As society develops, the social sciences and humanities are increasingly valued.

Associate Professor Tran Thi Minh Hoa (right) answers questions from reporters. (Photo: Thanh Long/USSH)

On July 9, 2014, during a meeting with representatives from Hanoi Moi newspaper, An Ninh Thu Do newspaper, and Vietnam Net, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa provided information related to this year's university entrance exam at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and also shared about the innovations in the university's training activities over the past years.

In 2014, the total number of applications for the entrance exam to the school across all subject groups was 6,691, of which 3,861 were for Group C. By September 7th, 2,589 Group C candidates had completed the registration process, reaching a rate of over 67%.
This year, the University is enrolling students in Office Management for the first time – a new, very attractive field of study with high social demand. Psychology is offering a high-quality training program for the first time. Public Relations is in its second year of enrollment but has already attracted a large number of applicants. Linguistics offers both standard and internationally-standard training programs, which are included in the list of strategic tasks of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

When asked about the difficulties the University faces in recruiting students for basic science programs, which are known for their limited student numbers, Vice Rector Tran Thi Minh Hoa stated that the number of applications for basic science programs has increased in recent years. This year, the Anthropology program saw a 67% increase in applications, the Han Nom program by 38.7%, and the Political Science program by 9.86%. Furthermore, for the past three years, students enrolled in seven basic science programs at the University have received tuition support and other favorable learning conditions. These are special incentives for basic science programs, which play a crucial role in the development of a country.

On the one hand, the University continuously improves the quality of training in its core science disciplines, which are its strengths. On the other hand, it pioneers the opening of many new training programs to meet social needs, such as: Office Management, Social Work, Journalism and Communication, Oriental Studies, Psychology, International Studies, Art Studies, etc. This strong foundation in basic sciences has helped the University's new training programs achieve high quality, unique characteristics, and quickly gain popularity among students. In recent years, the University has admitted students from both Group A and Group B to give candidates from all exam groups the opportunity to study Social Sciences and Humanities, while also expanding the selection of talented students. According to the QS ranking, the University's Social Sciences and Humanities field currently ranks number 1 in Vietnam.

Family members wait for candidates outside the gate of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities during the Geography exam, morning of July 9, 2014. (Photo: Thanh Long/USSH)

Responding to a reporter's concern about job opportunities for graduates in the social sciences and humanities, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa affirmed that it is not difficult to find a job after graduating from the social sciences and humanities. Evidence for this is the very positive results of surveys on the employment situation of graduates from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in recent years. Students at the University have good entry requirements and receive solid training in foundational knowledge, methodology, and critical thinking skills during their four years of university, resulting in high adaptability to their chosen professions.

"As society develops, the social sciences and humanities are increasingly valued."—the Vice Principal added—"And throughout history, the social sciences and humanities have always held a crucial and pivotal position in the development of a society."