The Institute of Journalism and Communication Training serves the needs of society and employers.

Under the impact of the 4.0 technological revolution, career trends in the field of journalism and media are becoming increasingly diverse. Those involved in journalism education always hope that graduates will possess the necessary skills to adapt to the dynamic and complex realities of this profession.

Many standard training programs integrate and supplement new subjects such as data journalism, multimedia communication, mobile journalism, content organization, and the production of journalistic masterpieces. Some specialized communication modules include mass media culture, social media, and public relations. These approaches aim to equip students with both broad and in-depth knowledge to meet the demands of the constantly changing domestic and international media environment.

Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong – Vice Rector, Director of the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi). Photo: NTCC.

The transformation of traditional media under the development of modern science and technology will create new journalistic and media tools and trends. This presents a challenge but also demands that journalism training institutions not only research these trends but also update their professional knowledge and teaching methods to meet the human resource needs in this new social context.

A reporter from the Vietnam Education e-magazine had an interview with Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong – Vice Rector and Director of the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi).

Reporter: During the training process, how has the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) connected, exchanged, supplemented, and updated training content to closely match the needs of media organizations?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong:Training to serve the needs of society and meet the requirements of employers is one of the key training philosophies of the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training. The important role of media organizations is established from the very beginning of our training program development, throughout the training process, and is recognized when the school completes a student training cycle. Specifically, from the program development stage, we have held workshops and seminars to discuss and seek feedback from media organizations.

According to the regulations of Hanoi National University, the program may be adjusted by no more than 20% of its content annually. During the training process, we always invite veteran and experienced journalists to share their expertise and directly participate in teaching practical modules. Not only do employers support students of the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training by providing them with adequate practical experience at media organizations, but they also directly participate in the graduation thesis evaluation committees or in evaluating journalistic products that serve as substitutes for graduation theses.

Over the past period, the Institute has developed many new modules, such as: Graphic design and media publication design; Visual communication; Interactive design and multimedia animation; Emergency journalism; Creation of modern journalistic products; Multimedia applications; Mobile journalism applications; Creation of multimedia journalistic masterpieces; Specialized journalism on domestic affairs; Specialized journalism on economics; Specialized journalism on culture and society; Social issues and journalistic approaches; Media crisis management and handling…

The Institute of Journalism and Communication Training also boasts a modern and comprehensive infrastructure, including a real studio, a virtual studio, recording studios, editing rooms, and multimedia rooms, enabling students to practice producing journalistic and media products as if in a miniature newsroom. Practical courses account for approximately 40% of the total specialized courses, and for many years, students at the Institute have chosen to create journalistic products as an alternative to their graduation thesis.

However, education is a long process, and it is especially important to provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge and modern thinking methods such as self-learning, critical thinking, and creative thinking... so that they can independently improve their knowledge and adapt quickly and flexibly to the changes in society. This is a strength of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, a leading university in the fields of basic sciences, social sciences, and humanities in the country.

Students from the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training in the video editing room. Photo: Provided by the school.

Reporter: Two major trends in journalism recently have been mentioned: specialization (meeting journalistic planning requirements) and digital transformation. How has the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training prepared its students to meet these requirements after graduation?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong:The school is very committed to providing students with in-depth knowledge.

Firstly, it focuses on specialized fields. The Bachelor of Journalism program at the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training is designed on the foundation of social sciences and humanities knowledge – the strengths of the institution – to help future journalists produce articles with cultural depth and comprehensive social understanding.

Furthermore, the flexible program with many elective components allows students to proactively orient themselves towards their specific field of journalism. Students who later wish to become domestic journalists can choose elective components from the political science and international relations knowledge block, while students who choose modules on culture, history, art, etc., will tend to become reporters specializing in cultural fields. Or students can choose modules on psychology, sociology, economics, environment, etc.

Secondly, there is specialization in the field. Although the Institute provides students with knowledge and practical skills in various forms of journalism to help them meet the demands of the developing trend of convergent and multimedia journalism, by their fourth year, students can choose from specialized fields: Print and Online Journalism, Radio and Television, PR and Advertising, and Media and Communication Management.

The Institute of Journalism and Communication Training is developing a Digital Journalism and Communication program, with enrollment expected in 2023. This is also a pioneering direction for the Institute to meet the strong demand for digital transformation in all media organizations.

Student interns during a filming session. Photo: Provided by the school.

Reporter: So what are the Institute's priorities in the coming period to ensure that journalism training meets practical requirements and helps graduates quickly adapt to jobs at media organizations?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong:The journalism and media industry is undergoing dramatic changes with the rapid development of science and technology, coupled with the ever-increasing demand for information from the public in modern, information-based society, and the added pressure from the emergence of many new media, such as social networks. Lecturers at the Institute of Journalism and Media Training constantly strive to accumulate and systematize new knowledge to impart to students, especially guiding them in working with new media formats, not only news, interviews, and feature stories, but also longform articles and mega stories.

However, a solid foundation of in-depth knowledge, modern, positive, and creative thinking methods, along with lifelong learning skills, are key factors for future journalists to adapt well to the rapid changes in society and the increasingly demanding requirements of the profession. In addition, the Institute places great emphasis on training in journalism and media ethics, especially new issues concerning media ethics in the digital environment.

In addition to a team of highly trained lecturers, with nearly 90% holding doctoral degrees and more than half having received their training abroad, the Institute also has a team of veteran journalists with extensive experience who participate as guest lecturers and part-time lecturers. The knowledge, skills, and journalistic experience of these journalists are directly imparted to the students.

In addition, starting from their second year, students participate in long-term internships and practical training (the graduation internship lasts more than two months) at media organizations, allowing them to directly experience the latest events and immerse themselves in a real journalistic environment. This helps them feel less overwhelmed and confused upon graduation.

The Institute has strong connections with foreign journalism and media training institutions and has implemented many collaborative projects in curriculum development, such as with City University London and Stirling University (UK)... We always carefully select and compare our programs with international ones to continuously improve the Institute's training programs.

Students interning in the broadcasting room. Photo: Provided by the school.

Reporter: Director, how would you compare journalism training in Vietnam with that in some other countries around the world?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong:More than half of the lecturers at the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training have pursued doctoral and postdoctoral studies abroad (UK, USA, Australia, South Korea, etc.). Therefore, the lecturers are always conscious of selecting and systematizing new and up-to-date knowledge from foreign training programs to incorporate into their teaching. In addition, one of the stringent requirements of Hanoi National University in developing new programs, reviewing and adjusting programs, or accrediting programs is to compare the current training program with a foreign training program (from top-ranked universities worldwide).

We also learn a great deal from overseas experiences in journalism training, focusing on skills development, paying close attention to training in the economics of journalism and media, and diversifying training programs so that the graduates of future journalism programs can adapt to the diverse needs of society. The Institute is planning to connect with universities in the region to establish a mechanism for mutual credit recognition, so that students can diversify their learning methods in student exchange programs.

Over the years, especially journalism students, have been very proactive. From their second and third years, they have been doing internships and collaborating with many external organizations. At the same time, our media sector is expanding rapidly; not only do media organizations need students trained in journalism, but other businesses also require personnel trained in media.

Job opportunities for students have also expanded, with approximately 90% of graduates finding employment in the media field within one year of graduation. This could include working in central or local press agencies, or in the media departments of ministries and government agencies, or in the media offices of various businesses and event organizers.

Students intern at the studio during a live filming session. Photo: Provided by the school.

35% of the Institute's teaching staff are Associate Professors, and over 60% hold a PhD.

In 1990, the Faculty of Journalism (now the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training) was established. From its early days, the Faculty of Journalism has gathered a dedicated and enthusiastic team of faculty and lecturers. This team possesses both the profound depth of a generation of renowned scholars whose prestige and names are legendary in the field of theoretical criticism, and the elegant, romantic style that has become the trademark of "General Professors." They also have the sharp intellect and inspiring ability of masters of language, so that students are mesmerized whenever they lecture, and they possess the qualities of journalism: quick wit, incisiveness, a strong fighting spirit, and critical thinking...

The academic knowledge, professional experience, and "Comprehensive Journalism" style cultivated by the first teachers who established the Faculty of Journalism laid a solid foundation for the Faculty's existence and development, helping it to quickly grow and assert its position within the Social Sciences and Humanities sector of Hanoi National University.

For over 30 years, this tradition has been nurtured and passed down, so that generations of journalists from the University of Hanoi always remember their alma mater, the cradle that cultivated their knowledge, giving them the ability to thoroughly understand issues and convey information to the public in the most humane way. Continuing the work of previous generations, the current faculty of the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training are largely young, dynamic, and enthusiastic staff. 100% of the lecturers hold a master's degree or higher, with 35% being associate professors and over 60% holding doctoral degrees. Many faculty members received professional training in the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Russia, etc., and are reputable experts in the academic and research fields of journalism and communication nationwide.

In a leading training and research environment for Social Sciences and Humanities in Vietnam, students of the Institute have access to and are imparted the most fundamental, in-depth knowledge of the Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines. This important and valuable knowledge base helps future journalists create articles that resonate with readers, possessing cultural depth and a comprehensive understanding of society.

Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong (on the right) presents graduation certificates to students. Photo: Provided by the university.

Teacher Tran Quang (center) and former journalism students from Class 37 at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi).

From this school, more than 10,000 graduates, masters, and doctoral degree holders in journalism have spread throughout the country, working and contributing to the rapid flow of news, creating a continuous stream in society. Many alumni are journalists who are always on the front lines during critical moments of storms, floods, and natural disasters; many are leading writers in the fight against corruption and negative practices; hundreds of alumni have received national journalism awards and national journalism awards from various sectors and levels… Many alumni have held and are currently holding key positions in the country's press and media system.

The training program is constantly being innovated and updated.

Training and research in journalism within the context of modern media and the media explosion, teaching about new media, convergent and multimedia media, social media, and the development of modern journalism in the new media environment... are important contents taught at the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training. In the spirit of continuous innovation, the Institute's training program has been supplemented with many new and modern modules such as: Mobile journalism; Data journalism; Content organization and creation of journalistic masterpieces; Reporting in emergency situations, and other specialized fields of journalism.

Currently, the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training provides comprehensive training at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. In addition to undergraduate programs in Journalism, Journalism (high quality), and Public Relations, the Institute is offering Master's programs in Journalism (research-oriented and application-oriented), Media Management, and a joint program in Media Management (with the University of Stirling, UK)...

The Institute's enrollment numbers for its training programs consistently rank among the top 3 in terms of student and trainee registrations for many years, and it leads the entire university in postgraduate enrollment, including 5 master's programs in various locations across the country.

Students exchange ideas about their digital journalistic works. Photo: Provided by the school.

The Institute is one of the key international hubs for research and training in journalism and media in Vietnam, with cooperative partnerships with numerous foreign media organizations and leading journalism training institutions worldwide. Many collaborative projects have been implemented, resulting in the publication of numerous monographs, the training of dozens of staff members both domestically and internationally, and the gradual revision and improvement of the curriculum for Journalism and Public Relations to align with the development trends of the global and Vietnamese media industry. The Institute has also established a specialized library in foreign languages ​​with over 100 books to support training and research in journalism and media.

In 2018, based on the integration of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication and the Center for Journalism and Communication Professional Training, the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training was established, marking a milestone as a pioneering unit in the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities, developing from a faculty to an institute, preparing the groundwork for future university autonomy.

We sincerely thank Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong.

Admission scores for majors at the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, over the past 5 years (2017-2021). Provided by the university.