Towards the 7th Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, MSc. Pham Duc Anh (Deputy Secretary of the University Youth Union) evaluated the Youth Union activities and scientific research work of young cadres of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
In the 2009-2012 term, the Executive Committee of the Youth Union of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi identified one of the key activities as professional work, consulting, supporting union members in studying, teaching and scientific research. Typical among the activities for union members who are cadres, the University's Youth Union successfully organized the discussion "Young cadres with scientific research activities" on May 12, 2011, attracting many union members to participate, with 14 reports printed in the yearbook. This is an opportunity for young cadres (under 35 years old) of the whole school to look back, exchange and discuss issues related to scientific research work of young cadres in the current period; on that basis, propose ideas to the school's leaders and the higher-level Youth Union. This article summarizes the discussions at the seminar, and also suggests some suggestions for the implementation of the plan and tasks of the University Youth Union in the coming time. 1. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi (formerly Hanoi University of Science and Technology and University of Letters) during 65 years of establishment and development, has always been a leading training and scientific research center in the fields of social sciences and humanities in the country, increasingly affirming its position and prestige in the region and the world. With the orientation and goal of building a high-quality, leading research university, scientific research work has always been given special attention by the University. The school has identified: “As a key, leading university with prestige and long-standing tradition, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi has the mission of taking the lead in creating, disseminating knowledge and training high-quality human resources in social sciences and humanities, serving the cause of national construction and development”. Since the first generation of cadres of Hanoi National University was established in 1956, when they were mainly young cadres, in addition to teaching, scientific research work was especially valued. Generations of teachers and students of the school have always been extremely proud because right at that foundation period, a golden generation of teachers of the Faculty of Literature and the Faculty of History was born. Although they were very young, they soon affirmed their talent and intelligence, becoming monuments, shining examples and pride not only of the school, but also of the industry and of the whole country. Only 3-4 years after staying at the School, the young cadres of the History Department: Lam - Le - Tan - Vuong began to publish their lifetime research works. In 1960, Dinh Xuan Lam, 32 years old, published History of Vietnam in the period 1897 - 1914; Phan Huy Le, 25 years old, with Land regime and agricultural economy in the early Le Dynasty; Ha Van Tan, 23 years old, edited and annotated Du dia chi; Tran Quoc Vuong, 26 years old, translated and annotated Viet Su luoc. Along with that, there appeared joint research works of the "four pillars": Primitive communist regime in Vietnam, History of feudal regime in Vietnam... Also in those years, cadres of the Literature Department: Dinh Gia Khanh, 33 years old, translated and annotated Thien Nam ngu luc; Ha Minh Duc, 27 years old, wrote Literary works and Literary genres; Phan Cu De, 26 years old, participated in writing the Preliminary Selection of Patriotic and Revolutionary Poetry and Literature... Surely, the activities of the Youth Union at that time were not yet strong. It is also difficult to affirm the role of the Youth Union in those successes of individuals. But it is clear that to start and succeed in a scientific career, it is never considered too early. And they, the first young cadres of the School, have done great things when they were at our age today - members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. 2. Deeply aware of the ability as well as the role and responsibility of the Youth Union in supporting members to develop skills, expertise, and profession, the Youth Union of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in recent years has always focused on professional activities, in which it is especially interested in scientific research work of union members who are cadres. There have been projects implemented, including large projects funded by international organizations (Project on improving the teaching capacity of young cadres funded by the Ford Foundation). Many scientific conferences and seminars for young cadres have been organized. Skill training sessions, seminars, and scientific exchanges for young cadres take place quite regularly: Scientific research methods, report presentation skills, ways to publish scientific research in international journals... The most recent was the seminar "Young cadres with scientific research activities" (5.2011). In the general achievements of the School in teaching and scientific research in recent years, the School Youth Union and its members are excited and proud of their increasingly important contributions. According to statistics from the Department of Personnel Organization and the Department of Scientific Research Management, the level and scientific research achievements of the School's young cadres have continuously increased in recent years. As of January 2011, the number of young cadres under 35 years old (born in 1976 or later) was 220/482, accounting for 45.6% of the total number of cadres in the whole school. Of these, 141 cadres had postgraduate degrees (125 masters, 16 doctors), accounting for 64%; the others were studying postgraduate degrees at home and abroad. The number of young cadres who presided over the implementation of School-level research topics in 2008 was 24/30 (80.00%), in 2009: 28/33 (84.85%), in 2010: 17/19 (89.47%). The number of National University-level topics approved for young cadres of the School in the corresponding years were: 12/37 (32.43%), 14/39 (35.89%) and 13/15 (86.66%). Every year, the number of scientific articles published domestically and internationally by young staff always accounts for approximately 30% of the total number of the whole school. Specifically, in the 2007-2008 school year: 168/619 (27.14%), in the 2008-2009 school year: 178/625 (28.48%), in the 2009-2010 school year: 185/676 (27.37%). Now, at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, it is no longer strange that the leaders of important scientific topics at all levels are staff under 35 years old. It is also not uncommon to see staff publishing more than 10 studies/year. Participation in scientific conferences and seminars abroad and publishing international publications, for some staff, occurs quite regularly.
3. However, there are still opinions that do not really believe in the younger generation. Many new cadres who remain at school are not really confident, sometimes confused about their scientific careers and the thorny paths ahead. At that time, comparisons are drawn between the current young generation and previous generations. And the more they compare, the more worried and uneasy they feel. Today's society is different! The conditions and requirements for teaching staff are also different! In the current situation, scientific research by young cadres has many favorable conditions, but also faces many difficulties and challenges. Favorable, because they are living and working in an increasingly better material world, the age of digital technology and information explosion, foreign language skills and international communication capabilities are improved... But there are also many obstacles, challenges and problems that are worth worrying about and pondering. These things seem trivial, but make many young lecturers worried. Firstly, compared to many other jobs and social costs, the income of a lecturer is generally low. This makes them not really secure with their current job and it is difficult for them to "burn" themselves out for science. In addition to the teaching salary, if they participate in research topics, the additional income is also insignificant. For many people, if they want to find a way to increase their income, they choose other part-time jobs, not scientific research. Secondly, for many staff, especially those who have just stayed at the School, and are in departments that do not really focus on scientific research, proposing and registering a research topic, even at the lowest level, is also a difficulty. The common mentality is fear. Fear because of the review process. Fear about the ability to complete. Because if not completed, it will lead to many consequences: affecting the competition, not achieving titles, deducting labor wages... If you do not know how to do economic accounting, many leaders report "losses". Third, if some staff are not too concerned about the implementation budget, another obstacle is the publication of research publications. Many staff do not meet the annual standard hours for scientific research because they do not know how to register to participate in scientific conferences and seminars as well as submit them to specialized scientific journals. Fourth, most young cadres are still in the process of postgraduate training, improving their qualifications, and are too much time and effort spent on union and public affairs work: union cadres, trade unions, academic advisors, training assistants, political assistants - student affairs... Especially for young female cadres, they have many other concerns about motherhood, family responsibilities... ... 4. How to raise awareness, interest, as well as the capacity and quality of scientific research of young cadres - those who are shouldering the future of the University and the country's science is a big question, not easy to solve in a day or two. The responsibility and solution for implementation do not belong to the Youth Union alone. It requires a frank and serious recognition and assessment; a positive and appropriate policy system; a synchronous and consistent coordination; and a great determination of dedicated people. In that common mission and responsibility, the orientation, direction and leadership of the Party Committee, the School Board of Directors and functional departments; as well as the strategy and plan for building and training the staff of the faculties/departments naturally play a key role. The young staff of the whole school are excited and proud of the recognition and high appreciation of the School for their role and capacity; as well as specific policies to prioritize and support young staff in scientific research in recent years. More importantly, we look forward to practical and effective innovations in the near future. As a political organization of the school's youth, through this, the School's Youth Union Executive Committee is also more deeply aware of its role and responsibility in consulting and supporting scientific research for union members, especially union members and staff. Clearly, the young staff of the school are a powerful and powerful force and play a very important role in the Youth Union organization. Supporting the development of professional skills and expertise, promoting scientific research for young cadres should continue to be considered a focus of work in the activities of the School Youth Union in the coming time. The Youth Union needs to continue to innovate both in content and methods of operation in a more practical and effective direction. For scientific research activities to truly become a movement that is increasingly developing deeply among young cadres, the Youth Union organization needs to be more active in creating more forums, and especially opportunities to participate in research and publish their research results. In addition, the School Youth Union also needs to research, propose and advise the School leaders and the higher-level Youth Union in building and planning policies for cadres in general, and scientific research work for young cadres in particular. However, perhaps the responsibility first belongs to each of us - the young cadres. If each person does not try and strive to improve themselves, no matter how excellent the policy is, how positive the measures are, they will not bring results. Nowadays, in the field of social sciences and humanities, researchers under 35 years old, even if they are outstanding individuals, cannot become famous and firmly assert their professional reputation. However, it may be too late if at that age they still have not found their interest, passion for science and have not determined their own research direction and path. Let's start now and have confidence in the future, the path we have chosen.
