Introducing a new major: Southeast Asian Studies

About Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia has long been mentioned in ancient Indian books with names such as Suvarnabhumi (Golden Land) or Suvarnadvipa (Golden Island), the Chinese called it Nanyang, similarly the Japanese used the word Nan Yo (ie South Ocean), the Arabs called it Zabag, and the Greeks and Romans from the middle of the 2nd century BC also called it Chryse (Golden Land). Thus, since ancient times, the world has known about the Southeast Asian cultural region. The reason for this is because Southeast Asia was an important link on the East-West trade route in the past. Southeast Asia is not only important in terms of geographical location, being a bridge on the East-West trade route, but also a place that provides many valuable products (such as gold, ivory, precious wood, camphor, cloves, pepper...) for inter-regional trade activities.

Today, Southeast Asia is a dynamic economic region in the world. In addition to rich countries such as Singapore and Brunei with the highest per capita income in the world, Southeast Asia also has Indonesia in the Group of 20 major economies (G20), Malaysia and Thailand are highly competitive economies, the Philippines and Vietnam are among the fastest growing economies in the world in the past few years as well as forecasts for the coming years (According to Bloomberg)... With a population of over 650 million people and a GDP of over 2,600 billion USD (2018), Southeast Asia's development potential is considered very large. The World Economic Forum (WEF) predicts that by 2020, this region will become the 5th largest economy in the world.

Not only does Southeast Asia have a rich historical and cultural identity and great potential for economic development, it is also increasingly united and connected, as demonstrated by the formation of the ASEAN Community since the end of 2015. The importance and attractiveness of this region has promoted the formation of many research and training centers on Southeast Asian studies around the world. Following that trend, the undergraduate program in Southeast Asian studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi has just been established. The program not only meets the labor market's demand for human resources with knowledge of Southeast Asian studies, but also certainly makes an important contribution to Vietnam's integration and development in the ASEAN Community.

Training objectives

• Training bachelors in Southeast Asian Studies with general knowledge of social sciences and humanities and systematic, in-depth, modern and updated knowledge of Southeast Asia in the fields of history, culture, economics, politics, international relations of the region, ASEAN organization and issues related to Vietnam.
• Graduates will be able to use English and a regional language such as Thai, Malay (the national language of Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore); at the same time, they will have a grasp of regional research methods and international communication skills.

Foreign language and professional knowledge block

• Fluent in English
• Have comprehensive, systematic and modern knowledge about ASEAN and ASEAN countries
• The main "areas" of knowledge include:

+ History, Culture of Southeast Asia and ASEAN countries

+ Economy, society, law, political institutions of ASEAN countries

+ Travel to ASEAN countries

+ ASEAN media

+ Basic native language (Choose Thai or Indonesian)

+ Related supplementary knowledge such as Introduction to information competency, Vietnamese writing practice, Introduction to international relations, Introduction to office management, Journalism, etc.

Job opportunities after graduation

Southeast Asian Studies graduates can work at the following locations:

• Embassies of ASEAN countries in Vietnam.
• International organizations (UNDP, UNESCO, ...), foreign representative offices in Vietnam.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Southeast Asia Department, Diplomatic Academy, Vietnamese Embassies in ASEAN countries, etc.).
• Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Defense.
• International Cooperation Departments of Ministries and branches in Vietnam.
• Foreign Travel Companies (Especially from ASEAN countries) and Vietnam.
• Universities have courses about ASEAN, Southeast Asian culture, etc.
• Research institutes (Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Institute of World Economics and Politics, etc.).
• Radio, Television, News Agencies, Newspapers, etc. related to ASEAN.
• Transnational corporations and companies in ASEAN countries.
• Vietnamese companies, corporations, groups and enterprises.

With wide-open job opportunities, Southeast Asian Studies will provide students with more career options and adaptability after graduation.