Belief in the power of tradition and unity

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) was interviewed by VNU News on the occasion of the New Year 2011. - Could you please evaluate the school's outstanding achievements in the past year?- In 2010, the staff and students of the school continued to strive and achieved many proud achievements in the fields of training, scientific research, international cooperation and training links. The school's training work was carried out according to plan and achieved good quality. In 2010, after 4 years of implementing the credit-based training conversion roadmap, basically, the operating and management processes according to the new training method were implemented synchronously in the units of the school. Although the material facilities are still limited, the school has built a solid foundation for training work, drawing valuable lessons for the school in particular and Hanoi National University in general. In addition to 18 standard programs, 4 high-quality programs, 1 program with international standards being implemented, the School has completed the compilation of the Southeast Asian Studies program, and is continuing to develop the Public Relations and Policy Science programs; Completed the adjustment of the training program and accepted the course outlines; Accepted 44 lectures and 15 translated documents for learning materials; Continued innovation in teaching methods and content, practical and internship subjects have been invested more in the organization and implementation to improve the quality of these subjects. In order to meet the training requirements and aspirations of many candidates nationwide, starting from the 2010 entrance exam, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has recruited candidates from group A into 10 majors of the school, including Psychology, Management Science, Sociology, Philosophy, Political Science, Information - Library, Archives and QTVP, International Studies, Tourism Studies, and Anthropology. Also in the 2010 entrance exam, the school officially recruited a new major: Vietnamese Studies - a scientific major that studies Vietnam in an interdisciplinary and regional direction. Thanks to the above efforts, the school's training quality has been improved, the percentage of full-time students graduating with honors and distinctions reached 26.5%, an increase of 10.6% compared to the previous year. Notably, the first 5 students of the Faculty of Philosophy, QH-2007-X course - the first course to completely apply the credit-based training method - graduated 1 year earlier than usual. This result contributes to affirming the advantages of the credit-based training method compared to the previous year-based training method. Regarding postgraduate training, in 2010, doctoral training enrollment increased by 14.5%, raising the scale of postgraduate training of the school to 30% of the total number of full-time students. The school has implemented a master's training program in Science and Technology Management according to Project 165 of the Central Organizing Committee; developed and had the VNU approve master's training programs in Management Science, doctoral training programs in Archival Studies, and Han Nom. Continue to develop a project to train international-level PhDs in the field of Modern and Contemporary Vietnamese History and training programs for PhDs in Religious Studies, Master of Cinema Arts, Master of Anthropology. Regarding scientific research, in the past year, the School was assigned to preside over 06 state-level research projects, 01 protocol project, 06 group B projects, 34 national university-level projects. Also in the past year, the School successfully organized 18 international scientific seminars/conferences, 12 domestic scientific seminars. Scientific research activities of students also achieved high results. The way of organizing scientific research of students has been improved with more proactive and active participation of the Youth Union, Student Association and professional groups. Foreign affairs and international training cooperation have also achieved many very good results. The school continues to maintain and develop international cooperation relationships with more than 100 partners including universities, research institutes and international organizations; and has signed 16 new cooperation agreements with universities in the UK, Korea, Russia, China and Hungary. Currently, the school has nearly 700 international students studying in many different systems and majors such as Vietnamese Language and Culture, Vietnamese Linguistics, Public Administration Management, Tourism Management, Organization Management, Hotel Management... In 2010, the school chaired and directly organized 3 meetings and discussions of the presidents of 9 universities from 5 countries: Thailand, China, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam on building the international Southeast Asian Studies major and organizing scientific conferences. In particular, in September 2010, the staff and students of the School were honored to welcome a high-ranking delegation of the government and education sector of Guangxi Province, China, led by the Chairman of the Zhuang Autonomous Region, to visit and present gifts (including 100 computers and 2,000 books). Regarding financial activities and facilities, the total revenue of the School in 2010 increased by 24% compared to 2009; the additional income coefficient of staff and employees increased by 33%. Equipment in lecture halls serving training activities, especially training programs reaching international standards, was added. The internal network system and Internet transmission speed were upgraded. The entire campus of the School was covered by wifi. 2010 was the first year of the new term of the Principal. The school has done well in preparing personnel and appointing leaders of departments and offices under the administrative block, organizing the introduction of appointments and perfecting personnel of some faculties/departments. The age of key staff in the school has been rejuvenated. The school's Board of Directors has directed the promotion of staff training, especially young staff, on the basis of exploiting many sources of funding and scholarships both domestically and internationally. Notably, in 2010, 4 teachers were awarded the title of People's Teacher, 6 teachers were awarded the title of Distinguished Professor and 11 lecturers were recognized as Professors and Associate Professors. In 2010, the school also had many important events, including the successful organization of the 26th Party Congress for the 2010-2015 term. With the slogan of action "Effective innovation and comprehensive development", the Party Congress issued many important resolutions, creating conditions for the school to enter a new stage of development. At the end of September 2010, Comrade Nguyen Thien Nhan, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister visited, observed classes and worked with key staff of the school. In particular, in November 2010, generations of teachers and students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities were very happy and solemnly held a ceremony to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the school's tradition and receive the Ho Chi Minh Medal - a very noble award from the Party and the State. This is an honor and pride for generations of staff, students and trainees of the school, demonstrating the worthy continuation of the leading and core role in the career of training high-quality human resources to serve the cause of national construction and development. Many groups and individuals in the school were also honored to receive the Labor Medal and Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister. On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of tradition, the staff and students of the School are extremely happy and honored to welcome Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, Member of the Politburo of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, an alumnus of the School, to visit. On the occasion of the end of 2010 and the beginning of the new year 2011, on behalf of the school leadership, I would like to warmly congratulate and thank all the staff and students of the School throughout the past year for their continuous efforts, enthusiasm in contributing their intelligence and strength to excellently complete the assigned tasks. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the leaders, Party and State agencies, the Ministry of Education and Training, Hanoi National University, universities, research institutes, agencies, unions, organizations in the central and Hanoi regions, international organizations, scientists, and management staff both inside and outside the school for their great attention and support, contributing greatly to the school's proud achievements in 2010.- How have those achievements positively contributed to the development of Hanoi National University?- I believe that the success and development of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is closely linked to the overall development and success of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Therefore, the achievements the school has made in 2010 have contributed significantly to continuing to affirm and enhance the position, prestige and brand of Vietnam National University, Hanoi at home and abroad.- What are the Professor's thoughts and comments on the development of Hanoi National University - a new, advanced university model?- Basically, Hanoi National University has developed quite successfully and promoted the strengths of a multidisciplinary, multi-field research university model with high autonomy and connectivity, in line with the current management and operation mechanism of Vietnam. This is reflected in the following basic contents: Firstly, Hanoi National University has inherited the achievements of its member schools, and based on the advantages of autonomy and self-responsibility, has mobilized and shared common resources, increased connectivity to create conditions for rapid development. Secondly, Hanoi National University is a training and research center with the number of lecturers and staff with doctoral degrees, professorial and associate professorial titles leading the country. Based on a team of highly qualified lecturers, Hanoi National University has taken the lead in opening a high-quality talent training system, implementing the construction of a number of international standard training majors and majors, dual degree training, dual majors, etc., gradually affirming its reputation in training high-quality, highly qualified human resources, and nurturing talents for the country. The training quality of Hanoi National University is also at the top of Vietnam, in which a number of high-quality talent training programs have met the standards of Southeast Asia and the world, and are recognized by prestigious universities in the world. Third, Hanoi National University is the agency that proposes and presides over the implementation of many important and large-scale scientific and technological tasks of the country. The quality and efficiency of scientific and technological activities are increasingly improved, including a number of results reaching international standards, used or published in prestigious journals and publishers in the world. Some research results of social sciences, humanities and economics have directly proposed and provided theoretical and practical bases and foundations for the construction of scientific arguments for the decisions of the Party and the State, actively contributing to the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country and the Capital. Fourthly, the position and international prestige of Hanoi National University have been affirmed, the academic level of Hanoi National University is highly appreciated by the regional and international higher education community. Hanoi National University has attracted many scientists with high qualifications and scientific prestige at home and abroad to participate in teaching and scientific research. With the position of a leading university in the country, Hanoi National University is the only member representing Vietnam in the network of key universities in East Asia (BESETOHA); is the chairman and member of the executive board of the Southeast Asian University Network (AUN)... Fifth, the equipment for training and scientific research at Hanoi National University has been gradually modernized. Hanoi National University has successfully built a number of strong research groups as pillars to form and develop excellent research centers and laboratories of international standards... It can be said that building and developing Hanoi National University is a correct policy, demonstrating the strategic vision of education and training of our Party and State. Promoting the advantages of a multidisciplinary, multi-field university model, oriented towards research, exploiting the specialization of each unit, traditional advantages in basic science (the foundation for high-quality, high-level training and development as well as technology transfer and scientific services...), at the same time building and implementing highly interdisciplinary and unique projects, Hanoi National University will certainly fulfill its mission of training high-quality, high-level human resources, nurturing talents based on the foundation of creativity, scientific research and development of cutting-edge technology, playing a pivotal and leading role in innovation in the Vietnamese higher education system, effectively serving the cause of national revival in the 21st century. However, there are still some issues that need to be further studied and resolved in the coming time, such as determining the administrative position of Hanoi National University, the Government's special investment policy to develop Hanoi National University into an international-class university, or the relationship and hierarchy between Hanoi National University and its member universities, etc. It is hoped that after the 11th Party Congress, with the strong direction of Party agencies and the attention of the Government, ministries and branches, the above issues will be gradually resolved, creating conditions for Hanoi National University and its member universities - which are prestigious training and research institutions of the country - to continue to develop.- As a member unit of Hanoi National University, what are the school's orientations and tasks, in coordination with the efforts of all other units to build Hanoi National University to develop on par with the region and gradually affirm its position in the international arena?- As a key university, leading the industry, with prestige and long-standing tradition, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi has the mission of taking the lead and being the backbone in training, creating and disseminating new knowledge, developing high-quality human resources for the country. The development orientation of the University is to develop in the direction of a research university, striving to be among the top 200 universities in Asia by the end of this decade. To complete the above orientation, in the coming time, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will focus on implementing the following specific goals: 1. Quickly standardize the staff with a doctorate degree or higher, striving that by 2015, 90% of lecturers have postgraduate degrees, of which 25% have the title of Professor, Associate Professor and 60% have a doctorate degree. 2. Rapidly improve the quality of training, increase the proportion of postgraduate training to 30% of the total scale of regular training; expand the scale of international joint training and training of foreign students. 3. Continue to improve the effectiveness of scientific research and international cooperation activities, focusing on building a number of majors and specialties to reach international standards (currently there are 3 and 4 links with foreign countries; 1-2 new majors/specialties are being built). 4. Continue to expand the area of ​​working areas, lecture halls, modernize equipment for training, scientific research, and international cooperation at Thuong Dinh. 5. Comprehensively innovate university administration, strengthen discipline and order in teaching and learning. Strengthen the internationalization of the brand of the University and Hanoi National University. The four important areas that are decisive to the completion of the University's goals are staff organization, training, scientific research, and university administration. The school considers improving the professional qualifications of its teaching staff as a breakthrough; considering the implementation of international-standard training programs, content innovation and application of credit-based training methods as the most important solutions to improve training quality and international integration.- As a school leader, what do you want to convey in 2011?- In 2011, to achieve the goals of the school year, it is necessary to continue to more widely implement the credit-based training method, focus all resources on developing a team of international standard lecturers, effectively expand international training programs (under the strategic task 16+23), expand international training links to rapidly improve training quality. Continue to build and implement more large-scale, highly interdisciplinary science and technology tasks; improve the effectiveness of scientific research activities. Promote international cooperation, prioritize cooperation and association with prestigious universities to learn from experience, access knowledge, improve training quality and the reputation of the school. Create real changes in implementing discipline, learning and working order; build a community cultural environment, quality culture to ensure the School and Hanoi National University develop rapidly, sustainably and successfully integrate internationally. I believe that, with the strength of the long tradition and the achievements, with the spirit of solidarity and high determination, together with the unity and solidarity of all generations of cadres and students; the support and assistance of individuals, agencies and organizations at home and abroad, we will certainly gain many more great achievements, worthy of the glorious tradition and the trust of the Party and the people for a leading training and research center in the country. On the occasion of the New Year 2011 and the upcoming Spring of Tan Mao, on behalf of the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, I would like to wish all teachers, staff, civil servants and all students studying and working at Hanoi National University a new year of good health, joy, happiness and many new successes in work and life! Wishing Hanoi National University to increasingly shine with its intellectual stature!