Opening of the course "Understanding the Asian Community"

The course is held annually and is part of a collaboration between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the One Asia Foundation since 2013. The course aims to equip students with knowledge about the Asian community in the fields of economics, politics, society, and political security. The instructors participating in the training course are leading professors from universities in Vietnam and abroad.

Following the opening ceremony, the students listened to the first lecture presented by Professor Pham Quang Minh (the Rector of the University). The lecture addressed the importance of science and technology as the leading driving force for development in all nations. Area, population, or long-standing development... do not determine a country's development; rather, it is the level of scientific and technological development that determines it.

Furthermore, a country that wants to develop must also pay attention to reducing social inequality and poverty. Because if inequality persists, it will erode social trust and create social instability.

The speaker also affirmed that the development of science and technology has its downsides when its applications are not for development purposes, for example, the production of weapons of mass destruction or medical interventions that go against human values...

So how can we apply science and technology to development? In this regard, the role and responsibility of universities are extremely important. Universities are places that nurture and cultivate the nation's talents and develop human intellect to its highest level.

The lecture also devoted a significant amount of time to discussing the value of world heritage sites in Vietnam and emphasized the need to preserve, utilize, and promote these gifts bestowed by nature.

The course will take place from October 2018 to January 2019. Following the opening ceremony, the following topics will be covered: Maintaining and preserving cultural heritage – sustainable tourism development in Asia; The role of institutions and political ideology in building an Asian community: Philosophical perspectives; Preserving Asian indigenous languages: Theory and practice; International relations in Asia: History and prospects; Current foreign policy of Vietnam; Population of Asia and Vietnam: Issues and trends of change; Specific features in regional studies research towards building an Asian community; Research on islands and some issues in Asia.