Socio-cultural transformation in urban areas during the process of globalization and modernization.

The workshop was attended by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh (Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities), Ms. Kim Cleary (Science and Education Counselor, Australian Embassy in Hanoi), Mr. Nguyen Van Phong (Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department of the Hanoi City Party Committee), Prof. Dr. Paul James (Director of the Institute of Culture and Society, University of Western Sydney, Australia) and a large number of scientists and researchers from universities and research institutes in social sciences and humanities across the country.

In his introductory report, Professor Nguyen Van Khanh (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) stated that this conference served as a forum for scientists and researchers to exchange interdisciplinary research on socio-cultural transformation in urban areas. The conference brought together over 70 high-quality reports, focusing on a wide range of topics from geographical space to multidimensional changes in various aspects of social life such as religion, culture, beliefs, and other cultural practices. Vietnam was the central focus of the scientists at this conference. The conference aimed to explore three major issues: 1) How urbanization unfolds across different time and spatial contexts; 2) Solutions to empower social sciences and humanities to have a stronger voice in research on socio-cultural transformation and urban transformation in general; and 3) Necessary solutions for scientists to collaborate on research into urban transformation and related issues.

Professor Nguyen Van Khanh delivers the opening remarks at the conference (Photo: Tran Minh)

Sharing the views of Professor Nguyen Van Khanh, in her introductory report, Ms. Kim Cleary stated that Vietnam has been witnessing significant changes in the process of modernization and globalization over the past two years. These changes are both signs of progress in culture and society that Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular aspire to, but also present many challenges that we must address. Therefore, she highly commended the University of Social Sciences and Humanities for organizing the workshop on "Cultural Transformation".– Urban society in the process of globalization and modernization"to contribute to academic research on socio-cultural changes in urban areas."

Ms. Kim Cleary speaks at the opening ceremony (Photo: Tran Minh)

In this morning's plenary session, the conference heard two presentations: "Cohesion Research for the 21st Century: Dealing with Complexity" (Prof. Dr. Ien Ang – University of Western Sydney, Australia), and "Urban Transformation from a Global Perspective: Principles of City Reconstruction" (Prof. Dr. Paul James – University of Western Sydney, Australia).

Professor Nguyen Van Khanh and Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh pose for a commemorative photo with other scholars after the opening session (Photo: Tran Minh)

The workshop will take place over two days, March 30-31, 2015, with the following main topics:

- "Urbanization and Migration" with keynote presentations such as: Social Integration of Migrants in Vietnamese Cities: Towards a Social Assistance Model (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Quyet and Dr. Tran Van Kham), Migration and Socio-Demographic Transformation in the Urbanization Process of the Central Highlands (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Ba Thinh), The Development of the Pacific Economic Belt, Urbanization and Migration in Japan After World War II: A Comparative Approach to the Case of Vietnam (Prof. Dr. Tamaki Toshiaki)...

- "Urbanization and Livelihoods" with keynote presentations such as: Some issues of urbanization in the suburbs of Hanoi (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Suu), Low-income Malaysian women coping with urban change through social security networks (Prof. Dr. Suriati Binti Ghazali), Approaching lifestyles in Ha Long from the perspective of the living space of coastal urban residents (Dr. Vu Truong Giang and Dr. Nguyen Duy Hanh).

- “Social Transformation” with keynote presentations such as: Disaster and the Strengthening of Ethnic Identity: Global Factors in the Transitional Stages of the Lisu People in Thailand (Prof. Dr. Masao Ayabé), and Changes in Social Relationship Values ​​of Students in Contemporary Urban Life (Dr. Tran Van Kham, Dr. Luu Minh Van, and Dr. Hoang Van Luan).

- "Cultural Transformation and Daily Life" with keynote presentations such as: Bicycles in contemporary urban culture in Vietnam (Dr. Ashley Carruthers), New mass media and socio-cultural transformation in Vietnamese urban areas in the context of market economy and globalization (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong), Urbanization and daily cultural transformation in Hanoi (Prof. Dr. Luong Hong Quang).

- “Environment and Sustainability” with keynote presentations such as: Plastics in Hanoi: Changes in Material Consumption and Waste in Vietnam (Prof. Dr. Gay Hawkins and Dr. Minh Duong), Migrants' Response to Flooding in Hanoi (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh), Assessing the Climate Change Adaptation Capacity of Coastal Cities for Sustainable Development: Using Lien Chieu District, Da Nang City, Vietnam as an Example (Prof. Dr. Mai Trong Nhuan, PhD Candidate Nguyen Thi Hong Hue, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Manh Lieu).