Established in 1968, the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language has now been developing and growing for 40 years. The Faculty has trained over 7,000 foreign students from 40 different nationalities, including over 100 graduates and 8 former Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Hanoi. Originally tasked with teaching Vietnamese language and culture to foreigners studying under agreements between the Vietnamese government and other countries, the Faculty has gradually been entrusted with many new training responsibilities. This 40th anniversary also marks new transformations for the Faculty in the context of integration and adaptation to societal needs. Associate Professor Dr. Vu Van Thi – Dean of the Faculty – discusses this matter.
- Professor, in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, the Faculty's Vietnamese language training primarily targeted foreigners living, working, and researching in Vietnam. Since then, have the target groups for learning Vietnamese language and culture changed?[img class="caption" src="images/stories/2008/11/18/img_5800.jpg" border="0" alt="Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Thi speaking at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Faculty" title="Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Thi speaking at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Faculty" width="240" height="160" align="right" ]
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Thi:During the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, the Faculty primarily trained foreign students under agreements between the Vietnamese government and friendly countries such as China, former Soviet Union countries, Eastern European countries, Cuba, and Laos. In the 1990s, with significant changes in the country, the scope of training expanded. The Faculty not only trained students under agreements but also provided Vietnamese language and culture training for other foreign students under short-term, self-funded programs. Furthermore, the Faculty offered a Bachelor's degree program in Vietnamese Language and Culture for both students under agreements and other foreign students who needed it.
- Based on that, how has the Faculty's approach to teaching Vietnamese language and culture to foreigners changed?
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Thi:Due to these changes, the Faculty also had to innovate its teaching methods, such as teaching practical skills using advanced communicative methods, focusing on developing students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. In addition to classroom learning, the Faculty also organizes several field trips to learn more about Vietnamese culture, country, and people, while also providing opportunities to practice Vietnamese, improving practical skills and knowledge of Vietnamese in real-life situations.
Professor, what are the strengths and unique characteristics of the Faculty compared to other Vietnamese language and culture training units nationwide?
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Thi:If we were to talk about the strengths of the Faculty, we could first mention its team of experienced lecturers and the Faculty's long-standing tradition. In addition, we must also mention the Faculty's current extensive system of teaching materials and lectures.
- From 1968 to the present, the Faculty has undergone two name changes, each associated with a new training mission. Currently, the Faculty's official name is Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language, along with the mission of training Bachelor's degree students in Vietnamese Studies for both foreigners and Vietnamese students in the upcoming 2009-2010 academic year. So, Associate Professor, how do you assess the prospects for training in this field of study in Vietnam and around the world?
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Thi:Teaching Vietnamese Studies to Vietnamese students is a challenge because many institutions both domestically and internationally already offer this specialization. Furthermore, most Vietnamese students have already studied a significant amount of Vietnamese Studies in high school, including Vietnamese history, literature, and geography. The crucial aspect is that lecturers must conduct in-depth research to identify the essential and profound content for each subject within their field, while also focusing on equipping students with the skills to apply this knowledge in their future work and research.
- Professor, what preparations has the Faculty made to implement the Bachelor of Vietnamese Studies program?
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Thi:Under the guidance of the University and VNU, and with a team of 22 lecturers, all of whom currently hold postgraduate degrees, the Faculty will focus on building a rich documentation room, while also planning to train young lecturers and create conditions for experienced lecturers to focus on in-depth research in various fields of Vietnamese Studies.
- It is known that in the 1980s, the Faculty was one of the first units in the social sciences and humanities to successfully train a foreign PhD student under the guidance of Professor Vu Ngoc Phan. Since then, postgraduate training has been discontinued. So, does the Faculty plan to open a postgraduate program in Vietnamese Studies after the successful completion of the undergraduate program?
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Thi:Currently, we are focusing on the Bachelor of Vietnamese Studies program for both Vietnamese and international students. We currently have 36 international students enrolled in our Bachelor's program. We hope this number will increase significantly in the future. Therefore, we are not considering offering postgraduate programs in Vietnamese Studies at this time.
- As Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan expected during his meeting with the university on September 23, 2008, the university should be a leading institution for Vietnamese studies training and research of international standards. This requirement has been entrusted to the Faculty by the university. What are your personal thoughts on this task, Associate Professor?
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Thi:This is a great opportunity for the Faculty to develop, but it is also a significant challenge that requires the Faculty's staff to make a great effort. However, with the support of the University and VNU, I am confident that the Faculty will achieve that goal.
- In the current trend of developing universities into research universities, what are the major directions the Faculty has for its scientific research activities in the coming period?
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Thi:The Faculty is a strong unit in scientific research. It has organized four international scientific conferences on the Vietnamese language and teaching methods, as well as many other conferences. From 2000 to the present, the Faculty has conducted research collaborations and organized eight scientific conferences with the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City. To date, the Faculty has published over 400 articles and completed 48 research projects at various levels. Since 2000, the Faculty has completed 13 university-level projects and 32 projects at the Vietnam National University, Hanoi. In the coming years, the Faculty will continue to encourage and facilitate its lecturers to undertake new scientific projects, while also supplementing and revising completed projects to ensure high quality and publishing them as research materials. Regarding curriculum, the Faculty will plan to update and republish relevant textbooks, compile a new curriculum system, develop a system of lectures, digitize teaching programs and necessary teaching materials, especially the Faculty's lecture materials, and continue to build and develop the documentation room.
Thank you, Associate Professor.
•Thanh Ha (perform)
