On the evening of September 11, 2011, the opening ceremony for the Persian Language and Culture course was solemnly held in the Iran Room (Faculty of Oriental Studies). Attending the ceremony were the Iranian Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Seyed Javad Ghavam Shahidi, the Vice Rector, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim, representatives from the Foreign Affairs Department and the Faculty of Oriental Studies, along with the first 22 students of the university.The course is the result of a long-term collaboration between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Vietnam. Prior to this, from August 25th to August 31st, 2011, a delegation from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, led by Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh, visited and conducted field research in the Islamic Republic of Iran to explore opportunities for cooperation and expand cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries. During this trip, the delegation visited and signed MOUs with several universities and research and academic organizations in Iran, such as Tehran University, Tehran Open University (in Tehran), Esfahan University (in the former capital Esfahan - central Iran), and the Society for Research and Curriculum Development in the Humanities (SAMT), in the presence of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Iran, Tran Trong Khanh. According to the agreement, students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will receive 10 full scholarships annually from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, as well as participate in the organization of scientific conferences of mutual interest. This trip is particularly significant because it marks the first time a Vietnamese university has signed a specific exchange and cooperation program with universities in Iran. Iran is a mainstream Islamic country with a brilliant Persian civilization renowned worldwide; it has a powerful economy (its area is five times that of Vietnam and its population is 75 million), ranking first among the 21 countries in the Middle East. The global Muslim community, with a population of 1.6 billion, accounts for a large portion of the world's annual oil and gas production and trade. Vietnam and its people have created a very positive image and goodwill among the people of the Middle East through their tenacious struggle against foreign aggression and their efforts to build a new life in the post-war period. Currently, Vietnam also sends more than 10,000 workers to this region. However, socio-cultural exchange between our country and the Middle Eastern countries has largely not received the attention it deserves, given its potential and the needs of both sides. Therefore, the delegation from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the other side.
For many years, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has strategically prepared for long-term cooperation and relationship development with this important region. Since 1983, the University has sent seven students to study Persian Language and Civilization programs at Khomeini-Ghazvin University of Foreign Languages, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in Persian and Middle Eastern studies in the fields of Language, History, International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, and Culture, through 5-year and 8-year programs at various universities in Iran. To date, five students have returned with master's degrees from Iran. In addition to their specialized master's degrees, they are fluent in English, Persian, and Arabic. Currently, many other students have studied, are studying, and will study in Iran with full scholarships from the Iranian Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These are invaluable personnel who will prepare for the next, deeper, and more effective steps in the relationship between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and its partners in Iran in particular and the Middle East in general.
