Autumn Course Commencement

On the morning of November 1st, 2010, the Autumn Course “Global Politics and Urban Dynamics,” jointly organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Free University of Berlin, with funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), officially opened.This was the first short-term course jointly organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (specifically the Faculty of International Studies) and the Free University of Berlin (specifically the Center for Global Political Studies), held from November 1st to 13th, 2010. The course covered key topics such as new approaches and methods in international political research, policy-making processes and regional integration in the EU and East Asia, global urban areas, and Vietnam's security role in regional politics. In addition to classroom sessions, participants also took part in extracurricular activities such as visits to the Imperial Citadel, the German Embassy, ​​the Office of the European Commission Delegation in Hanoi, the Vietnam-Germany Cooperation Center, and Ha Long Bay. According to Professor Klaus Segbers, Director of the Center, we no longer live in a world where decisions are made solely by nation-states. New, potential actors such as international organizations, NGOs, transnational corporations, globalized urban areas, and even terrorist networks have influenced international politics. In this context, according to Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh, Head of the Department of International Studies, we must all be aware of these challenges and have a responsibility to build a better future. The Autumn Course, held during these days, is even more significant as Vietnam, as the ASEAN Chair, has just successfully hosted the 17th ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit, discussing many important issues related to regional security, stability, and development. At the reception marking the opening of the course, Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh... Speaking on behalf of the university leadership, Nguyen Van Kim emphasized that the Autumn Course was held at an unforgettable historical moment: Hanoi was celebrating its 1,000th anniversary, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities was commemorating its 65th anniversary, the people of both countries were celebrating 35 years of diplomatic relations, and the Faculty of International Studies was marking 15 years of development. Speaking at the reception, Mr. Rolf Schulze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Vietnam, highly appreciated the idea of ​​organizing the Autumn Course by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Free University of Berlin, considering it a practical activity contributing to the development of friendly relations between the people of the two countries. On behalf of DAAD, Ms. Hannanore Bossman, Head of the Hanoi office, expressed support for academic exchange activities between Vietnam and Germany and hoped that similar activities would be strengthened in the future. The course was attended by 25 students from the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Vietnam. The Autumn Course was one of the activities within the framework of "Deutschland in Vietnam 2010" to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.