Exactly 15 years ago, on October 21, 1995, the President of Hanoi National University signed the decision to establish the Faculty of International Studies under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, marking the birth of the first International Studies training institution in the list of training programs of the Vietnamese higher education system. This major is responsible for providing human resources for international research and serving foreign affairs activities, meeting the urgent needs of the country for reform and opening up, which were officially approved at the 6th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Professor, People's Teacher Vu Duong Ninh was appointed as the first Dean of the Faculty of International Studies. After 15 years of continuous and persistent efforts with high determination, teachers and students have built the Faculty of International Studies from a completely new, unknown training unit into a reliable, high-quality, socially recognized and unique address. It is a combination of training and research on international issues related to Vietnam's position and role in the international arena; between global issues and regional issues; between theoretical issues and serving social practice.About the team and organizationCurrently, the Faculty of International Studies has 20 lecturers and specialists including associate professors, doctors, doctors of science and masters. The outstanding features of the faculty of the Faculty of International Studies are that they are young, most of them have been trained abroad, have good professional qualifications and foreign languages, and have the ability to inherit, innovate and integrate.About training, the training program of the Faculty of International Studies is built on the basic, systematic, modern and integrated principles. In addition to the general knowledge of the Ministry of Education and Training, students majoring in International Studies are equipped with the following basic knowledge: 1) Knowledge of the history of international relations and international organizations; 2) Regions of the world including Europe and America; 3) International issues including economics, politics, law, culture, etc.; 4) Policy issues and foreign relations of Vietnam; 5) Foreign languages and international research, communication and negotiation skills. After the basic knowledge, students will choose one of three majors: International Relations, European Studies, American Studies. Each year, the Faculty of International Studies enrolls about 80-100 undergraduate students. Since 2003, the Faculty has enrolled and trained graduate students, with an average of 25-30 students per course. In the coming years, the Faculty of International Studies will organize joint graduate training with Humboldt University (Germany) and open a doctoral program specializing in international relations.On scientific research and international cooperation, the outstanding feature of the Faculty of International Studies is the harmonious combination between teaching and scientific research, between scientific research and international cooperation. After 15 years of research and teaching, the staff of the Faculty have published 305 articles in domestic and foreign journals, 90 textbooks, monographs, references, translated books, have been and are carrying out 72 scientific research topics at all levels and have presented hundreds of scientific reports at international and domestic conferences. The Faculty has built reliable and effective cooperative relationships with many universities in France, Germany, the United States, Japan, Korea, Australia... and many diplomatic agencies in Hanoi, many international organizations such as the Ford Foundation, the Asia Foundation, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, the Goethe Institute. With the support of the Ford Foundation, the Faculty has joined the Diplomatic Academy and the Faculty of International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-HCM to form a research and training network on International Relations/International Studies. With the support of the Asia Foundation, the Faculty has built the first systematic American Studies curriculum in Vietnam. At the same time, the Faculty has cooperated with many universities in Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and An Giang to build programs and share experiences in teaching and researching American Studies, in line with the training goals of Vietnam. In addition, the Faculty has also received effective cooperation from most of the research institutes under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. 15 years is not a long time, but the Faculty of International Studies has initially built a solid foundation, affirmed its position and determined the direction of long-term, stable and sustainable development. On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Faculty of International Studies, on behalf of the Faculty Board, I would like to express my deep gratitude for the contributions of generations of teachers and students of the Faculty of International Studies, the leadership of Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the cooperation and support of universities, research institutes, and scientists at home and abroad.Hanoi Autumn 2010
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Quang MinhHead of International Studies Department
The Faculty of International Studies: 15 Years of Building up and Development
Just 15 years ago, on October 21, 1995, President of Vietnam National University - Hanoi signed a decision to establish the Faculty of International Studies (FIS) at Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), marking the birth of a new study field, the International Studies, in the Vietnamese higher educational system. The study field is aimed at training experts who will deal with international studies and serve external relations, meeting Vietnam's essential needs of renovation and openness which were approved by the 6th Congress of the Vietnamese Communist Party. Professor Vu Duong Ninh, who was awarded with the title of People's Teacher, was appointed the first Dean of FIS. With great efforts made in the 15 years, FIS's staff and students have turned a newly-born, then unknown, educational institution, namely FIS, into a highly credible and qualified training one which has unique features and been accredited by society. The features include the combination of training and doing research on international issues relating to Vietnam's international role and position, on global and regional issues, on theoretical and practical issues meeting social needs.Regarding the staff and organization, at present, FIS has 20 lecturers and office workers, of which the former include associate professors, PhD and MA holders. The dominant feature of the teaching staff is that most of them are young and abroad-educated, hence having good knowledge of their specialties and foreign languages, being capable of undertaking the country's renovation and integration process.As far as the training task is concerned, FIS's training programs are built on basic, systematic, modern and integrative principles. Apart from courses on general knowledge prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, FIS's students are provided with the following groups of basic knowledge: 1) History of international relations and international organizations; 2) Area studies, including European and American Studies; 3) International issues in economics, politics, law, culture,...; 4) Policies and foreign relations of Vietnam; 5) Foreign languages, skills of doing research, communication, and international negotiation. After completing courses on basic knowledge, the students can select one of three specialties, namely International Relations, European Studies, and American Studies as their major. Every year, FIS admits between 80 and 100 undergraduate students. Since 2003, FIS has admitted MA students, between 25 and 30 students each year. In the coming years, FIS has a plan to cooperate with Humboldt University (in Germany) to open graduate programs in international relations.For research work and international cooperation, FIS has effectively combined this double task, resulting in the completion of 305 papers published and presented in Vietnamese and foreign journals and at home and abroad conferences/workshops respectively, the publication of 90 textbooks, reference books, books on special topics, translated books, and the implementation of 72 research projects of different levels. Moreover, FIS has established reliable and effective relationships with French, German, US, Japanese, South Korean, Australian universities, maintaining constant relations with a number of foreign diplomatic offices in Hanoi, and foreign institutions which include The Ford Foundation, The Asia Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD), The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, and Goethe Institut. Thanks to the support of The Ford Foundation, FIS, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Faculty of International Relations of USSH of VNU-HoChiMinh City have built a network of International Studies/Relations. Similarly, the assistance of The Asia Foundation has helped FIS build the first accredited American Studies Program in Vietnam and work with its university partners in Hanoi, Hue, Danang, Dalat, HoChiMinh City, Cantho, and Angiang to create an American Studies network which is aimed at building training programs and sharing experiences in teaching and doing research on American Studies in line with Vietnamese higher educational targets. In addition, FIS has effectively collaborated with research institutes under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. Fifteen years is not a long period, yet, FIS has built a solid foundation for itself, affirming its position, and identifying an appropriate way for its long-term, stable and durable development. On the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of FIS's establishment, on behalf of the Dean's Board, I would like to express my great gratitude to FIS's staff and students for their contribution. Our thanks go to the leadership of VNU-Hanoi and Hanoi USSH, the universities, institutes and scholars, both Vietnamese and foreign, for their support and cooperation.Hanoi, Autumn, 2010
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Quang MinhDean of FIS
