Implementing external evaluation of the International Studies program.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Professor Pham Quang Minh, the Rector, shared information about the innovations in the activities of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in recent years, especially in the field of ensuring the quality of education.

Accordingly, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is a pioneering unit within the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, in implementing quality assurance activities from an early stage. The university recognizes this as a crucial activity that helps improve the quality of education and ensure the sustainable development of the institution. Quality accreditation helps universities understand their position within the Vietnamese and global education systems, identify strengths and weaknesses, and thereby improve shortcomings and promote educational integration. To date, the university has conducted evaluations of 6 training programs according to AUN standards and peer evaluations of 24 training programs.

Quality assurance activities contribute to promoting innovation in all areas of activity, especially the spirit of service in administrative management, strengthening the research and teaching capacity of lecturers, and fostering international integration.

Established in 1995, the Faculty of International Studies is a pioneer in training in International Studies in Vietnam. To date, the Faculty offers specialized training in areas such as European Studies, American Studies, and most recently, International Development Studies – a research direction not yet pursued by any other university in Vietnam.

The growth of the International Studies department has been recognized by society. For the past 20 years, the department has consistently admitted 80-100 undergraduate students with high entry requirements, along with approximately 30 graduate students and 10 doctoral candidates. The department also receives funding from numerous international foundations for its academic activities.

Before entering a new phase of development, the International Studies program also faces many challenges and difficulties. The university hopes that the external evaluation team will conduct practical surveys and assessments to help identify the shortcomings in training in this field, and then find solutions to overcome them.

Associate Professor Dr. Le Ngoc Quynh Lam, on behalf of the External Evaluation Team, expressed gratitude for the University's trust. She affirmed that the team would work objectively, transparently, and professionally, with members possessing extensive experience in quality assessment. The team will work diligently to arrive at valuable conclusions and recommendations for the development of the International Studies program.

The team's conclusions will be based on the following sources of information: the school's self-assessment report; supporting documents provided by the school; information from direct interviews with stakeholders; observations of facilities, classroom observations, student surveys, etc. This information will be compared with the school's goals, mission, and vision to arrive at specific analyses and recommendations.

The external evaluation team will be working at the School from April 24th to April 26th, 2019.