With history: Coming by fate and staying by passion!
As an honored face at "Glory of Vietnam", can you share some of your thoughts and feelings?
- I was really surprised when I received the news that I was included in the list of 15 groups and individuals honored in the program "Glory of Vietnam 2015" of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. I was surprised, but at the same time I also felt happy and honored, and somewhat felt that I was more favored than many other colleagues in the field of university education and scientific research in the country.
What was the reason that made you come to the major of history, love and stick with this subject until now?
- When I took the university entrance exam, I didn't even know what the law major was like, because I planned to take the medical exam. But close to the exam date, I unexpectedly received a notice to take the entrance exam to the University of General Sciences. At first, I wasn't happy, but the more I studied, the more interesting it became, and gradually I developed a passion for this subject.
Among the countless big problems of LS, which topic makes you interested and research deeply?
- The topic that I have cherished and devoted the most time to researching is the Vietnamese intellectual team over the past 30 years. In the years before the renovation, in Vietnam, the assessment of the intellectual team was still reserved. Some opinions said that praising intellectuals meant downplaying the role of the working class. In the years of renovation, the atmosphere of academic freedom in the country has increasingly developed, the role of intellectuals has been assessed more in line with reality, more objectively. What I am satisfied with affirming is that intellectuals are always the representative force of the country's intelligence, initiating new ideas about politics, culture, academia... and I have devoted myself to this idea, but sometimes I am still not evaluated fairly and fully.
According to you, what is the mission of the law industry for the country's development, especially in the current context?
- My point of view is that people must know their roots, otherwise they will lose their way, not knowing who they are, where they are going, where they are going. For Vietnam, Vietnamese people need to clearly understand national history to know the traditions, identities, and strengths of the Vietnamese people and the Vietnamese nation. Studying history is to understand oneself and others, to nurture and cultivate love for one's homeland and country, and to know national pride. Understanding history will help us understand reality and be able to orient the path ahead, towards the future in the clearest and most confident way.
“Taking history lightly is dangerous!”
A rather sad reality is that many high school students are not interested in history, and many even turn their backs on the subject which is considered too boring. What do you think about this?
- In my opinion, first of all, it is due to the incorrect perception of the role of History in comprehensive human training, personality development, and national consciousness of people. Teaching history is simply teaching about the past of the country. Students need to understand History in a comprehensive movement with different aspects and fields. The second reason is that the teaching of this subject is not scientific, has not approached and aroused interest and passion for learning History in students. This is a big risk for the younger generations. Not knowing who you are, what you are like, your strengths and weaknesses will make you disadvantaged in development.
With the policy of educational innovation in general and university education innovation in particular, what outstanding changes has the University of Social Sciences and Humanities made, Professor?
- As a member of VNU, the school has implemented a policy of innovating the admission method using competency assessment tests. This is one of the important innovations. Second, the school innovates university administration, accordingly evaluating the work results of lecturers and staff by output products instead of administrative management of time. Work is evaluated through products at the end of the month, the end of the semester and the end of the year.
- Thank you very much, Professor!
Prof. Dr. People's Teacher Nguyen Van Khanh was born in 1955 in Hai Duong, currently the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU). With the main research directions being Vietnam's economic and social history in the colonial period, Vietnamese intellectuals in history, and Vietnam's agricultural land and rural areas in the modern and contemporary period, he has published (written alone, edited and co-authored) over 20 books and 100 articles in scientific journals at home and abroad; participated in training hundreds of bachelors, dozens of PhDs and Masters for many universities. In particular, he was honored to receive 3 scientific awards including the outstanding scientific work of VNU in 2009, 2012 and the silver prize for good books of the Vietnam Publishing Association in 2013.
Author:Duong Ha (according to Lao Dong newspaper)
