On June 14, 2012, the Policy Advisory Council of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities held its second meeting, chaired by Professor Phan Huy Le - President - and Vice Presidents: Professor Vu Duong Ninh and Associate Professor Pham Xuan Hang.The Council listened to and discussed issues surrounding: promoting research on Oc Eo culture; developing and establishing research and training programs on Vietnam's seas and islands; and developing and establishing programs on social sciences and humanities. At the meeting, opinions were expressed regarding the need for unified national-level organization and direction of research on Oc Eo cultural relics, promoting fundamental and comprehensive research on Oc Eo culture with the goal of further clarifying its distribution, types, and age. Universities, including the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, should organize research programs and international scientific conferences on Oc Eo culture with the cooperation and participation of Vietnamese and foreign scientists.
Regarding the research program on Vietnam's seas and islands, opinions suggest the need to review and reassess the current state of research on seas and islands, avoiding spontaneous and overlapping functions and tasks among different research institutions. Based on this, research on seas and islands should be reorganized and systematized. In particular, research on seas and islands from a social science and humanities perspective requires a separate, comprehensive, and in-depth research program based on the combined expertise of domestic and international specialists. These studies should focus on the culture and traditions of the Vietnamese people in relation to the sea as a fundamental foundation for long-term and sustainable development, aiming to exploit the sea as a potential and advantage in the process of industrialization and modernization of the country. For Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Council proposes the establishment of a center or institute for research on seas and islands focusing on social science and humanities issues. The university also needs to incorporate content on maritime and island issues into its undergraduate and postgraduate programs, paying more attention to educating students about maritime and island issues and the country's sovereignty over them. Regarding the Social Sciences and Humanities program, there was a consensus that the development of Social Sciences and Humanities always bears the unique imprint of each nation, based on its cultural and social foundations and for the benefit and development of each country. Social Sciences and Humanities bear the important responsibility of educating ideology, building values and social consciousness, developing culture, and training people. Social Sciences and Humanities propose policies, management solutions, and development models and theories for Vietnam. Based on this, suggestions were made to develop solutions to build a deep understanding of the important role of Social Sciences and Humanities in the cause of national construction and defense; and to focus resources and create mechanisms to enhance the research capacity of Social Sciences and Humanities. In addition, the State and training institutions need to make breakthroughs in the strategy of training a team of highly qualified experts with international standards in the field of social sciences and humanities.
