On December 27, 2023, the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies (CECRS) of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-USSH) held a meeting and handed over policy advisory proposals to the Government's Committee on Religious Affairs.
At the meeting, Associate Professor Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and Director of the Center for Contemporary Religion Studies, stated that, in addition to research in the fields of religious studies and philosophy, the Center has been actively promoting policy consulting. Beyond developing professional and academic issues, the Center's team of scientists actively contributes 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. 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.
Associate Professor Lai Quoc Khanh shared the dedication of scientists at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, in contributing their intellect to the improvement and development of the Government's policy system on religion and belief.
The three scientific reports that the Center respectfully handed over to representatives of the Government's Religious Affairs Committee address current issues of concern, including: "Regarding the 2016 Law on Beliefs and Religions, some issues ahead"; "Normalization of relations between Vietnam and the Vatican (inspiration from visits of Vietnamese leaders to the Vatican)"; and "The current state of religious practice in Vietnam: some issues raised". According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh, these are highly scientific and practical reports, carefully selected by CECRS scientists to be transferred to state management agencies on beliefs and religions to contribute to the development and improvement of the country's religious policies.
Previously, the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies organized a scientific seminar and provided feedback on policy advisory reports with the participation of leading scientists in the fields of religion, philosophy, cultural studies, etc., to finalize the important policy recommendations of the reports before submitting them to the Government's Religious Affairs Committee.
Ms. Tran Thi Minh Nga, Deputy Head of the Government's Religious Affairs Committee, highly appreciated the research results and policy advice of VNU-USSH scientists.
Appreciating the contributions of scientists from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi in general, and the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies in particular, to the activities of the Government's Religious Affairs Committee, Ms. Tran Thi Minh Nga - Deputy Head of the Government's Religious Affairs Committee - stated that, in recent times, scientists with dedication and intellect have provided many valuable consultations to the management agency. The academic research results, rich in theoretical value, of scientists at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in particular and universities in general, combined with practical implementation at the central and local levels, will be an important basis for supplementing the Government's policies on religion and belief.
Ms. Tran Thi Minh Nga emphasized that the handover of valuable research results from the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies to the Government's Religious Affairs Committee will be a good start for extensive cooperation between the two units. Both sides also expressed their desire to sign a memorandum of cooperation to implement collaborative activities effectively and quickly.
Associate Professor Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and Director of the Center for Contemporary Religion Studies, handed over three scientific reports on religion and beliefs to representatives of the Government's Religious Affairs Committee.
The handover ceremony of VNU-USSH's research results to the Government's Committee on Religious Affairs was attended by prestigious scientists.
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. From 2009 to the present, the Center has regularly held annual international and domestic seminars/workshops on religious topics, attracting numerous scholars from Europe, North America, and other countries in the region. Some notable seminars include: 1. Religion and Culture in the Context of Globalization (2009); 2. Philosophy of Religion: Some Theoretical and Practical Issues (2010); 3. Religion and the Issue of Modernization (2011); 4. Religion in the Context of Modern Society (2012); 5. Religion in Public Life (2013); 6. Religion and Culture in the Context of Contemporary Vietnamese Society (2014); 7. Research and Teaching of German Thinkers at Universities (2015). 8. Religion and Ethics in Modern Society (2016); 9. Christian Thinkers and Intellectuals in Vietnam in Comparison with the Region (2017); 10. Religion and Western Science: A Comparative Approach in Vietnam and the Region (2018); 11. Religion – Cultural and Social Resources: Behavior in Some Countries and Lessons for Vietnam (2021); 12. Religion and Folk Beliefs in Vietnam and the Region: Comparative Research Approaches (December 2022).
Every year, the Center invites visiting professors from other countries to the school to teach topics related to religious studies and philosophy.
Related articles:
CECRS' scientific report on religion and belief – a valuable theoretical basis for policy advice.
Strengthening international cooperation in training and scientific research on religion and civic culture.
The Center for Contemporary Religious Studies signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute for Religious and Civic Culture Studies, Kyung Hee University, South Korea.
