Socio-cultural changes in urban areas in 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, Western Sydney University, Australia) and many scientists and researchers from universities and research institutes of social sciences and humanities across the country.

In his introductory report, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) said that this conference is a forum for scientists and researchers to exchange interdisciplinary research on cultural and social change in urban areas. The conference gathered more than 70 quality reports, focusing on many topics from geographical space to multidimensional changes in social life areas such as religion, culture, beliefs and other cultural practices. In particular, Vietnam is the focus of scientists at this conference. The conference aims to explore the following three major issues: 1) How does the urbanization process take place in different time and space spaces, 2) Solutions for social sciences and humanities to have a stronger voice in research on cultural and social change and urban change in general, 3) Necessary solutions for scientists to work together on urban change and other issues.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh delivered the opening speech at the conference (Photo: Tran Minh)

Sharing the above views of Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh, in her introductory report, Ms. Kim Cleary said that Vietnam has been witnessing major changes in the process of modernization and globalization in the past 2 years. These changes are both signs of progress in culture and society that Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular want to move towards, but also bring many difficulties that we must solve. Therefore, she highly welcomed the University of Social Sciences and Humanities for organizing the workshop "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 the plenary session this morning, the conference listened to two reports: Engaging research for the 21st century: Tackling complexity (Prof. Dr. Ien Ang - Western Sydney University, Australia), Urban transformation from a global perspective: Principles of city reconstruction (Prof. Dr. Paul James - Western Sydney University, Australia).

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh took a souvenir photo with 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 main presentations such as: Social integration of migrants in urban areas in Vietnam: Towards a social assistance model (Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Van Quyet and Dr. Tran Van Kham), Migration and changes in population and social structure in the urbanization process of the Central Highlands (Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Ba Thinh), The development of the Pacific economic belt, urbanization and migration in Japan after World War II: Comparative approach with the case of Vietnam (Professor, Dr. Tamaki Toshiaki)...

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

- “Social change” with main presentations such as: Disaster and ethnic strengthening: Global actors in the transitional stages of the Lisu people in Thailand (Prof. Dr. Masao AYABE), Changing values ​​of social relations of students in current urban life (Dr. Tran Van Kham, Dr. Luu Minh Van and Dr. Hoang Van Luan).

- “Cultural change and daily life” with main presentations such as: Bicycles in current urban culture in Vietnam (Dr. Ashley Carruthers), New mass media and the transformation of urban culture and society in Vietnam in the context of market economy and globalization (Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong), Urbanization and daily cultural change in Hanoi (Professor, Dr. Luong Hong Quang).

- “Environment and sustainability” with main presentations such as: Plastic products in Hanoi: Changes in material consumption and waste in Vietnam (Prof. Dr. Gay Hawkins and Dr. Minh Duong), Immigrants' response to flooding in Hanoi (Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh), Assessing the ability to adapt to climate change of coastal cities to maintain sustainability: an example for Lien Chieu District, Da Nang City, Vietnam (Prof. Dr. Mai Trong Nhuan, PhD. Nguyen Thi Hong Hue, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Manh Lieu).