"If the internet and the Fourth Industrial Revolution connect everything, then social sciences help connect people, souls, and hearts."

Professor Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.

Distinguished leaders of Hanoi National University

Distinguished international and Vietnamese guests

Dear teachers, staff, and employees!

Dear students!

First of all, on behalf of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, allow me to extend our warmest congratulations to the representatives of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the delegates, the esteemed lecturers, and the students on the occasion of the new academic year 2018-2019! Today, we are holding the Opening Ceremony to celebrate the new academic year and welcome 2,034 new students of cohort K63 officially joining our family, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Never before in the history of our University have we welcomed such a large number of first-year students as this year.

The 2017-2018 academic year concluded with unforgettable milestones. Organizationally, the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training, a new model oriented towards autonomy and high quality, was established for the first time. Nineteen faculty members were awarded professorships and associate professorships, bringing the total number of faculty members with associate professorships and professorships at the University to 114. In terms of training, over 2,000 first-year students officially enrolled, including, for the first time, over 80 students choosing Southeast Asian Studies. Literature became the fourth program, after Linguistics, Oriental Studies, and Philosophy, to meet the quality standards of the ASEAN University Network (AUN). Scientifically, during the past academic year, faculty members published 60 international publications, including 10 articles in high-impact journals (ISI/SCOPUS), and hundreds of domestic publications. Also during the past year, thousands of faculty and students from the university and its partners participated in exchange programs, making the trend of internationalization even more prominent. On this occasion, allow me to express my gratitude for the leadership and cooperation of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the Ministry of Education and Training, central and local departments, diplomatic agencies, domestic and international partners, and the silent contributions of the faculty, staff, researchers, postgraduate students, and generations of students of the University.

On behalf of the faculty, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the K63 students and their parents for placing their trust in this school. In the context of the world undergoing rapid changes due to globalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, your choice further demonstrates the importance of social sciences and humanities. As society develops, social sciences become increasingly important. Social sciences help people gain a more humane, profound, and comprehensive understanding of human development; just as the internet and the Fourth Industrial Revolution connect everything, social sciences connect people, souls, and hearts.

Unlike students from previous and later cohorts, the K63 students will be a special generation because they were born in 2000. Eighteen years ago, the whole world was concerned about the Year 2000 computer bug (also known as the Y2K bug, the millennium bug), primarily caused by older computers and outdated electronic clock circuits that couldn't distinguish between the years 2000 and 1900. I believe that students born in 2000, the Y2K generation, will also overcome the challenges on their path, just as the world quickly overcame the millennium bug.

The world of the 2000s, a flat world of globalization and internationalization, is blurring the lines between nations, cultures, and individuals. But it is precisely in this context that the trends of localization, individualization, and identity are also rising strongly, aiming to assert one's own self, uniqueness, and differences. Instead of simply being a process of globalization, there is a significant intermingling of international and local elements, which the Japanese, since the 1980s, have called "dochakuka" (i.e., localization with global reach). This term was coined in 1997 by Roland Robertson (a Scottish sociologist) as "Glocalization"(meaning local globalization). To master this world, you must first know who you are and where you are. If you only focus on internationalization, you will lose yourself and dissolve into the flow of the world. Conversely, if you only focus on localization, you will remain forever alone in the vast flow of humanity. To integrate with the world, you must first integrate with those who share the same origins; to bridge the gap with the world, you must first remove the barriers between ourselves; if you want your flow to quickly merge into the ocean, don't create rapids for yourself. In short, to internationalize the world, you must first internationalize your own home."

The 2018-2019 academic year is a pivotal year for the university's internationalization strategy. We face enormous challenges such as building a model and governance methodology for a research university in the context of globalization, competition, autonomy, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To overcome these challenges, there is no other way than to focus our investment on two strategic tasks: attracting, organizing, and improving the quality of postgraduate training, and creating top-quality scientific products with profound social impact. The position and prestige of a leading research university can only be measured by the quantity and quality of its postgraduate programs and scientific research products. If we successfully accomplish these two strategic tasks, the university's prestige, position, and ranking will be significantly enhanced.

Can all of us, especially the 2000 generation, achieve that? I believe so. This school, with its rich tradition of over 70 years and its highly qualified and dedicated staff, has been, is, and will continue to empower those who have placed their trust in them. Concluding my speech to the Y2K generation and their teachers on the occasion of the Opening Ceremony of the 2018-2019 school year, I would like to reiterate a few lines from the famous letter nearly 200 years ago by US President Abraham Lincoln to his son's teachers:Please help me see the wonderful world of books. But please also give me enough time to quietly contemplate the eternal mysteries of life: like birds soaring in the sky, bees buzzing in the sunlight, and flowers blooming on the verdant hills… Please let me know that I must always have absolute faith in myself because then I will have absolute faith in humanity.”

Wishing the leaders of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, distinguished guests, faculty members, and beloved students good health, a successful and fortunate new academic year. Thank you very much.

English version