The Fourth Industrial Revolution is gradually changing the structure of society's professions. What is the position and role of the Social Sciences and Humanities group of disciplines to prevent human beings from becoming "mechanized"? Specifically, what criteria should candidates use when choosing these fields to help parents and students make the right choices and pursue the right education?
The People's Representatives Newspaper had an interview with Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, to help resolve the issue of "What criteria should be used to choose the right major?".
Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi
Many changes have occurred in the Social Sciences and Humanities.
- Professor Dang Thi Thu Huong, in the current development trend, which professions in the social sciences and humanities are considered to have high development potential?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong:This is a question we have been pondering for many years. Social sciences and humanities are fields of study related to people and life, closely linked to the development of society, and in some ways also possess traditional and unique characteristics.
I can confidently say these are fields that society desperately needs. Especially in the context of technological advancements, artificial intelligence, and the increasing intelligence of robots, AI, and machines, the more humanity needs a humane heart. The relationships between people and human values in modern society need to be strengthened, given more attention, and studied more thoroughly, because human nature is essentially a synthesis of social relationships.
In fact, the fields of Social Sciences and Humanities have undergone many changes in recent times, closely following the development of society. Therefore, many new professions have emerged to serve the needs of the public and the market, consistently having high admission scores. For example, Journalism, Public Relations, and Korean Studies have recently seen admission scores reach as high as 29.9 and 29.95 points respectively.
In addition, traditional industries are also evolving and changing on their own, becoming less academic than they were 20 years ago.
Overall, the social sciences and humanities contribute significantly to the sustainable development of the country, addressing issues such as ethics, ideology, politics, history, and culture. These are the pillars upon which we can develop society sustainably.
The University of Social Sciences and Humanities has implemented a very practical policy, having collaborated with the Vietnam National University, Hanoi since 2022 to establish a fund for nine basic science disciplines: Literature, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Political Science, Anthropology, Vietnamese Studies, Linguistics, and Sino-Vietnamese Studies. These disciplines are funded and managed by the university itself.
From this fund, students will receive scholarships worth 50 million VND per year per student. This includes a full tuition waiver, a monthly living allowance of 2 million VND, and full waivers of dormitory fees. Importantly, students will have a dedicated professor to support their studies starting from their first year.
There will be new fields of study: Film and Popular Arts.
- So, regarding the traditional fields of study where the university has had a strong advantage for many years, what changes has the University of Social Sciences and Humanities made in training these fields to meet current development trends, Madam?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong:In our traditionally academic fields, we are undergoing significant changes to keep pace with the evolving and evolving landscape of society.
For example, in the History department, we have a specialization in Urban History. Students in this specialization are equipped with a diverse knowledge base about urban areas, built upon a solid foundation of history, geography, culture, and society; along with up-to-date knowledge about modern urban life, from livelihood issues to planning and development, and further supported by interdisciplinary research methods (such as Urban Anthropology, Urban Sociology, Urban Communication...).
With such knowledge, students can, in the future, provide advice, consultation, and make very practical contributions to current urban development and urban management agencies.
Or, in traditional fields like Linguistics, in addition to its strengths in research and linguistic expertise, the university has made adjustments, innovations, and applications. For example, it has expanded the scope of training to include Computational Linguistics, Psycholinguistics, and Therapeutic Linguistics, helping students meet a wider range of requirements later on, not just limited to jobs like editing and publishing.
Similarly, in the field of Psychology, the university offers specializations that attract significant social interest, such as Social Psychology (including psychology of gender, family, culture, ethnicity, religion, and law), Business Administration Psychology, Clinical Psychology (including psychotherapy for children and adolescents, etc.), and Counseling Psychology (including school, marriage, and family psychology).
Through these new directions, the school hopes to provide students with more in-depth knowledge, a strong foundation, and skills to serve society.
Besides developing the aforementioned traditional fields of study, in the future, we will build new fields such as Film and Popular Arts, contributing to strengthening the social life of the public in many aspects such as ethics, culture, society, and art in the best possible way.
The criteria for choosing a major should be based on each candidate's abilities.
- For students interested in the Social Sciences and Humanities, what advice can you give them on how to choose the most suitable and best major to pursue?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong:I would like to share with parents and students that there are now many channels providing advice and information, helping candidates gain a deeper understanding of their chosen field of study and facilitating career choices.
However, candidates also need to carefully select reliable channels. Based on accurate information from these reliable sources, they need to clearly reflect on themselves, asking whether they have a passion, aptitude, interest, or ability/qualities for that particular field.
So how do you choose a reliable source of information? First of all, parents, teachers at the secondary school level, and especially mainstream media are the most accurate and truthful sources of information.
These sources of information help students and parents gain a clear understanding of the social landscape, as well as development needs and human resource requirements. Based on this information, candidates should make appropriate adjustments.
The advantage for students is that the Ministry of Education and Training's regulations now allow for multiple application options. Candidates should choose the major they are most passionate about and that best suits their interests as their first choice, because the Ministry of Education and Training's policy provides excellent conditions to ensure the best opportunities for them.
In addition, I would like to share that this year, candidates have many paths to pursue their passions. For example, if a student is passionate about journalism and wants to pursue a degree in Journalism but initially gets accepted into a different major, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities now offers a dual-degree program.
Students who achieve a GPA of at least "good" or higher in their first year are eligible to enroll in a second major. After 5 years, they will graduate with two official degrees.
Students can study two majors simultaneously, such as Journalism with History, Journalism with Political Science, or Journalism with Economics. This way, upon graduation, they will become journalists specializing in that particular field.
Many scholarship programs are available for students.
- Currently, what policies does the University of Social Sciences and Humanities have in place to support students during their studies and in terms of future job opportunities?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong:For the field of Social Sciences and Humanities, the systematic nature of the university's curriculum is like the "stamen of a flower." Students at the university learn and approach the most fundamental aspects of Social Sciences and Humanities in a highly interdisciplinary manner.
Furthermore, each "petal" represents a field or specialization, equipping students with in-depth knowledge. Thus, this interdisciplinary foundation will provide graduates with a solid base, enabling them to be flexible and dynamic in their career choices.
Our University of Social Sciences and Humanities offers numerous scholarship programs for students. In addition to scholarships for the nine core science disciplines, each faculty also has its own scholarships.
We are proud to have leading professors in the social sciences and humanities. Many of them have received State awards, Ho Chi Minh awards, and have dedicated the funds from those awards to establishing scholarships for students.
The school also has scholarship funds named after leading professors such as Dinh Xuan Lam, Phan Huu Dat, and Tran Duc Thao. The families of these professors always contribute their prize money to build up the scholarship fund.
Students receiving this scholarship not only receive financial support and academic assistance but also immense motivation from leading professors in the fields of Social Sciences and Humanities.
In addition, the school actively seeks scholarships from businesses, such as scholarships from Samsung, BIDV, etc. Each department, based on its relationships, promotes scholarships through its alumni association, which are designed to be awarded to younger generations of students.
In parallel, we are promoting internship and practical training opportunities for students. This is a key activity in the school's training process, closely linked to employers. Not only do we offer internships domestically, but we also collaborate with international educational institutions to provide student exchange programs, credit recognition, and opportunities for students to experience international learning and working environments.
Accordingly, students at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will not only acquire knowledge, but will also gain a general understanding of development in their professional field and society.
After two years of Covid-19, the school has now restarted its scholarship programs and expanded its connections to create more opportunities for students.
- Some candidates are interested in humanities and social sciences, but are hesitant to choose from currently popular fields like Economics and Information Technology, believing that humanities and social sciences offer lower salaries and fewer opportunities. What advice do you have for candidates in this situation?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong:I want to tell you that there are industries with a long tradition that are still contributing to the sustainable development of the country. Job opportunities are not just short-term opportunities, but represent a long-term path to development.
Candidates themselves need to identify their passions and interests, and based on that, acquire additional specialized knowledge. When they become skilled experts in any field, they will certainly be valued and find a job that fulfills their passions and meets their material needs.
Thank you, Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong!
People's Representatives Newspaper:How has the field of Social Sciences and Humanities "transformed" to meet societal needs?
