The ceremony was attended by the Faculty's leadership, faculty members, and all students, trainees, and doctoral candidates of the Faculty. Also present were distinguished guests: Dr. Phan Huong Thuy, eldest daughter and representative of the family of the late Professor Phan Huu Dat; Dr. Annie Hilsdon, Australian volunteer expert; Dr. Emmanuel Panier, French Institute for Development Studies; and Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hang, Institute of Ethnology.
The opening ceremony and Phan Huu Dat Award presentation began with very special artistic performances staged and performed by the students of the Anthropology Department.
In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Suu – Head of the Department of Anthropology – extended his congratulations to the 63 new students of the K68 cohort, who have officially become active and dynamic members of the Department, a center of inspiring and creative anthropology in Vietnam and the Southeast Asian region.
The Head of the Anthropology Department shared that in 2023, the Department's undergraduate Anthropology program was assessed by regional experts and met the educational quality standards of the ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA).
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Suu is pleased to announce the good news that Associate Professor Dr. Lam Minh Chau has co-edited the monograph "Anthropology of Intellectual Exchange" published by Berhahn Publishing House; Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thu Huong and Dr. Annie Hilsdon have been awarded a project by an Australian volunteer organization to support female faculty members of the Faculty and University in improving their scientific leadership skills and international publications.
On the occasion of the opening of the new academic year of the Faculty, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Suu, on behalf of the University's Board of Directors, presented the Phan Huu Dat Award to 11 undergraduate and postgraduate students who have achieved excellent academic results, students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have strived to excel in their studies, and students who have made significant contributions to the Youth Union/Student Association. This is a prestigious award from the late Prof. Dr. Phan Huu Dat, former lecturer of the Faculty of Anthropology, who once served as the Rector of Hanoi University, the predecessor of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Suu (Head of the Anthropology Department), Dr. Nguyen Vu Hoang (Deputy Head of the Department), and Dr. Phan Huong Thuy (representing the family of the late Professor Phan Huu Dat) presented awards to 11 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
On behalf of the award-winning students, Duong Thu Giang (a 4th-year student) shared: "Choosing to become an Anthropology student was a great opportunity for me. Throughout my studies, we have always received guidance, support, and companionship from the University, the faculty members, as well as the support of businesses and benefactors. For me, and all students studying Anthropology, the late Professor Phan Huu Dat was a leading scientist who made significant contributions to the development not only of the Anthropology Department but also to the entire field of Anthropology in Vietnam. He passed on to generations of students his passion and dedication to science, and the award named after him is truly a precious gift and a great source of encouragement for us. On behalf of all the award recipients, we express our deepest gratitude to the late Professor's family, as well as the faculty members and the University for always giving us the best."
Student Duong Thu Giang shared her feelings and honor upon receiving the Phan Huu Dat Award.
During the opening ceremony, students of the Faculty also had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Annie Hilsdon's presentation on a very interesting topic: opportunities for Anthropology students to study abroad in Australia. According to Annie Hilsdon, Anthropology – the science that studies and is for human beings – is developing very strongly in countries around the world and in Vietnam. Students studying this field are not only equipped with important foundational knowledge related to history, culture, and in-depth anthropology, but also trained in many useful skills: planning skills, presentation skills, teamwork, interviewing, etc. In addition, with the modern training environment, updated curriculum, and high international standards at the Faculty of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, students with good academic results have the opportunity to seek scholarships to study abroad at universities in the region and around the world that offer anthropology programs.
In her presentation, Dr. Annie Hilsdon also shared useful information with the students about anthropology programs at several Australian universities, including the learning environment, tuition fees, living conditions, volunteer activities, finding part-time jobs, and how to apply for scholarships.
Dr. Annie Hilsdon's presentation received enthusiastic interest and lively discussion from students and trainees of the Anthropology Department, VNU-USSH.
As shared by the students, especially those in cohort K68, the Phan Huu Dat Award and many scholarships from the University are truly a great encouragement, recognizing the students' efforts in studying and training. At the same time, the presentations by professors, researchers, and especially foreign experts are beneficial scientific activities that help students update their knowledge in their field of study, further inspiring their passion for scientific research.
