Opportunities to expand international cooperation in the field of social work.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kim and Professor Dr. Jannah Mather pose for a commemorative photo with the working delegations from both sides. (Photo: Nguyen Hang/USSH)

During the meeting, the leaders of the two schools directly discussed opportunities for cooperation between the two sides in expanding and developing the field of social work.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kim – Vice Rector of the University, stated: Social work, as a scientific discipline, appeared in Vietnam about 10 years ago. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities is one of the pioneering institutions to open a social work training program under the Faculty of Sociology. The strength of the Social Work program at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities lies in its development on the foundation of basic and interdisciplinary sciences. To date, the university has trained a large number of experts and social workers.

Next, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kim proposed several key areas of cooperation between the two sides in the future, including: the desire for the two universities to cooperate on training programs from bachelor's to master's and doctoral levels; joint organization of scientific conferences, joint research, and document exchange; and support for training lecturers and experts in social work.

Professor Jannah Mather, Dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Utah, agreed with the proposals for cooperation between the two universities and affirmed that the University of Utah is ready to cooperate with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and wishes to learn more about the development of social work in Vietnam. Professor Jannah Mather also mentioned three issues of great current interest: mental health, child protection, and women's health. Therefore, she hopes that in the future, the two sides can jointly organize a scientific conference on these issues.

The University of Utah has a tradition of social work education spanning over 60 years and is one of the leading public research universities in the United States. In November 2013, the University of Utah and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities signed a formal cooperation agreement.