Compared to some other social sciences and humanities disciplines, Political Science is a science that is both highly theoretical and practical. In today's society, the need for well-trained human resources in Political Science is becoming increasingly urgent for many research and teaching institutions in the system of political schools, universities and colleges, vocational and professional high schools, press and media agencies, organizations within the political system, administrative agencies, and even socio-economic organizations. Recognizing this need, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) has opened a new training program – Political Science – starting with the 2008 enrollment season."
Our aspiration is to equip students with fundamental knowledge, thinking methods, and skills that will enable them to actively participate in management and advisory work in policy-making agencies, socio-economic organizations, or conduct research in theoretical institutions, teach political science in Party schools, universities, colleges, vocational schools, and professional training centers; or become policy analysts, reporters, and editors specializing in political analysis and commentary in press and media agencies... Political science training contributes to the training of high-quality human resources to serve the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country according to the socialist orientation..."—that was the message shared with us by Dr. Luu Minh Van and MSc. Lai Quoc Khanh—Deputy Heads of the Political Science Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities—along with their colleagues during a meeting before the 2008 university entrance exam season..."
- PV:
Fifty students will be selected for the first cohort to study a new major at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) next academic year. Could you please tell us what preparations the Department of Political Science has made to welcome them?
- Dr. Luu Minh VanPolitical science is a relatively new field of study in Vietnam, while in many other countries around the world, it has existed for quite some time and is developing rapidly. Pioneering in the research and teaching of political science are developed countries in Europe and America such as the UK, France, Germany, and the US. In recent decades, at many major universities in several Asian countries such as Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, the teaching and research of political science has gradually established an important position in the training structure. Currently, the Department of Political Science is headed by Professor Dr. Phung Huu Phu - Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Standing Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, and Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department - with 12 full-time staff members, 6 part-time professors and associate professors, and a large team of collaborators including educators, researchers, and practitioners from Vietnam National University, Hanoi and other institutions such as the Central Propaganda Department, the Central Theoretical Council, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, the Academy of Journalism and Communication, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, and the Academy of International Relations... In addition, the Department also has extensive scientific relationships with several foreign universities such as: the University of Connecticut, the University of Oregon, the University of California, the University of New York (USA), the University of Toronto (Canada), the Paris Institute of Political Science, and the University of Toulouse I (France). The department currently possesses a rich collection of learning materials, with over 500 foreign-language resources (English, French, Russian, Chinese) and over 300 Vietnamese-language resources; it also regularly subscribes to 5 specialized scientific journals and information publications annually. In short, the department's facilities and equipment for training and scientific research are quite well-equipped to welcome the first students of Political Science at Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
- PV:
Society's perception of Political Science is still quite abstract, so what specific training will Political Science students receive?
- Dr. Luu Minh VanThere are two approaches to solving this problem. The first is to provide in-depth political science training following a traditional model with a focus on working within the political system, and the second is to equip students with a foundation of political science knowledge that is both basic and highly interdisciplinary, enabling them to participate in various fields of social life. Each approach has its strengths and limitations. Each country may choose a different approach that suits its educational philosophy.
- M.Sc. Lai Quoc KhanhThe political science training program at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is designed based on extensive references to political science training programs at many prestigious universities worldwide, while also reflecting and guiding the resolution of fundamental issues in Vietnamese political life. The knowledge system that students are equipped with includes three blocks: General knowledge as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training; Foundational knowledge with a broad enough "background" to integrate knowledge from several related social sciences and humanities disciplines, serving the purpose of in-depth political science research; and Specialized knowledge equipping students with in-depth knowledge, methods, and skills in political science.
- PV:
What are the differences between the Political Science program offered by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and those offered by other training institutions?[img class="caption" src="images/stories/2008/6/16/ts.lmvan.jpg" border="0" alt="Dr. Luu Minh Van" title="Dr. Luu Minh Van" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="240" height="160" align="right" ]
- Dr. Luu Minh VanThe Political Science Department of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities believes that the transmission of scientific knowledge in political science must go hand in hand with character development, building correct political attitudes, and helping students adapt to the demands of human resource development in Vietnam under current conditions. Students studying at the Department, in addition to general knowledge, mathematics and natural sciences, and knowledge of history, economics, sociology, ethics, psychology, and management science—which serve as a foundation for entering political science research—will be equipped with a system of in-depth knowledge in the field through courses such as International Political Relations, Comparative Political Science, Development Political Science, and Methods of Approach and Research in Political Science—traditional subjects taught at many major universities worldwide. These are essential conditions not only for studying political science domestically but also for transferring or continuing education abroad. In particular, specialized and in-depth knowledge, skills, and methods of Political Science, such as the Vietnamese political system, Vietnamese political culture, comparative studies of contemporary world political systems, theories of democracy and human rights, techniques for collecting and processing information, methods for writing political essays and presentations, and public relations, are important and useful tools for those directly involved in political activities or working in fields related to politics.
- PV:
The process of acquiring a new training program undoubtedly presented the Department with numerous challenges alongside favorable circumstances. How does the Department collectively assess these challenges?
- M.Sc. Lai Quoc KhanhTo achieve the results we have today, the Department spent over a decade preparing the curriculum and conditions for opening the training program. This process embodied the dedication and intellect of the University's leadership over the years, as well as scientists and educators such as Prof. Dr. Phung Huu Phu, Assoc. Prof. Bui Thanh Quat, Assoc. Prof. Le Mau Han, Prof. Dang Xuan Ki... and even Party and State leaders like former Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Khanh... The training program content has also undergone numerous revisions and updates to continuously improve. Throughout this preparation process, we encountered many difficulties. Political science is a field of science that has been taught for a long time worldwide and has achieved many scientific results, while in Vietnam, approaching it from a purely political science perspective is still quite new. Entering a field of training that is both difficult and new, the first challenge we faced was preparing a team of staff who are both professionally competent and enthusiastic. Secondly, the training program had to integrate the traditional knowledge of political science while also being relevant and serving our current political tasks. Furthermore, the fact that many people do not yet fully understand the fundamental difference between political education and political science training is also a challenge we had to overcome. In addition, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the Department of Political Science, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, was allowed to enroll students during the transitional period between the semester-based and credit-based training methods. Implementing a new field of study with a new training method was indeed a significant difficulty. However, we anticipated these difficulties and challenges, and therefore have been effectively addressing them step by step through various solutions. For example, although we do not yet have a large number of scientists trained specifically in Political Science, the team of scientists in many social sciences and humanities who delve deeply into political science issues is very large, with significant research achievements and rich training experience. This is a strong potential that we have been exploiting and developing in the process of building and implementing the training program. Furthermore, to form a correct understanding of Political Science, the Department of Political Science has also paid great attention to propaganda and promotion through various mass media... We believe that for any new scientific field, challenges and difficulties are unavoidable, but if we recognize them and focus our dedication and intellect on solving them, those challenges and difficulties can be transformed into favorable conditions and driving forces for development...
- PV:
Thank you, Dr. Luu Minh Van and MSc. Lai Quoc Khanh, for the exchange. Let's all wish the first enrollment season of the Department of Political Science, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, great success!
•Truong Minh (perform)
Source: Vietnam National University, Hanoi Newsletter
