Exactly 15 years ago, on October 21, 1995, the Director of Hanoi National University signed a decision to establish the Faculty of International Studies under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, marking the birth of the first institution offering International Studies programs within the Vietnamese higher education system. This program is tasked with providing human resources for international research and supporting foreign relations, meeting the urgent needs of the country's reform and opening-up policies, officially approved at the 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Professor and People's Teacher Vu Duong Ninh was appointed as the first Dean of the Faculty of International Studies. After 15 years of persistent and determined effort, the faculty members and students have transformed the Faculty of International Studies from a completely new and unknown institution into a reliable, high-quality training unit recognized by society and possessing its own unique identity. It is a combination of training and research on international issues related to Vietnam's position and role in the international arena; between global and regional issues; and between theoretical issues and practical application in society.Regarding staff and organizationCurrently, the Faculty of International Studies has 20 faculty members and specialists, including associate professors, PhDs, Doctors of Science, and Masters. A prominent characteristic of the faculty of the Faculty of International Studies is their young age, the majority of whom have received their education abroad, possess strong professional and foreign language skills, and demonstrate the ability to inherit, innovate, and integrate.Regarding trainingThe curriculum of the Faculty of International Studies is built on fundamental, systematic, modern, and integrated principles. In addition to the general knowledge provided by 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) World regions 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 skills in international research, communication, and negotiation. After the basic knowledge, students will choose one of three specializations: International Relations, European Studies, or American Studies. Each year, the Faculty of International Studies enrolls approximately 80-100 undergraduate students. Starting in 2003, the Faculty has also enrolled postgraduate students, averaging 25-30 students per cohort. In the coming years, the Faculty of International Studies will establish a postgraduate training partnership with Humboldt University (Germany) and launch a doctoral program in international relations.Regarding scientific research and international cooperationA prominent feature of the Faculty of International Studies is the harmonious combination of teaching and scientific research, and between scientific research and international cooperation. After 15 years of research and teaching, the Faculty's staff has published 305 articles in domestic and international journals, 90 textbooks, monographs, reference books, and translated books, and has undertaken 72 scientific research projects at various levels and 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, South Korea, Australia, and many diplomatic agencies in Hanoi, as well as 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, and the Goethe Institute. With the support of the Ford Foundation, the Faculty, together with the Diplomatic Academy and the Faculty of International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, has formed a network for research and training in International Relations/International Studies. With the support of the Asia Foundation, the Faculty has developed the first comprehensive American Studies curriculum in Vietnam. Simultaneously, the Faculty has collaborated with numerous universities in Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and An Giang to develop curricula and share teaching and research experiences in American Studies, aligning with Vietnam's training objectives. Furthermore, the Faculty has received effective cooperation from most research institutes under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. Fifteen years is not a long time, but the Faculty of International Studies has initially built a solid foundation, affirming its position and defining a long-term, stable, and sustainable development direction. 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 deepest gratitude for the contributions of generations of faculty and students of the Faculty of International Studies, the leadership of Hanoi National University and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the cooperation and assistance of universities, research institutes, and scientists both domestically and internationally.Hanoi, Autumn 2010
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang MinhHead of the Department of International Studies
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
Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang MinhDean of FIS
