Continuing the tradition of the former Hanoi University, the female staff of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is increasingly developing and making significant contributions to all aspects of the University's activities. The percentage of female staff holding leadership positions is also increasing. In addition, the University has many policies and initiatives to support female staff in their lives, while creating an open environment for them to develop their abilities. Associate Professor Dr. Dang Xuan Khang - Head of the Personnel Department and President of the University's Trade Union - discussed this issue with reporters.
- Sir, what role do female staff members play in the school's policies and activities?The University of Social Sciences and Humanities is one of the universities with a large number of female staff (over 54%), and this percentage is trending upwards rapidly. Due to various reasons, in recent years, the proportion of male staff at the University has only been around 15%. If this trend continues, in the not-too-distant future, most of the University's work, especially teaching, research, and management, will be undertaken by women. Therefore, the Party committees and the University's administration have identified the work of female staff as one of the particularly important tasks. Doing this work well will make a significant contribution to the building and development of the University, meeting the requirements of the new development era.
- It is known that female officials account for 40% of all leadership and management positions. What does this figure indicate, sir?In recent years, the number of female staff holding managerial positions at all levels has been steadily increasing. Of the 150 leading and managerial staff members in the entire university, 60 are women, including 7 Deans of Faculties, 1 Head of Department, 1 Center Director, 1 Museum Director, 1 Company Director, and 9 Deputy Deans of Faculties and 4 Deputy Heads of Departments. Furthermore, female staff members are very active in union activities: 3 out of 17 Party Committee members, 8 out of 19 Party branch secretaries, 8 out of 15 members of the University's Trade Union Executive Committee, and 13 out of 19 Chairpersons of departmental trade unions are women. Notably, in the 2011-2012 academic year, the university had its first female Vice Rector, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa. This is a relatively high percentage compared to many other universities, indicating that female staff members are playing an increasingly important role in the University's operations. In fact, they have performed their duties very well, not only demonstrating the capabilities of a leader and manager but also sometimes resolving issues skillfully and thoroughly, achieving a higher level of consensus within the team than many male colleagues. This also shows that the University has effectively implemented many sound policies and strategies in building and nurturing a team of capable and dedicated female staff members committed to the University's development. All of this aims to create a favorable and open working environment for them to develop their abilities.
- How have the female staff members contributed to the development of the school, sir?Female faculty members possess numerous advantages when participating in professional and managerial roles. For example, they are often patient and meticulous – qualities well-suited for research; they understand student psychology and communicate more effectively with students than men, making them ideal for teaching and knowledge transfer. In management, with their tact and subtlety, they can even solve many problems that male leaders struggle with. Many female faculty members are determined to complete their training and achieve academic degrees at advanced universities abroad and return to contribute to the university. The number of female faculty members with academic titles and degrees is increasing. Currently, among the 262 female faculty members, there is 1 Professor, 21 Associate Professors, 65 PhDs, and 125 Master's degree holders. Female faculty members at the university are currently undertaking 2 out of 6 national-level scientific research projects; 10 out of 20 projects at the Vietnam National University, Hanoi level; and 7 out of 14 projects at the institutional level. And notably, the female faculty has been continuing the fine traditions of the female faculty from the time of Hanoi University to the present day. Generations of female faculty at the Faculty of Humanities have been proud of the famous female educators and scientists from the time of Hanoi University, such as the "Four Nobles" (four female lecturers of the Faculty of Literature) including People's Teacher Le Hong Sam, Associate Professor Dang Thi Hanh, who are experts in French literature (Associate Professor Dang Thi Hanh recently received the Order of the Academic Palms of the Republic of France), Professor Hoang Thi Chau, who received the State Prize for Science and Technology, and Professor Stankevich, a renowned expert in Linguistics. Currently, the female staff of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities also includes leading experts such as Prof. Dr. Le Thi Quy - an expert in gender studies and activities to prevent violence against women, who chaired the State-level project on "Research on the theoretical and practical basis of building Vietnamese families until 2020"; and Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Minh Duc - an expert in counseling psychology. There are also female staff members who are both experts in their fields and leaders for many years, such as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Quy (Head of the Faculty of Information and Library Science for two terms), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lam Thi My Dung - an expert in Archaeology and Director of the Museum of Anthropology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Thi Phung (Head of the Faculty of Archival Studies and Office Management), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Hoa (Head of the Faculty of Sociology), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Khanh Ha (Head of the Faculty of Psychology)... In addition, there are many young female staff members with high qualifications and capabilities holding important responsibilities in various faculties, such as Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong - Head of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication. Every year, among the outstanding young people honored at the University and VNU levels, there are many excellent female staff members in their respective positions. It can be said that the female staff of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has matured in all areas of work and is increasingly asserting its position. The female staff of the University not only fulfill their roles as women in the family: loving their husbands, caring for their children, raising healthy children, teaching them good values, and building happy families, but they are also increasingly confident in their professional positions, achieving many accomplishments in teaching and scientific research. They are the pride of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
- However, female staff members also face many disadvantages compared to their male counterparts. What policies has the school implemented to support female staff members in their work and studies?The school has always been committed to implementing policies aimed at building a sufficient and high-quality female staff. Party committees at all levels have reformed the planning of female staff, linking planning with training and development plans. After being included in the planning process, units have sent female staff for training and development to improve their professional skills and expertise. Annually, units review and assess the current status of the staff in terms of age, professional qualifications, work capacity, health, training and development needs, and re-evaluate the placement and utilization of existing female staff. This allows for the concretization of training and development plans for female staff. In addition to planning, training, and developing female staff, the Party Committee consistently promotes the development of female Party members, paying attention to specific criteria to encourage female staff to join the Party. As a result, the percentage of female Party members is steadily increasing. The female Party members admitted in recent years have consistently been exemplary in their work and have successfully completed their assigned tasks. On the part of the School, we have implemented many solutions to promote the work of female cadres among all staff and employees, such as: thoroughly disseminating Party resolutions on the work of female cadres; developing action programs and disseminating them to Party branches, trade unions, youth unions, etc., fundamentally changing perceptions and viewpoints on the work of female cadres at all levels of leadership, among cadres and Party members, thereby overcoming the patriarchal mindset and narrow-minded prejudices against female cadres, creating conditions for female cadres to fully develop their abilities and intelligence. The Party Committee and the Board of Directors always pay attention to implementing policies and regulations for female cadres, ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of female workers. Immediately after receiving the document from the Minister of Education and Training in 1999, the School established a Committee for the Advancement of Women, chaired by the School Principal. Through diverse forms and methods, thanks to the active work of the Committee for the Advancement of Women, the Women's Committee of the Trade Union has encouraged and motivated female staff to actively participate in emulation movements as well as socio-cultural activities. In addition, the school has created opportunities for female staff to participate in scientific research, and organized trips and vacations for them on major holidays such as International Women's Day (March 8th) and Vietnamese Women's Day (October 20th).
- On the occasion of International Women's Day, would you like to share a message with the female staff members of the school?Besides the achievements made, the work related to female staff at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities still has some shortcomings and limitations. Training and development of prospective female staff in some units has not been truly invested in in depth. A segment of female staff still harbors a complacent attitude, has not overcome family obstacles, and has not truly strived to improve their skills through further education. The University is also continuing to research and develop more systematic policies to prioritize female staff. However, to build and develop the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to meet the requirements of the new development era and further uphold the University's traditions, it requires all staff and employees in general, and female staff and employees in particular, to maximize their strength, intellect, and creativity. Each female staff member needs to proactively overcome difficulties, strive to improve their professional qualities and skills, assert themselves in their work, harmoniously combine family life and social work, and contribute to building and affirming the position of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - a prestigious higher education institution, a leading and reliable address for training and scientific research in the field of social sciences and humanities nationwide.
Thank you very much, teacher!
