Rector's speech - Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Quang Minh at the announcement ceremony of the Appointment Decision on January 18, 2016

-Dear Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Duc, Vice President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi,

Dear international and Vietnamese guests,

- Dear former Principals Phung Huu Phu, Pham Quang Long, Pham Xuan Hang and Nguyen Van Khanh,

- Dear civil servants, public employees, lecturers, students, and postgraduates of the School!

1. First of all, I would like to thank the Party Committee, the Board of Directors of VNU, Hanoi, the Party Committee, the Board of Directors of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities for solemnly organizing today the ceremony to announce the decision to appoint the President of the University. I believe that this is a happy day for more than 500 staff and nearly 10,000 students of the University, of which I am just a representative. On this occasion, I would like to express my most sincere thanks to all the officials, civil servants, lecturers, staff and students of the University who have trusted me, the domestic and foreign partners who have always cooperated, relatives, friends and family who have always supported and encouraged me. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to the previous Presidents, Prof. Phung Huu Phu, Assoc. Prof. Pham Quang Long, Assoc. Prof. Pham Xuan Hang and Prof. Nguyen Van Khanh, the teachers who taught me, the state scholarship agencies and organizations such as OSW, DAAD, the schools where I studied such as the History Department of Hanoi University, the Russian Student Department of Hanoi National University, the Preparatory Department of Moscow University, Kuban University (Russian Federation), Passau University and Humboldt University (Germany).

I feel a great honor, but also realize the heavy responsibility when being trusted by the school staff and appointed by the Director of VNU Hanoi as the principal of one of the most prestigious universities in Vietnam.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh - Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, term 2016-2020

2. On this solemn day I have countless thoughts, but please allow me to share only the following 3 thoughts:

2.1. I always wonder and imagine what this school will be like in the next 5 years and the years to come? The vision I set isThe University of Social Sciences and Humanities must become an advanced research university in the top 100 universities in Asia, takingliberal philosophyas core values, taking the creation of a democratic, friendly, dialogue-oriented, constructive and integrated environment as the central task, in order to maximize the creativity and capacity of all members."I am fully confident that we can achieve this goal because we have invaluable assets and valuable baggage from 70 years of tradition.

2.2. However, that asset is not enough and will be lost if we are not proactive and creative. The context of globalization, regionalization and comprehensive integration, especially the formation of the ASEAN Community on December 31, 2015, is forcing all universities to open their doors to the world outside their four academic walls, linking the training and research process with the vibrant reality of the country and the world.

2.3. The key tasks that we must do in the coming time are to continue to build and perfect a suitable research university model, take care of developing the staff, especially young staff, focus on postgraduate training, create top products in scientific research, and utilize and use all financial resources appropriately. In all of these tasks, the breakthrough task is toBuilding a professional, open, friendly and fair university governance environment, in which each staff and student must truly be the owner. With that environment, resources will be liberated, everyone will voluntarily and enthusiastically contribute, will attract talented people and good students, will become a reliable and attractive address for domestic and foreign partners.

Vice President of VNU Nguyen Huu Duc presented the decision to appoint Rector to Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh

3. Finally, I pledge to use all my abilities and efforts, together with teachers, to build our common home - the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - to have an increasingly higher scientific position both domestically and internationally. But I also hope to receive the consensus of all staff, civil servants, and students of the whole school (Requires a sense of responsibility, contribution and cooperation from staff and students), the attention of leaders at all levels, the support and cooperation of all domestic and foreign partners.

Wishing all distinguished guests, civil servants, employees and students of the School good health, happiness and success.

Thank you very much.