Professor Vu Duong Ninh, Dr. Le The Que, Professor Pham Quang Minh, and Professor Hoang Khac Nam appear together in one frame with simple, radiant smiles. These four individuals, who have shaped the Faculty of International Studies as it is today, fill the photograph with emotion and reflections on the passage of time. I chuckled upon reading a comment about the photo: "The Super Quartet." Perhaps that comment accurately reflects what generations of students and young staff members like us, with deep affection and respect, think of them – "The four precious teachers of the Faculty of International Studies."
The author has been fortunate enough to study and teach at the Department of International Studies for the past 18 years. Those 18 years are not long enough to witness the entire quarter-century journey of International Studies, but they are just enough to be students and later colleagues of all four professors. What I and my peers learned from them extended beyond the confines of the lecture halls or mere written accounts.
WithTeacher Vu Duong NinhWe learned from him the erudition, meticulousness, and kindness of our teacher. We also matured in the spirit of self-learning that he always encouraged from the very first days of our enrollment. I still remember Professor Ninh reminding the K47 students that "student" in English is "student," and that word originates from "study," meaning self-learning, self-research, and self-improvement. The philosophy of liberal education probably came to us 18 years ago, in such a gentle, simple, and warm way. We learned, read, researched, and discussed under his guidance. The history of Vietnam's foreign relations became vibrant, colorful, and captivating, like a long-running but dramatic film. His voice was warm, his eyes affectionate, but the nuances of his expression and the way he emphasized and used words made him the most talented, wonderful, profound, and moving storyteller. Professor Ninh – the chief architect of the International Faculty – remains the same to this day, always affectionate and protective of us even after we have worked in the faculty for more than ten years.
Teacher QueHe was the second head of the Department of International Studies. Although I didn't graduate from the American Studies program where he was the head of the department, I was fortunate enough to study English for specific purposes under his tutelage. His meticulous use of terminology in international relations translation, his flexibility in choosing sentence structures, and his witty anecdotes and stories behind translations always filled his classes, despite the difficulty. I will always remember him patiently helping us analyze each sentence and correct each idea in our translations. Regardless of the student's level, entering Professor Que's translation class, his words of encouragement and praise would boost their self-confidence. He knew how to help us learn a little each day…and grow a little…and so, we patiently followed his example. To this day, I still carry that positive attitude and care into my teaching classes, hoping to instill in my students the warmth and confidence I received from him.
The third Dean of the Department of International Studies isTeacher MinhProfessor Minh was like a refreshing breeze, full of enthusiasm, dynamism, initiative, and an international orientation. The highlight of our time working with him was his unwavering dedication and willingness to overcome difficulties to seek out opportunities to work with foreign partners. Watching him passionately teach, busily carrying his backpack to gather research materials, and knowing he stayed up late writing papers while still constantly planning conferences and meeting with international delegations, none of us young staff members allowed ourselves to rest. Professor Minh inspired us every day. We participated in more international cooperation activities, exchanging ideas and learning with friends from many different countries. Our students also had more opportunities for academic exchange programs. The English Club welcomed many foreign speakers, and Professor Minh, despite his busy schedule, attended, inspiring and sharing with the club's students. Professor Minh played a crucial role in bridging the gap between us and international friends and scholars. He is the one who has given international studies today its distinctive international character.
Teacher Khac NamHe is the fourth head of department I want to write about here. Professor Nam is sharp and charismatic. Leaving aside the individuality reflected in his attire, our professor's personality is evident in his writing, teaching, research, and the way he made us love the subject and dedicate ourselves to our work. During my student days, he taught "Introduction to International Relations." In that course, he was also the one who introduced us to the first concepts of International Relations Theory. I first learned about Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism, etc., thanks to him. And thanks to his incredibly easy-to-understand lectures, I was able to complete the content of the International Relations Theory course, one of the most difficult subjects in my field when I was studying abroad. Later, I was fortunate enough to work and research alongside him, and I realized that behind those personalities and sharp edges lay meticulousness in research, absolute respect for intellectual creativity, and kindness and affection towards colleagues. He was always there for us young researchers at every step of the way, providing support and encouragement when we faced difficulties, and most importantly, he cherished every idea and piece of writing we submitted.
Looking at the photo of the four people who built the International Studies Department of the past, present, and future, I realize how fortunate we are! Over the past 25 years, the International Studies Department has had people who have built its core values: compassion, meticulousness, patience, empathy, individuality, dynamism, and an outward-looking attitude. Above all, from the example of our professors, the works they have written, and the love they have shown us, we understand our mission in teaching and research better. We study international studies to love and understand Vietnam more deeply. We may have a broad perspective on the world, but we always bear in mind that we must do everything to contribute to building our nation.
Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my four legendary teachers! I hope I will have the opportunity to express these words to them.
Source:Trade Union of the Faculty of International Studies
