Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh - the school's principal - gave an interview to the Education and Training Newspaper on the topic of integration for development and improving the quality of education and training.
Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh - the school's principal - gave an interview to the Education and Training Newspaper on the topic of integration for development and improving the quality of education and training.
The University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) originated from the Faculty of Literature, established by a decree signed by President Ho Chi Minh on October 10, 1945, with the aim of bringing the country's science level "up to par with advanced countries around the world." Currently, the University has 14 faculties, 3 affiliated departments, and 11 centers, training over 13,000 students in various fields and levels of study within the social sciences and humanities. Building on its traditions over the years, the university continues to develop and mature in all areas to maintain its leading position in the country for undergraduate and postgraduate training, striving to be on par with advanced universities in the region and the world.
PV: As the Rector, Professor, could you briefly introduce the overall development of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to our readers?
Professor Nguyen Van Khanh:Following the August Revolution, on October 10, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 45/SL establishing the Faculty of Literature in Hanoi. On November 15, 1945, the Vietnam National University, including the Faculty of Literature, held its first opening ceremony at 19 Le Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi. On June 4, 1956, in response to the country's development needs, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2183/PC establishing the University of General Studies, the predecessor of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, now part of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
From 1956 to 1995, the university experienced a period of strong development as a leading center for basic science research and training in the country, effectively serving the cause of national construction and defense. A team of leading professors and scientists dedicated their efforts and intellect to the university's development. The most fundamental foundations of Vietnamese science were built and their value affirmed. Many faculty and students from this university bravely sacrificed their lives for the glorious revolutionary cause of the nation. In 1993, building upon the foundation of the social sciences and humanities of Hanoi University, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities was officially established and became a member of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
PV: We understand that the university is a pioneer in applying the credit-based training method and has achieved high effectiveness in improving the quality of education. Professor, could you elaborate on this new method?
Professor Nguyen Van Khanh:Following the directive of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan, by 2020, Vietnam must have several universities ranked among the top 200 universities in the world. To achieve this goal, Vietnamese universities need to make extraordinary efforts. As a leading center for undergraduate and postgraduate training, and a core member of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has also defined its own direction and solutions. The goal is to be among the top universities in the region by the second decade of the 21st century, gradually reaching international standards. To achieve this goal, from 2007 to the present, the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the university have focused on directing the implementation of the following important tasks:
Firstly, transitioning to a credit-based training system is crucial for achieving a breakthrough in the quality of education and training. This solution requires the utmost effort from both instructors and students. Instructors who want to teach effectively must focus on updating their knowledge and improving their skills; they must also regularly assess students throughout their studies, from their attitude and classroom performance to their preparation for discussions and final exam results. For students, achieving good academic results requires dynamism and creativity, actively participating in lectures while also proactively researching, seeking out materials, and completing assignments given by instructors.
Secondly, most universities worldwide now offer credit-based training. Vietnamese higher education, in order to integrate and develop, also needs to transform. This approach allows domestic students to easily transfer to or continue their studies at foreign universities if they are in the same field. Within the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities was the first to implement this credit-based system. To prepare for this transition, since 2003, the university leadership has organized numerous delegations of administrators and scientists to study credit-based training experiences in countries with more advanced higher education systems such as China, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, etc. Currently, the university has completed the conversion of courses to the credit-based system, including 21 undergraduate programs, 28 master's programs, and 29 doctoral programs. The total number of course syllabi converted to the credit-based system is approximately 2000.
PV: So, credit-based training is also a solution to improve the quality of education and training. According to the requirements set forth by the Ministry of Education and Training: Universities must publicly disclose the quality, finances, and employment of students after graduation. How has this been implemented in practice at your university?
Professor Nguyen Van KhanhStarting in the 2008-2009 academic year, our school began implementing a credit-based system for first and second-year students. I believe the essence of credit-based training is to foster student autonomy and greater choice. Students have the right to choose their instructors and subjects. This also means that each subject must have at least two instructors. For students in their final two years, the school fully applies the positive aspects of the credit-based training method. Student academic results are divided into two weightings: attitude and learning process, accounting for 40%-50%, and final exam results, accounting for 50%-60% of the subject's overall score. This assessment method forces students to constantly strive for excellence in their studies.
At the same time, the University is very interested in accreditation and has also started organizing the evaluation of lecturer quality through student feedback (by secret ballot) since 2008. Initially, there were some dissenting opinions, arguing that students were not capable of evaluating the teachers' abilities. However, this activity is now conducted normally and has received the approval and support of both faculty and students. Through this evaluation method, teachers and the university's management understand the strengths and weaknesses of teachers in teaching, thereby helping teachers learn from experience, continuously improve their knowledge, and innovate methods to better meet the needs of learners. I would also like to add that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is one of 20 universities in Vietnam that has organized internal and external evaluations. It is also the first university in the Vietnam National University, Hanoi to establish a Center for Training Quality Assurance.
The school is also very concerned about its graduates. The first step is to review its training programs and assess the employment situation of graduates. If a field has high demand, it will continue to develop and expand; if there is little demand, the scale of training will be reduced to avoid waste. I would also like to share my perspective on training to meet societal needs. In my opinion, societal needs encompass both immediate and long-term needs, current and future needs. If we only focus on training for immediate needs without considering future development needs, it will be very difficult, and in 10-15 years, Vietnam will inevitably become dependent on other countries. For example, currently, we are focusing on exploiting and utilizing thermal and hydroelectric power sources, but in a few decades, when natural resources are depleted, we will have to move towards nuclear power. If we don't train now, where will we find the human resources to produce electricity for our needs? Or, while the need for space technology may not be immediate, in 5, 10, or 15 years, will Vietnam be able to master space and develop its aerospace industry without engineers and space scientists trained and prepared today? Therefore, we must focus on training to meet immediate needs while also paying due attention to the future needs of society and the country.
To strengthen its connection with the labor market, since 2008, the school has signed an agreement with the Vietnam Association of Business Managers. Based on this relationship, the school aims to expand collaborative activities in areas such as training, guiding students in internships and practical work, supervising theses and dissertations, and expanding internship locations, helping students become familiar with real-world business tasks. Through this, it creates opportunities for students to find employment even while still in school.
PV: In the context of global international integration, what has the university done to quickly achieve the level of an advanced university in the region and internationally, Professor?
Professor Nguyen Van Khanh:I believe that international integration is an inevitable trend. This is both a requirement and a huge challenge for Vietnamese universities. To create an international environment and gradually improve the quality of education, we continue to expand our international collaborative training activities. To date, the university has collaborated and established international training partnerships with several foreign universities. For example, we have developed and implemented 3+1 and 2+2 undergraduate programs with several Chinese universities such as Guangxi University, Guangxi Nationalities University, and Guangdong University of Foreign Trade and Foreign Languages... We hope to increase the number of partner universities in the coming years. With the 3+1 program, students will study for 3 years in China and 1 year in Vietnam, with a degree awarded by the Chinese university. For students studying under the 2+2 program, the university is proposing to award two degrees. Through its collaborative training programs, the university has attracted over 300 international students, with Chinese students accounting for approximately 90%. In addition, around 250 international students from various continents choose to study Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language at the university each year.
[img class="caption" src="images/stories/2009/02/17/img_9278.jpg" border="0" alt="A corner of the campus of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities" title="A corner of the campus of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities" width="213" height="320" align="left" ]For postgraduate training, the school has partnered with the University of Toulouse II in France to offer training in three specializations:Organizational management;Child and adolescent developmental psychology; Hotel managementThe first two majors are taught in French, while the third is taught in English. These three programs are funded by the French Government and the Francophone University Organization for Asia and the Pacific (AUF). The basic curriculum is from the partner university, but some subjects are adapted to suit the Vietnamese context. Three-quarters of the lecturers are foreign.
In addition, the university also focuses on establishing and expanding student exchange and cooperation with several prestigious foreign universities such as Long Beach University, Los Angeles University (California), Princeton University (USA), University of Tokyo, Osaka University, Waseda University (Japan), Peking University, Seoul National University (South Korea)... These are solutions to create an international environment to improve the quality of higher education in Vietnam in general and at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in particular. Furthermore, since the 2008-2009 academic year, the university has also implemented three majors/specializations that meet international standards:Bachelor of Linguistics, Master of Vietnamese History, and Doctor of Ancient and Medieval Vietnamese History.The university has also recently signed cooperation agreements with two leading hotel groups from France and Malaysia to jointly train Master's degree students in Hotel Management. These businesses will both provide scholarships to students and commit to hiring and finding employment for them after graduation.
PV: Training and developing staff and conducting scientific research are important tasks for universities. Given the specific characteristics of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, how is this work carried out?
Professor Nguyen Van KhanhThe role of the teacher is crucial to the quality of education and training. We prioritize training staff in both professional skills and foreign languages. We are very proud that this school is associated with the names of renowned scientists, cultural figures, and professors such as: Dang Thai Mai, Tran Van Giau, Dao Duy Anh, Tran Duc Thao, Cao Xuan Huy, Hoang Xuan Nhi, Dinh Xuan Lam, Phan Huy Le, Ha Van Tan, Tran Quoc Vuong, Nguyen Tai Can, Dinh Gia Khanh, Phan Cu De, Ha Minh Duc, Hoang Nhu Mai, Le Dinh Ki, Tran Dinh Huou.... To date, the school has had 8 professors awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize; 11 professors awarded the State Prize for science and technology; 23 teachers awarded the title of People's Teacher; and 50 teachers awarded the title of Excellent Teacher. Currently, the school has 12,500 students, 540 staff members, including 400 teachers.17% are professors or associate professors; 33% are doctors; nearly 80% hold a master's degree or higher.The university aims to have 75% of its lecturers hold a PhD by 2015. The teaching staff is becoming increasingly younger, with approximately 50% currently under 35 years old. This is an advantage but also a significant challenge for a university striving for international standards.
Scientific research is also given priority. Every year, the school's faculty and staff conduct nearly 100 scientific projects at various levels; notably, since 2008, the school has led 5 national-level projects. In addition, the school organizes many major international conferences, attracting the participation of renowned scientists from various countries, and is highly regarded by its peers, such as the Conference...Dien Bien Phu - 50 Years in Retrospect, Seminar100 Years of Research and Teaching in Social Sciences and Humanities in Vietnam, SeminarKorea and Korean Studies in the Asia-Pacific Region,International Conference on Vietnamese StudiesFor the third time..., Currently, the school is focusing its efforts on further promoting the implementation.Six programs aimed at standardizing and modernizing various aspects of operations.Accelerate the development of a teaching staff with doctoral degrees; organize the transition to credit-based training at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels; diversify training types and improve the quality of training to meet social needs; develop and implement several large-scale, highly interdisciplinary projects linking scientific research with training to achieve international standards and meet the socio-economic development requirements of the country and the capital city; expand international cooperation programs in training and scientific research, especially joint postgraduate training programs; implement administrative reforms and promote the application of information technology; find solutions to increase revenue and strengthen in-depth investment in infrastructure.
To achieve the goal of becoming one of the leading universities in Southeast Asia and Asia by the second decade of this century, in addition to the extraordinary efforts of the faculty and generations of students, it is essential to have stronger and more effective encouragement and support from the Party and the State, from all levels and sectors, first and foremost from Hanoi National University and the Ministry of Education and Training, in terms of mechanisms, policies, and investment resources...
Thank you, Professor Nguyen Van Khanh, for this exchange!
•Viet Hoa (perform)
According toEducation and the Times
Author:i333
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