Always be proud of a school

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim. (Photo: Hoang Anh sent to USSH)

- Sir, as Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Vice Principal of the School, directly in charge of directing the Youth Union activities in the Party Committee, what are your comments on the Youth Union activities and Youth Movement of the School in recent times, especially volunteer activities?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim:The Party Committee and the Board of Directors highly appreciate the activities of the Youth Union and the movements that the Youth Union members and youth of the University have carried out in the past time. It can be said that these activities are very diverse, demonstrating the dynamic nature, creativity, and high sense of responsibility of the youth of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi towards society and the country. The Youth Union of the University has performed well its functions and tasks with the responsibility of a political organization of the youth at a university with a long tradition and prestige like our university.

We always think, with diverse and rich activities such as:Youth volunteer;Towards the soldiers on the border and islands;Exam supportorBlood donation;Warm clothes for children in remote areasand many other activities... the youth of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities have demonstrated their pioneering position, their pioneering role, and that of young intellectuals in carrying out political tasks associated with social activities. Not only that, these activities also demonstrate the affection of the youth for the country, especially for those who have many difficulties, for the soldiers who are day and night firmly protecting the borders and islands of the Fatherland. The activities of the school's youth have brought about many practical results. The Party Committee and the Board of Directors always pay attention to directing, creating favorable conditions and encouraging the activities of the Youth Union and Student Association of the school.

Recently, the School's working delegation visited Yen Bai, the Secretary of a remote commune visited us and expressed his gratitude to the School, thanked the Youth Union of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities for organizing the Youth Union members and students to Yen Bai to carry out volunteer Youth activities. After the meeting and coordination of those common activities, according to the Party Secretary of the commune, the local Youth Union movement has been better organized. The Youth Union members and youth are also more closely connected, more deeply aware of their roles and responsibilities towards the locality, towards the cause of cultural development, education, and socio-economic development. Although the time of exchange, contact, and participation in social activities with the Youth Union members and youth in Yen Bai was relatively short, it left many deep impressions. I think the School's Youth Union needs to multiply such highly effective and meaningful and practical activities.

In addition, during admission seasons, activities such asExam supportis also an effective activity, rich in social meaning. Candidates (and their parents) on the occasion of returning to Hanoi to participate in the entrance exams received a lot of support and enthusiastic guidance from the Youth Union members and volunteers of the School. Students in remote areas are not familiar with the roads, lifestyle, living conditions and even have certain economic difficulties, but all received timely support and guidance. Another typical example is the activityBlood donationI know that many members and students of the school have participated in blood donation campaigns to save lives. These activities are always imbued with humanity and have profound social and humanitarian significance.

It is also necessary to add and affirm that, in the past time, the movements and activities organized by the School Youth Union have been implemented systematically, attracting a large number of union members and young people to participate. The union members and young people of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities have been and are continuing to promote tradition, constantly striving in studying and actively participating in social activities. The Party Committee, the Board of Directors and the School acknowledge and highly appreciate the achievements of the School Youth Union and hope that the leaders of the Union, from the Secretary, the Standing Committee, the Executive Committee of the School Youth Union to the branches, union members and students, will constantly strive to study and practice to maintain the title of a prestigious training and research center and at the same time keep the heroic tradition of the former University Youth Union and the current University Youth Union movement.

- Can you tell us what is similar and different about the Union activities today compared to the Union activities and Youth movements when you were a student at Hanoi National University?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim: It is difficult to compare the two periods. Although there are certain differences, there are many things in common between generations of union members and young people. We all went through a time of vibrant, enthusiastic, active youth, ready to contribute and sacrifice for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. These are truly precious qualities, the pride of generations of union members and students.

As a pioneering force, a reliable support for the Party, in the university environment, each union member and student should correctly identify their core political tasks in studying, cultivating, and striving to become useful citizens and intellectuals in the future. I think that in any circumstance, no matter how difficult, the union members and youth of the University are always worthy of the trust of the Party and the country. Another common point between the two generations is that students (and broadly speaking, both the university's undergraduates and graduate students) are always passionate about the core tasks of studying and researching, and still maintain and promote the academic traditions of a leading university of basic sciences. Many union activities and movements have focused on this core task. Those are the common points between the generations.

Along with the general development of the country, in each historical period, union members and youth also have their own tasks and missions. Many activities and ways of organizing the work of the union and association have also been adjusted to suit the new situation. The credit training method also requires us to have new thinking in the activities of the Union and Association. We always think and realize the youthfulness, creativity, enthusiasm and readiness to take on responsibilities... of the union members and youth of the School. That is the strength and valuable asset that our school's Union has.

The most notable thing is that our generation is the generation of the period when the country had just gone through major wars. We had to go through many difficulties in material life, in learning and living conditions, etc. Besides, in studying and researching, we sometimes still did not have open views and thinking on some scientific issues. Fortunately, since 1986, the country has implemented the Renovation process, and the Social Sciences have also changed and developed a lot. International exchanges have brought about many favorable conditions for the exchange of information, documents, and research views. To be honest, if we do not grasp the trends of movement and development of the regional and international educational environment; if we do not gradually keep pace with the general developments of academia and new, pioneering scientific achievements of the world, we will fall behind very quickly.

Many times, our generation still wishes to have the youthfulness, dynamism, creativity... like you. You are possessing many valuable assets. Let's perceive correctly, evaluate correctly, and exploit those valuable assets effectively. You are living in an information age, can access scientific research works more easily, as well as have many conditions to study and practice skills for your profession and life.

We are living in a modern society. Urban life, independent life away from family requires each member and student to have a high spirit of initiative in organizing study plans, scientific research and participating in social activities. The challenges of urban life, material needs... require a spirit of initiative and courage of each member and student.

- Sir, the school's youth have been implementing and deploying projects. quality, serious scientific research aimed at contributing to buildingTUniversity of Social Sciences and Humanities becomes a research university. Please tell me the main idea. What are the policies and orientations of the Party Committee and the Board of Directors on this activity?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim: Building a research university, promoting the tradition of a research university is a major orientation, of great significance to the development of our University at present as well as in the future. From the University of Literature, the former University of General Sciences to the current University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the research tradition has been maintained and continued by generations. After nearly 70 years of development, with many challenges and difficulties, teachers and scientists in the University still attach importance to research work and have achieved many achievements in scientific research. In the 1960s and 1970s, in the context of war, under the camps, simple roofs of evacuation places, on bamboo and wooden tables... many major research works, basic textbooks were compiled and completed. Many in-depth research works on Literature, Language, History, Philosophy... have become the pride of a University. Many textbooks have been widely used in the education sector and international centers for Vietnamese studies, Southeast Asian studies, Asian studies... That is always the pride of all of us. There is a motto or axiom that has been passed down through generations: "Without research, it is impossible to teach well and deeply.”. The capacity and abundant scientific research products of high quality... are the pride and more than that, the honor of a university. Union members and students of the University should try to get used to research work. The work and research environment will make each union member and student truly devote themselves to a passion, and at the same time, through that we also understand more about how arduous and difficult research work is. To have a new, creative research product... always requires a lot of time, effort and sacrifice.

It can be affirmed that the members and students of Hanoi National University in the past as well as the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) today are all enthusiastic and focus on scientific research activities. Scientific research activities have helped young people have the opportunity to practice their personal qualities and abilities, get acquainted with how to organize groups, the spirit of community work... Thanks to those qualities and abilities, many scientific agencies and research institutes always highly appreciate the ability of graduates of the USSH. It is worth noting that many scientific reports of students from the first and second years have determined long-term research directions and can be associated with their scientific life forever. Many scientific reports of students have been developed into graduation theses and from graduation theses developed into master's and doctoral topics. That shows the right research orientation and long-term vision of teachers in training and professional guidance.

Over the years, our University has achieved many successes in scientific research. We are making many innovations in the way we organize and think about scientific activities. Many strong research groups and some excellent research centers have been formed and are developing their strengths. The method of organizing research groups with three or four generations and many rounds of consolidation has gradually become quite popular in our university. In the process of implementing research topics, many teachers, heads of departments and prestigious scientists have created conditions for students to participate and become familiar with research work, modern research methods and scientific information processing methods.

In addition, the School also promotes training students with knowledge, experience and necessary skills, including foreign language proficiency. These skills will help students integrate well into the social environment, adapt to the requirements of recruiting agencies after graduation or seek international scholarships. The School always hopes that our high-quality training products can contribute to the cause of industrialization, modernization and participate smoothly in the international training environment, in the process of social division of labor in the region and internationally.

- The 8th Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of the School, term 2014-2017 is about to take place. Before the Congress, what wishes do you have for the activities of the Union and Youth Movement in the coming time?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim: The Youth Union of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has always been a strong collective and we should continue to promote those achievements, multiply the precious traditions and pride of the young generation of the School. Over the past years, the Youth Union activities have been very exciting and of good quality. Most of the members and students are very enthusiastic and responsible for common activities, have a good sense of maintaining strict school discipline; are sincere and honest in life and constantly strive to achieve higher achievements in their studies. Recently, under the direction of the Party Committee, the Executive Committee of the Youth Union has been actively preparing for the 8th Youth Union Congress with many exciting activities. The Youth Union is organizing the contest "Humanity in me" and many political, cultural and sports activities... The campaign "Season of high-quality scientific research" has been widely responded to by members and students. This is one of the vivid evidences of the activities of the youth of the School towards the Congress.

The Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the School hope that, along with the general activities, the School Youth Union will have more specialized political activities, many scientific, social, cultural, sports activities... that are really exciting, attracting a large number of union members and students to participate. Thereby, along with political and ideological training, each union member and student will also have a deeper and more complete awareness of their roles and responsibilities. Let's renew our thinking and actions so that the union activities are more closely linked to the political tasks of the country and of the capital Hanoi. As union members and students of a University, union members and students should strive to achieve high results in studying and training, and at the same time more closely link the activities of the Union and Association with the key tasks of the School.

We need to be more creative in the way the Youth Union and Association operate. In recent times, many Youth Union activities, including those of the School Clubs, have attracted a large number of union members and young people. Through that, participating members have had more favorable conditions to share and build a university community spirit while demonstrating their abilities, interests and passions. The Party Committee, the Board of Directors and the Faculties and Departments in the School always pay attention to and encourage the activities of the Clubs and will try to arrange and set up some suitable spaces for students to have fun and practice after stressful study hours. In thinking and organizing work, we also need to link the activities of the School Youth Union with the Youth Union activities of Hanoi National University, Hanoi City Youth Union and the Central Youth Union to create harmony and combined strength. If we can do that, surely each member and student will have more opportunities to practice, strive, increase understanding and at the same time have more joy when living and working in large communities.

Wishing all members and students of the University good study, good health and many practical actions, high achievements to welcome the 8th Congress of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, Hanoi.

Thank you for the above discussion.