Professor, People's Teacher Vu Duong Ninh - a lifetime of dedication to the profession

After graduating from university, along with some classmates, Mr. Vu Duong Ninh stayed at the Faculty of History, Hanoi University of Science to work. In the context of a fierce war in the country, the Faculty of History and the University had to evacuate to many places, learning conditions, reference materials, material life... were all lacking, but he and the members of the Faculty and Department still nurtured a great determination, learning more foreign languages, mainly through self-study, to be able to use resources in French, Russian and English. In the smoke of war, from bamboo tables under the insufficient light of oil lamps, under the thatched roofs and the care and protection of the people in the evacuation area..., each part of the bookWorld History Textbookcompiled and applied in teaching students. While working and studying, while teaching and accumulating experience, through difficult practices, he and his colleagues have gradually matured and become the core members in building a number of majors of the school as well as many universities in the South after the country's reunification.

Since those difficult years, he has always been a dedicated researcher of World History in general and Modern World History in particular. For many years as Head of the Department of World History and Vice Head of the Faculty of History, Professor Vu Duong Ninh has contributed his scientific enthusiasm to training many generations of students specializing in World History and International Relations issues. In 1995, from a major of the Faculty of History, in response to the new development requirements of the country, Professor Vu Duong Ninh was one of the initiators and founders of the International Studies major. Up to now, this major has become the Faculty of International Studies under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, increasingly affirming its position as a training and research center on international relations in the country.

Professor, People's Teacher Vu Duong Ninh was Deputy Head of the History Department, Hanoi National University (1992-1995), Head of the International Studies Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (1995-2000)/Photo: Thanh Long

Thanks to his reputation and scientific vision, Professor Vu Duong Ninh was assigned by the Ministry of Education and Training to preside over the development of undergraduate and postgraduate training programs in the following subjects:World History,History of international relations,History of world civilization...for common use by universities across the country. He also edited the following textbooks:Modern world history,History of world civilization,History of International Relations - Volume I,Some topics on World History (3 volumes have been published so far)... As a contributor to the opening of many new programs and majors but always associated with practical activities, the topics that Mr. Vu Duong Ninh teaches always have great appeal. Students, graduate students, and researchers not only receive from the lectures a rich amount of information, a logical and rigorous way of communicating and analyzing, but also find in it apersonality and heart of a great Teacher and Friend.

As a teacher and pedagogist with many years of experience at Hanoi National University and the higher education sector, in the early 80s of the 20th century, teacher Vu Duong Ninh was sent by the State to work as an educational expert in Madagascar. After a successful lecture trip, in the context of the country's Open Door and the implementation of the Renovation process, with his accumulated knowledge and experience, Professor Vu Duong Ninh was invited to participate in many international seminars, joint research and teaching programs in France, the Netherlands, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, etc. The sophistication in his scientific viewpoints, easy-to-understand presentation style and friendly demeanor are trusted and admired by many international scholars.

Prof. Dr. Vu Duong Ninh is one of the scientists who initiated and established the International Studies Department at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Along with his duties as a teacher, Professor Vu Duong Ninh also devotes much of his heart to scientific research. The issue of studying international relations, especially determining Vietnam's position in the face of profound changes in the world situation, has truly become an attractive research topic for him. According to the Professor's concept, having serious scientific works about the world will contribute to clarifying many issues in national history, from which connections can be drawn, valuable experiences can be distilled to come to the choice of appropriate solutions and policies. Understanding oneself, understanding the world, correctly grasping the trends of movement and development of the world is one of the core factors for planning development policies of each country and international integration.

With his intelligence and hard work, Professor Vu Duong Ninh has set an example for his students and colleagues in terms of responsibility for work and seriousness in science. In recent times, along with editing basic textbooks, Professor Vu Duong Ninh has also been the main person responsible for compiling 5 research books onModern world history,History of modern international relations,History of world civilization, Reform movement in some East Asian countries in the mid-19th century - early 20th century, Vietnam - China land borderand is the author of a comprehensive monographHistory of Vietnam's foreign relations (1940-2010), Vietnam's revolution on the international chessboard. History and issues. Prof. Vu Duong Ninh has also chaired many ministerial and national university level scientific projects on Vietnam - ASEAN relations and Vietnam's foreign relations. To date, Prof. Vu Duong Ninh has completed and published more than 150 research articles in specialized journals. The research results not only contribute to clarifying many events and issues of world history but also focus on analyzing the international context and its impacts on important events in the history of the Vietnamese revolution. These research results are a contribution to the preparation of scientific arguments for a number of research and policy-making agencies to refer to.

With his prestige and scientific influence, Prof. Vu Duong Ninh has held the position of chairman and member of many scientific work appraisal councils, development program building councils and research orientations of a number of scientific agencies, the Council of Professors in History - Archeology - Ethnology, Vietnam Historical Science Association... In each job, the Professor always strictly demands scientific quality, while expressing an optimistic, humanistic view, rich in practical thinking. The Professor's teaching style and rich scientific activities have contributed to the prestige and honor of the former Hanoi National University and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities today. Being modest, simple, honest with his thoughts and always maintaining his own scientific beliefs have become the core factors that help him succeed and create the position of one of the leading experts in modern Vietnamese Historical Science. With intelligence and scientific work, with sincere feelings, loyal attachment to friends and colleagues, together with teachers in the field such as Associate Professor, Meritorious Teacher Nguyen Gia Phu, Associate Professor, People's Teacher Nguyen Van Hong, Associate Professor, People's Teacher Nguyen Quoc Hung, Associate Professor, Nguyen Huy Quy and teachers Ho Gia Huong, Hoang Diep, Ms. Vo Mai Bach Tuyet..., Professor Vu Duong Ninh has contributed to creating the position ofFaculty of History - Heroic Unit, a prestigious historical training and research center in the country. Due to his outstanding contributions, Professor Vu Duong Ninh has been awarded many noble titles by the State:Excellent Teacher(1994),People's Teacher(2002),Second Class Medal of Resistance Against America,Second Class Labor Medal(2000) andFirst Class Labor Medal(2004),40 years Party membership badge(2007)...

Along with those noble titles, the activities and career of Professor, People's Teacher Vu Duong Ninh always leave deep impressions in the minds of many generations of students. At the age of nearly 80, Mr. Vu Duong Ninh has been allowed to retire by the State and the School, but every day he is still devoted to teaching, researching, and guiding graduate and doctoral students. As a teacher, Mr. Vu Duong Ninh always believes in his students, their creativity and scientific courage. The country is changing every day. He chose the teaching profession, tirelessly walking on that long, thorny but also glorious path. Reflecting and contemplating his life as a teacher and a scientist, he still feels that he has chosen the right path. Now, he can be happy withCareer of growing peopleof mine because there have been and are generations of students following in my footsteps.