intellectual, and professional standing of leading institutions nationwide in the field of Vietnamese Studies research and training.
Summary of valuable scientific issues in the research and training of Vietnamese studies.According to scientists, it can be affirmed that this is a high-quality professional conference, addressing both fundamental and practical issues of research and training in Vietnamese studies in the context of global development and integration. Many experts believe that there is a need for specialized conferences to exchange and unify the concept of research and training in Vietnamese studies. These conferences should consider interdisciplinary Vietnamese studies as a requirement for the development of modern Vietnamese studies, identify core content and main methods of Vietnamese studies, and ultimately refine the standard curriculum framework for undergraduate Vietnamese studies for both Vietnamese and international students. This would serve as a basis for overcoming the widespread and somewhat arbitrary nature of Vietnamese studies training in many institutions today.
In the concluding report of the conference, Dr. Bui Van Tuan - Deputy Head of the Department of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi - assessed that the conference was "both conclusive and thought-provoking." This was an opportunity for scientists to provide additional scientific data and new insights to further clarify these outstanding qualities. However, we haven't understood everything yet. The concept of "conclusive" here represents a new step forward in understanding, but it also opens up new requirements for understanding, new directions for training and research, because Vietnamese Studies is a science that "studies Vietnam in its totality," a science that "studies a land, its people, and all their relationships with nature, history, and society in every aspect, highlighting the characteristics and peculiarities of Vietnam." So many issues are being raised, with both opportunities and challenges. Understanding both opportunities and challenges is not simple; countless pressing issues arise daily, hourly, and in the long term, requiring thorough assessment and analysis. From this, we can then reflect on, propose, and suggest directions and solutions. Some proposals are comprehensive in nature; others are very specific to individual fields and address pressing issues that need attention.
The workshop opened up many issues, the value of which is to create conditions for scientists to continue developing on a broader scale and with more in-depth content, helping Vietnamese studies training institutions nationwide to have a scientific basis for formulating policies to implement solutions for the development of Vietnamese studies today and in the future.
The conference attracted hundreds of researchers and experts in the field of Vietnamese studies from across the country.
Following the workshop, the organizing committee also recommended to the leaders of Vietnamese Studies training institutions to continue inviting international and domestic scientists to organize larger-scale workshops, so that the ideas proposed in this workshop can be further developed and refined.
In particular, the workshop marks the beginning of a movement towards building a network of research and training institutions for Vietnamese studies both domestically and internationally; towards establishing a Vietnamese Studies Association; and also proposes that the Ministry of Interior develop job classification codes for the Vietnamese studies specialization.
Within the framework of cooperation between four universities offering training in Vietnamese studies, the parties signed a memorandum of understanding to improve the quality of training and teaching, and to strengthen the development of applied scientific research in various fields based on the strengths of each university.
The press reported on the event:
People's Representatives Newspaper: Training in Vietnamese Studies with an interdisciplinary orientation.
Vietnam Science and Technology Magazine:Research and training in Vietnamese studies with an interdisciplinary approach.
Hanoi National University website: Training in Vietnamese Studies with an interdisciplinary orientation.
University of Social Sciences and Humanities:VNU-USSH collaborates with three universities to improve the quality of training and teaching, and scientific research.
