The Faculty of Oriental Studies is developing a proposal to establish a Southeast Asian Studies department.

During the meeting, the leaders of the Faculty of Oriental Studies emphasized the necessity of establishing a Southeast Asian Studies major in the new era. Professor Mai Ngoc Chu (Head of the Southeast Asian Studies Department, Faculty of Oriental Studies) summarized the process of developing the proposal to establish the major up to the present time, announced the results of the survey on social needs and the survey of the output standards of the Southeast Asian Studies program, and requested employers and experts to continue providing feedback and discussing the proposal to establish the major.

In the context of globalization, understanding and grasping the regional situation is essential and urgent. However, in our country, this is still limited. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh - Deputy Director of the Center for Asia-Pacific and International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, stated: “Vietnam was the first country in the region to establish an Institute for Southeast Asian Studies. Many other countries, although lagging behind, have developed research and training in Southeast Asian studies much faster. This shows the slowness in Vietnam's approach.” This reality demands that leading research and training centers like the Faculty of Oriental Studies need to provide more in-depth and expanded training and teaching. Establishing a specialized department for research and teaching in Southeast Asian studies is therefore essential. Thus, developing a proposal for establishing a Southeast Asian Studies department requires specific investment and research from the Faculty in particular and the University in general.

Regarding the learning process, many opinions suggest that adjustments should be made to the curriculum, for example, by adding a course on scientific research methods, or teaching languages ​​with a shortage of human resources such as Lao, Khmer, or Bahasa Indonesia, etc.

From the employer's perspective, students seeking employment also need a strong foundation of knowledge and skills to increase their chances of success. "We always require applicants to be proficient in English and other foreign languages. Furthermore, we highly value candidates with strong work skills, information processing abilities, and adaptability to collaborate effectively with large companies," shared Ms. Tran Thi Giang from Freeland Tour Tourism and Trade Joint Stock Company.

At the meeting, Associate Professor Hoang Anh Tuan – Vice Rector of the University – stated, “The establishment of a Southeast Asian Foreign Language Center is entirely feasible and has great potential. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities is realizing international relations to promote student exchange with other countries. In addition, the University always focuses on training soft skills so that students can confidently enter new environments.”

At the end of the meeting, Professor Mai Ngoc Chu, Head of the Southeast Asian Studies Department, Faculty of Oriental Studies, thanked the university's leadership, faculty members, and recruiters for their contributions. The meeting provided an opportunity for the Faculty of Oriental Studies to acknowledge practical feedback to further refine the Southeast Asian Studies program and expand its scale and improve the overall quality of its training.