In the 2012-2013 school year, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has achieved comprehensive results in many aspects of its activities. Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim (Vice Rector of the University) summarized the outstanding achievements and announced the important orientations of the University in the coming school year.
- Could you please tell us about the important achievements that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has achieved in the field of training last school year?
First of all, it must be said that, thanks to the clear awareness of the role and mission of a leading training and basic scientific research center, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has had a roadmap and solid steps towards integration and adaptation to the country's development practices and the current trend of internationalization in education and training. On that basis, in recent times, the spirit of constant innovation and creativity has been the guiding ideology throughout the activities and development orientation of the University.
The most outstanding achievement in the field of training of the University is the successful conversion of 23 university training programs and 54 postgraduate training programs according to output standards. Thanks to that, it has created a high level of connectivity between training majors and between university training and postgraduate training. Taking quality as the top standard, the training programs are built on the basis of referring to the training programs of high-ranking universities in the region and the world, while maximizing the intellectual resources of the units, of the team of experts and lecturers in the whole University. This conversion also demonstrates the clear and profound awareness as well as the adaptability of a training center to the movements, social requirements and internal development needs of the majors of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
In order to continuously supplement knowledge, expand the horizons of learners and create job opportunities for students, the School has been promoting the construction of dual-degree training programs, dual majors, majors - minors. Starting off well with the successful construction of the dual-degree training program in Tourism and Travel Services Management, in the near future, dual-degree training programs in a number of socially attractive majors such as: Management Science, Sociology, Journalism, International Studies, Oriental Studies... will be implemented. According to the plan, the successful construction of these training programs will increase the number of training programs of the School from 23 core programs to 122 programs. The School hopes that this will be an effective training method and model that is suitable for the needs of learners in the current context, while at the same time taking advantage of the School's strength in connecting training programs.
In addition, international training cooperation programs are also being implemented well and will soon expand to 2+2, 3+1 joint programs with partners. The school is also implementing 2 master's training programs "Public Policy and Enterprise Management" (MAPE) and "Child and Adolescent Development Psychology" in cooperation with Toulouse le Mirail University (France). The school is also building a program "Social Psychology in Labor, Career Guidance and Environment" with this university. In addition, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has also coordinated with partners to successfully build 3 Vietnam Studies Centers in China and Taiwan. Last school year, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities was assigned by the Central Organizing Committee and Office 165 to train the first class of Masters in Science and Technology Management. During the course, from the training program, organization, management to knowledge transfer, technology acquisition... all were carried out on schedule and achieved good results. As a result, 36/38 students successfully defended their Master's theses and many students achieved excellent results. On that basis, the School is actively coordinating with Lund University, Sweden to carry out the training task of the second course assigned by the Central Organizing Committee, Office 165 and VNU.
It can be said that the quality of the training programs has created the reputation of the School and the trust of society as well as learners. In recent years, the number of candidates taking the entrance exam for the training programs of the School has been very stable. In addition to the traditional university entrance exam blocks such as C, D, new exam blocks such as A, B are increasingly registered by many candidates. The University's entrance exam scores are always in the high group.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim answered the press's interview at the 2013 university entrance exam.
Training activities of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will aim at 4 main goals:
Firstly, continuously improve and ensure training quality. The school always considers quality as the top goal because it is the brand, reputation and honor of the school.
Second, training and research should be more closely linked. At present and in the coming years, research work must be given special attention to support university and postgraduate training. In fact, the latest research results have been applied vividly and effectively in lectures by lecturers in university classrooms.
Third, internationalize training programs so that the training activities of the University are always adaptable and keep up with the development trends of the country as well as the level of education, training and scientific research development of the regional and world university community. Internationalizing training programs is not simply about teaching and learning in English but must be reflected in the content, knowledge content, methods, research perspectives, and advanced approaches of each lecturer in each subject.
Fourth, set out a plan and build a roadmap to continue to open new training majors and specialties to constantly renew itself, creating the attractiveness of training programs for learners. The diversification of training majors and specialties is on the one hand to meet social needs, on the other hand, it demonstrates the vision and thinking of the School about the development trend of the country as well as the social sciences and humanities in the current context.
If we carry out the above 4 goals well, I believe that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will achieve more achievements in training.
The international scientific conference with the theme 'Paris Agreement 1973: 40 years in review' was organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnamese scientists in collaboration with experts from the University of Paris I, the Institute of Military History of the Ministry of National Defense, the University of Monperllier, the University of Lyon (France), the University of Hawaii Pacific (USA), and the University of Greifswald (Germany) on January 17, 2013.
- You mentioned the spirit of innovation and creativity as the guiding principle in the activities of the School, so how has that spirit been demonstrated in scientific research activities?
The past year was also a particularly successful year for the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in research activities. The University was assigned to preside over many State-level projects, ministerial-level projects, Nafosted, Protocol projects and research at the request of localities. Last school year, the University was assigned 11 State-level projects and 01 Protocol project (equivalent to the State level). The University has never had such great success in terms of scientific research.
That success is the manifestation of innovations in leadership, direction, work organization, and promoting the intellectual resources of the faculty, researchers, and experts in the School. It can be said that the way and thinking of organizing scientific research activities of the staff and scientists in the School has become more practical, dynamic, and has promoted the role of strong research groups as well as leading experts. Research groups and scientists in the School have always closely followed and linked the scientific research orientations of experts and units with the major research orientations of the country to proactively exchange and work with the Board of Directors of research programs and functional agencies to propose and develop research projects and topics.
On the University side, thanks to the mobilization of intellectual resources of many experts, domestic and international cooperation, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has strengthened and promoted its research capacity, continuing to affirm its position as a research-oriented university. In the near future, according to the plan of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Vietnam Association of Historical Sciences, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities hopes that many scientists of the University will have the opportunity to participate in a major scientific task, contributing to the compilation of the "National History" (History of Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh era), expected to include 3 main products, 24 volumes, deployed in 2013 and carried out continuously for about 5 years.
One of the major scientific tasks of the School is to research borders, sovereignty over seas and islands, the impact of regional and international organizations, and policies of major countries...
- One of the important orientations approved by the Standing Committee of the School's Science and Technology Council in a recent meeting is "focusing on implementing major scientific tasks". Could you please elaborate on these contents?
Currently, the School's subject system is quite rich, spanning the fields of History, Culture, Society, Policy, Technology, etc. The basic orientations of these subjects are identified as:
Firstly, focus on clarifying traditional values, fundamental changes in socio-economic life in Vietnam, changes in social relations, social stratification, social capital, the role and function of the family, the urbanization process, research on policies and technology transfer, etc. The goal of the topics is to clarify trends, advantages, difficulties, challenges for the current development of Vietnam and propose solutions to overcome them.
Second, a number of research topics have focused on studying social issues, the process of cultural and ideological exchange, integration and acculturation, changes in religious life, beliefs, the role of traditional social organizations, customary law, indigenous knowledge and promoting the role of indigenous knowledge resources in economic development, environmental protection, ensuring social security, etc.
Third, to solve urgent problems that Vietnamese society has been and is facing in the trend of integration, regionalization and globalization such as studies on borders, sovereignty over seas and islands, the impact of regional and international organizations, policies of major countries, etc. Some research projects also focus on strategic areas such as the Northwest, Central Highlands, and Southwest. The results of the studies will contribute to promoting the socio-economic development of localities, while preparing the scientific basis and arguments for the development of policies and strategies, affirming the development model and philosophy of Vietnam.
From the implementation of research topics, it can be seen that while previously most of the topics were carried out in a specialized direction, now there are more and more topics being implemented in an interdisciplinary direction, with the participation of many experts from different specialized fields. In addition, the spirit of openness and cooperation in scientific research, especially international cooperation, is a key factor bringing success to the University. Because the development of a university today must always be placed in broad connections. The cooperative relationship with regional and international universities has been creating momentum for new developments in the training and scientific research of the University. In the coming time, the scientific research activities of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will continue to be implemented in this direction.
President Truong Tan Sang attended the opening ceremony of the 2012-2013 school year at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, September 14, 2012.
- In the 2012-2013 school year, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities had two major events: welcoming President Truong Tan Sang to attend the opening ceremony of the new school year and Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan to visit and work with scientists of the University. Could you please tell us about the significance of these two events to the development of the University?
These are two very important events, showing the attention of the Party and State leaders to a leading training and research center in social sciences and humanities such as the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.
President Truong Tan Sang delivered an important speech, highly appreciating the long tradition and great contributions of the University and many generations of teachers and researchers to the cause of science, education and training of the country. The President also emphasized: Social Sciences and Humanities are the scientific fields that shoulder important responsibilities in educating ideology, fostering patriotism, national pride, building social relations, values, ethical standards, lifestyles and personalities of Vietnamese people. Therefore, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU has a great role and responsibility, must be the leading unit, actively and effectively implementing the resolutions of the Party, so that education and training is truly the top national policy, the driving force for the rapid and sustainable development of the country.
During his visit in early 2013, Minister Pham Vu Luan was also very interested in the innovations and outstanding achievements of the School in recent years. The Minister highly appreciated the prestige of the School's team of experts, with more than 20 projects and clusters of scientific projects winning the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize. In addition, there is the maturity of the staff and lecturers, with 94% currently having postgraduate degrees...
It can be said that these are great joys and motivations for the staff, students and trainees of the School in the upcoming journey. The visits and working sessions of the leaders of the Party, State and functional agencies help the School to be more confident in its development orientations, and to better understand its role and responsibility for the cause of education and training as well as the development of the country.
- A leading center for training in Social Sciences and Humanities, with a long tradition and memorable marks in the development of the country's educational science in the past, will face what challenges and opportunities in the current context?
On the path of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, there are many challenges but also many advantages, requiring the leaders of the University and the leaders of the units to have the right perception, analyze and accurately forecast new development trends, and clearly define their mission and tasks. It is important to note that, sometimes, from the challenges and especially difficult circumstances, we can find new solutions for development.
Currently, the Party and the State are paying more and more attention to social sciences and humanities. However, there needs to be more specific policies and guidelines, and there needs to be basic surveys to assess more scientifically and objectively the current status of the team, the actual capacity of training and researching social sciences and humanities; there needs to be changes in the way of organizing, managing, and creating mechanisms for development. On the other hand, management levels also need to support and invest more strongly in social sciences and humanities. On that basis, along with internal efforts, the School will have more conditions and new motivations for development.
The challenge is also seen in the limited facilities of the School. The School currently has only a few research rooms, documentation rooms, and standard classrooms. The study and research space for staff and students is still limited, not commensurate with the goals and development requirements of the School. However, the School will always seek to innovate in its own circumstances and conditions, overcoming some of the difficulties so that each step is a solid step towards the goals it has set.
Another challenge is the transfer between generations. That transfer is taking place between the first generation of scientists who contributed to the establishment of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the current team of scientists and managers. Although there are certain difficulties in organization and personnel in implementing training and scientific research in some units, previous generations have left extremely valuable legacies for the development of the University as well as other units. It is the transmission of knowledge, sense of responsibility between generations, enthusiasm, and passion for science of the teachers that are sacred values, creating the special strength and internal force of the University. The current team of cadres and civil servants are all dedicated to their profession, always trying to preserve the identity and precious traditions of the University. The University is trying to promote the values of a university community, continuing to build a university spirit, where everyone is united and joins hands to build the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. On the other hand, currently, the staff and lecturers in the School not only actively absorb the knowledge and experience of previous generations but also proactively expand their knowledge to receive scientific and technological achievements from outside. In recent years, the School has regularly had about 1/3 of the staff and lecturers sent abroad for exchange, research and teaching. This shows that the flow of knowledge between domestic and international has created convection currents, creating the foundation and basis for the development and integration of the School.
