2010 was a year of many notable events in the activities of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities: the 65th anniversary of the University's founding and the 26th Party Congress of the University's Party Committee. This year also marked significant changes in the University's development orientation to further affirm its leading position in the Vietnamese university system and meet the new societal needs for higher education. Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh - Secretary of the Party Committee and Rector of the University - discussed with reporters the opportunities and challenges awaiting the University in the new decade.
- Currently, professions in the social sciences and humanities are facing competition from many other "hot" professions, so they receive less public attention. How has the university recognized and addressed this issue, Professor?- This is indeed a reality that the University has had to face in recent times. The social sciences and humanities are sciences about human beings and social life, studying and evaluating the current state of society to provide a basis for policymakers and managers to develop long-term strategies and plans. Despite this enormous role, the benefits that social sciences and humanities bring are not easily visible in the immediate future. Furthermore, the strong development of the economy and science and technology in recent years has made economic, technological, and foreign trade professions highly attractive to students. Therefore, those involved in research and training in social sciences and humanities must clearly recognize this reality to avoid becoming discouraged by their chosen passion. As a leading institution for training and research in social sciences and humanities, the University has had to be very dynamic and creative in many aspects to best meet the current needs of society for these fields of study. Firstly, building upon its foundational subjects like History, Literature, and Philosophy, the university has researched and developed new disciplines to serve societal and student needs, such as International Studies, Tourism Studies, Anthropology, Social Work, Oriental Studies, Vietnamese Studies, Intellectual Property, and Office Management. These new disciplines, by meeting societal demands, have quickly garnered attention from both students and employers. In particular, the initial implementation of internationally recognized programs like Linguistics and History will provide students with high-quality learning opportunities. Secondly, the training programs have been updated to modernize content, increase practical training time, and focus on developing professional and soft skills so that students can adapt well to their jobs immediately after graduation. In addition, many other management measures are also implemented to enhance the quality of training – the most important factor in building a university's brand.
Many academic disciplines that meet international standards, such as Linguistics and History, are being initially implemented, providing high-quality learning opportunities for students.— Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh
Thirdly, the university has diversified its training programs, expanding partnerships with many foreign universities through 2+2 and 3+1 programs to increase learning opportunities for students; establishing training partnerships and technology transfer with many renowned universities worldwide; offering dual degree programs and short-term training courses. Fourthly, the university has built close relationships with many organizations and recruitment agencies, including the Vietnam Association of Business Managers, to find common ground and help students have more job opportunities after graduation.
- The university is considered a leading institution within Vietnam National University, Hanoi in implementing credit-based training (CBT), but the implementation is still in its early stages, with many aspects still unfamiliar in terms of understanding and practice. Professor, could you please share the solutions the university will implement in the future to ensure that CBT truly deepens and maximizes the effectiveness of this training method?- We clearly define that: Implementing the credit-based system effectively at all levels of education is a comprehensive and long-term solution to innovate university management methods, manage training activities, gradually improve training quality, and integrate internationally.
A significant amount of work has been completed, and certain psychological obstacles faced by students and staff have been overcome, making ICT familiar in the thinking and activities of both teachers and students.— Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh
With great effort and determination, the University has overcome many difficulties to achieve initial successes in transitioning from a semester-based training system to a credit-based training system, becoming one of the leading units of Vietnam National University, Hanoi in this work. These initial results have created positive changes in teaching and learning, infusing a new learning atmosphere towards dynamism, creativity, and efficiency among staff and students. The University has promptly developed and adjusted regulations, guidelines, and training management procedures to suit the credit-based training system. 1,144 course outlines, 41 textbooks, 15 reference books, 106 lectures and course guidance materials for undergraduate programs, and 672 course outlines/specialized topics for postgraduate programs have been compiled and adapted to suit the credit-based training system. A significant amount of work has been completed, and certain psychological obstacles for students and staff have been overcome, making distance learning familiar in the thinking and activities of both teachers and students. The QH-2007-X cohort, with 1,345 students – the first cohort to apply this training method throughout the entire course – had 5 students who completed over 90% of the total credits, achieved sufficient scores to register for their graduation thesis defense, and had the opportunity to complete the entire program in just 3 years instead of the usual 4 years. This is a very encouraging sign, showing that students have gradually adapted to the new training method and have strived to fully utilize its outstanding advantages in their study plans. In the future, to deepen distance learning, the University has identified the top priority as reforming the training management process to emphasize the dynamism of functional departments; Enhance the interconnectedness between departments and units; increase the proactive role of faculties and departments in organizing and operating training programs, designing new programs, and proposing new courses; increase the autonomy and self-determination of lecturers in teaching and assessment; and strictly monitor the implementation of training regulations to limit negative impacts arising from a lack of assessment.
- Quality assurance in education is also one of the outstanding and pioneering activities of the University in recent times. Professor, could you please assess the results achieved and the University's plans for this new field?- Recognizing the early role of quality assurance in improving training quality for regional integration, in 2006, the University established the Center for Training Quality Assurance. Its function is to act as the focal point for quality assurance work within the university, as well as to coordinate with external units to conduct quality assurance for the University's training programs. The University has evaluated training programs, assessed lecturers through student feedback, organized mid-term evaluations, and proposed effective post-evaluation solutions to improve teaching and learning quality. In 2007-2008, the National Council for Quality Assurance recognized the University as one of the universities meeting national standards. The University's Center for Training Quality Assurance was the first quality assurance unit within a member university of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), and for many consecutive years has been recognized by VNU as a unit with excellent performance in quality assurance, achieving a perfect score of 100/100. Many universities have visited to learn from the university's experience in quality assurance. The university also has many achievements in researching and building the theoretical foundation of quality assurance in Vietnam. In the coming time, the accreditation of training programs will continue to be strengthened to become a regular activity of the university. After the Linguistics program, the training programs in History, Tourism, International Studies, Archival Studies, and Office Management will be evaluated and assessed at the institutional level and at the VNU level. By 2012, the university will conduct evaluations of training programs according to the standards of the Association of Southeast Asian Universities (AUN). Achieving this will be a step closer to the goal of integrating the quality of education with the region and internationally.
- Six national-level research projects, 156 projects at the Vietnam National University, Hanoi level, and 123 institutional-level projects are currently underway. 100 scientific conferences, including 34 international conferences, were successfully organized during the 2006-2010 period – these are very impressive figures regarding the university's research achievements. However, it is also necessary to acknowledge the reality that in the field of social sciences and humanities, interdisciplinary research projects are still limited, and research with a service-oriented approach to generate revenue is not yet high. What direction does the university have to overcome these limitations?- Scientific research is an activity aimed at training staff, improving the quality of education, and affirming the school's prestige in the scientific community. In fact, over the past time, the scale and number of research projects of the school have been increasing. Scholars and foreign organizations consider the school a leading partner in cooperation in the social sciences and humanities of Vietnam. Many international projects implemented by the University have been very successful, even playing a pioneering role in theoretical research in many scientific fields that are still very new in Vietnam, such as: Social work, Anthropology, Policy analysis, Intellectual property... On the other hand, the six state-level projects that the University has undertaken are all large-scale, clearly interdisciplinary projects such as: 'Building and developing Vietnam's intellectual resources to serve the cause of national rejuvenation in the 21st century', 'The family issue in social development and social development management in our country during the đổi mới period', 'Basic characteristics of the people and culture of the Vietnamese community abroad today', 'Management culture: theory and practice'... These interdisciplinary projects have contributed to solving major problems of the country.
To continue implementing highly interdisciplinary research projects, the university must continue to focus on building a team of leading experts in various fields, especially emphasizing the training of experts capable of undertaking interdisciplinary research tasks. These must be highly qualified scientists with broad interdisciplinary knowledge and a strong reputation in the scientific community. Furthermore, interdisciplinary research is also a matter of organization and management. It requires leaders to have a broad vision and a correct understanding of the importance of interdisciplinary research in the social sciences and humanities, thereby prioritizing investment in large-scale research projects with high theoretical and practical value. Regarding service-oriented research conducted on demand, the social sciences and humanities are indeed at a disadvantage compared to many other fields. However, with our strong team of scientists and our reputation and experience over the years, we remain one of the top choices for individuals and organizations, both domestic and international, when they want to commission a scientific research project. Over the years, many experts in history, sociology, and linguistics from the university have undertaken numerous research projects on local history and culture. Towards the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi, the university's team of history, literature, and philosophy staff have been and are participating in building the Thang Long 1000th anniversary library, along with many other projects of Hanoi City. We will continue to expand our relationships with agencies and strengthen the promotion and introduction of our research capabilities to the wider community.
Professor, could you please tell us about the university's major research directions in the coming period?- The future development of the University's research orientations must ensure comprehensive development while also providing preferential conditions for certain disciplines with the potential and capabilities to excel and become internationally recognized. These research orientations must reflect new research perspectives and scientific thinking, focusing on interdisciplinary and regional studies projects. Based on this, in the period 2010-2020 and subsequent years, the University will concentrate on implementing the following eight fundamental research orientations: Firstly, researching theoretical issues, solving theoretical problems, theories, viewpoints, and research methods within the scope of social sciences and humanities to contribute to building a solid theoretical foundation and scientific arguments for the development of Vietnam's development theory; Secondly, to develop major interdisciplinary and regional research topics aimed at analyzing and establishing scientific arguments and foundations for building management mechanisms, development strategies, and forecasting issues in the social sciences and humanities, as well as socio-economic issues of the country in the first half of the 21st century; Thirdly, to develop research topics focusing on clarifying the historical, cultural, social characteristics, natural conditions, and ecological environment in order to further promote research on regions and inter-regions, development processes, the struggle for national unification and harmony, etc.
Scientific orientations must reflect new research perspectives and scientific thinking, focusing on developing interdisciplinary and regional studies projects.— Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh
Fourth, to further research and clarify the issue of cultural exchange and contact among cultures, ethnic cultural spaces, and cultural centers in our country throughout history; Fifth, to research the factors affecting social transformation, social classes and strata, interest groups, and social value systems; Sixth, to focus research on urbanization and urban society, including types of cities, issues of natural and social space in urban establishment and planning, urban management experience, and the development of urban studies; Seventh, to research the potential, cultural environment, marine economy, traditions of marine exploitation, and the maritime awareness of our nation throughout history; Eighth, to research and further clarify the unique development path of Vietnam in the past and in the future.
- The university aims to be among the top 400 universities in Asia within the next decade, which means it must integrate its educational quality with international standards. What fundamental solutions does the university have to achieve that goal, Professor?- This can be said to be the number one goal of the University in the next decade. All the efforts, intellect, and creativity of the University's staff; all the solutions proposed by the University in the fields of training, science, and personnel organization... are aimed at improving the quality of training to reach regional and international standards. To achieve this goal, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has identified three important factors that need focused investment: firstly, the scientific staff must be sufficient in quantity and meet international quality standards; secondly, the training programs and content must be updated with the world; and thirdly, the management process needs to be modernized to promote the dynamism and creativity of teachers and students, and to foster proactiveness and professionalism in training and scientific research activities.
- This year marks several important events for the University of Social Sciences and Humanities: the 65th anniversary of its founding and the 26th Party Congress. Professor, how do you assess the significance of these events in the University's future development?- These are two major events of great significance for the future development of the University. The 26th Party Congress will assess achievements, draw lessons learned, and propose directions and solutions to rapidly develop the University to reach the level and scale of a research university, with training and research quality meeting regional standards, some new majors/specializations meeting international standards, and striving to be among the leading universities in Asia by the end of the second decade of this century. This will be an extremely important and pivotal stage of development for the University and will leave a mark on Vietnamese higher education. This year, the University will celebrate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Literature - the predecessor university of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi. This will be a grand celebration for generations of faculty and students of the university, an opportunity for us to review and reaffirm the long-standing historical traditions and achievements that the revolutionary social sciences and humanities of Vietnam have attained over the past 65 years, thereby fostering pride and forging strength to continue building and developing the university in the future. The history and glory of the past shine upon us, urging us and today's generation of students to reflect on ourselves and ask: what should we do and how should we do it to continue the glorious tradition of a university established by the beloved President Ho Chi Minh himself, less than two months after the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam? - Thank you, Professor, for this conversation, and I wish the university success in achieving its goals!
