The University of Social Sciences and Humanities is one of the few universities with a long tradition and has the honor of linking its development journey with many important historical milestones of Vietnamese education. Over the past 65 years, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has made many remarkable developments, affirming its position as a key, leading university; with the mission of taking the lead in creating, disseminating knowledge and training high-quality human resources in Social Sciences and Humanities, serving the cause of national construction and development; aiming to approach and integrate with world science and education. "Taking basic science and long-standing tradition as the foundation, taking modern and high-quality knowledge as the destination - that is our orientation" - Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh - Rector of the University shared.
Glorious tradition is the fulcrum of strength
- Professor Nguyen Van Khanh, the traditional milestone of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU began with the establishment of the Faculty of Letters in 1945, which is also an important starting point of the country's higher education. Could you please tell us a little about this event?- On October 10, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 45 to establish the University of Literature (initially called the Faculty of Literature Department of the Vietnam National University) in Hanoi. Professor Dang Thai Mai was appointed as Director. The first team of teachers were all outstanding scholars such as Professors: Dang Thai Mai, Dao Duy Anh, Cao Xuan Huy, Nguyen Van Huyen... to Party and State leaders such as President Ho Chi Minh, and comrades Pham Van Dong, Vo Nguyen Giap. Those talented teachers devoted their hearts and minds to nurturing this University during the long resistance war against the French and trained a generation of excellent students, including many professors of Hanoi University of Science later such as: Dinh Xuan Lam, Phan Huy Le, Ha Van Tan, Tran Quoc Vuong, Nguyen Tai Can, Phan Cu De, Ha Minh Duc... It can be said that the decision to establish the University of Literature when the people's democratic government was in its infancy demonstrated President Ho Chi Minh's far-sighted vision of the position and role of Social Sciences and Humanities in the cause of nation building and in preserving and promoting the cultural and humanistic values of the nation. It also had the meaning of starting the construction of the first generations of scientists of Vietnamese Social Sciences and Humanities, including many outstanding scientists and culturalists.
- Hanoi National University - a very famous name in Vietnamese higher education - is a place that has made particularly outstanding contributions to the cause of national construction and development during the resistance war as well as the period of national construction after independence. Could you tell us what those outstanding achievements are?- Hanoi University of Science was established in 1956 and was fortunate to have a team of talented teachers who laid the foundation for the former Faculty of Letters and excellent students who graduated in the years after peace was restored in the North, directly participating in building the University, and implementing training tasks in two important scientific fields here: Literature and History. It must be said that this team of talented teachers laid the first foundation stones for achievements in research and training in Social Sciences and Humanities over the past half century. During the difficult period when the resistance war against the US was very fierce, Hanoi University of Science still developed strongly and became the leading center for training and basic scientific research in the country, a familiar destination for many international scientists to carry out research and educational cooperation activities with Vietnam. Hanoi National University was an important factor in contributing to the relatively systematic shaping of the Vietnamese Social Sciences and Humanities at that time with specific fields and sectors. The prestige and influence of the University was very great in society. The research works of staff and students contributed to serving the important political task at that time of national liberation and building socialism in the North. Besides, this was also the period when many valuable research works in Social Sciences and Humanities were born until later. Hanoi National University also said goodbye to many excellent teachers and students who set out to fulfill their duty of protecting and liberating the country. Many names were engraved in the heroic history of the nation and made the tradition of the University famous such as Le Anh Xuan, Pham Van Phong, Ngo Van So, Chu Cam Phong, Nguyen Trong Dinh, Dang Luan...
- Having two famous universities as predecessors with a long history of achievements and great contributions to the country, what pressure does that put on the school's staff today, Professor?- First of all, we are extremely proud because there are not many universities in Vietnam whose development path is closely linked to the ups and downs but also the heroic stages of the nation's history. The glorious tradition and the achievements and positions achieved in the past are invaluable assets of great significance both materially and spiritually for the staff and students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU today. That is the source, the fulcrum of internal strength for our efforts and efforts in the next stage of development. Of course, the pressure is also very great. That is the pressure to have more valuable research works, the pressure to maintain the quality of training and the leading position in the context of today's many changes in society, the pressure to raise the position and role of Social Sciences and Humanities to contribute to the development of the country, the pressure to affirm its position in the step of integration with the world. We cannot fall behind our predecessors, but must continue to soar higher and further from the "shoulders" of the achievements of previous generations.
- What experiences has that tradition helped the School draw in its current development process, Professor?- From that history, if there is time to research and summarize, we can draw a lot of experience not only for the School but also for Vietnamese higher education in general. However, I would like to emphasize two things: One is that science and education, especially social sciences and humanities, must always maintain the goal of serving the country's development, serving the practical requirements of society and history. Only when attaching itself to practical conditions and the goal of serving the nation, will science have the real motivation to create works of real value, serving society and people. Second, in all difficult circumstances, if we know how to promote the collective spirit, know how to arouse patriotism, arouse passion for research and dedication in each individual, it will create an extremely great strength. Promoting the human factor well to work for people and the community will certainly bring success.
As a pillar of research and training in social sciences and humanities of the whole country
- As the leader of one of the leading training and research units in Social Sciences and Humanities in the countries, what do you think about the challenges and development trends of Social Sciences and Humanities in the current period?- The world today is undergoing rapid changes; information technology and the knowledge-based economy are dominating the development speed of human society. Vietnamese social sciences and humanities also face difficulties in keeping up with the realities of life and international integration. Now research and training depend greatly on modern technical means and facilities. People are also more diverse and complex with many different needs, conditions and circumstances in society. Many new social problems arise with increasing complexity. Because our country's development conditions are still inferior to many other countries, Vietnamese social sciences and humanities face difficulties in the process of integration with the outside world... This reality has led to a number of new development trends such as: the need for interdisciplinary research in social sciences and humanities, the interweaving and close combination between social sciences and humanities and other branches of science; The emergence of many new, specialized fields/majors to meet the practical needs of life, especially human sciences; social sciences and humanities research increasingly requires high requirements for applicability...
- On that basis, what are the major challenges the School faces?- As a high-quality research and training unit in Social Sciences and Humanities, the School identifies the following three fundamental challenges: Challenges of vision and innovative thinking in leadership and management to keep up with the development trends of social practice; Challenges of building a team of highly qualified staff, meeting the development needs of research and training practices at international standards; Challenges of modern facilities and equipment for high-quality training and research.
- In the context of fierce competition and great pressure of elimination from the market economy, large and long-standing universities cannot be as dynamic, agile and adaptable as younger universities. Is this a reality and a disadvantage?- I think that is not entirely correct because everything has two sides. A young and dynamic university, but if it does not have internal strength, in this case a team of highly qualified lecturers, a wealth of research and training achievements, will find it difficult to exist and develop sustainably. A university that is roughly understood as "older" but has a wealth of internal strength, only needs the right direction and good solutions to have enough strength to adapt and progress quickly. The problem is the need for innovative thinking and specific goals in each stage of development, on the basis of clearly understanding one's advantages and limitations.
- Could you tell us about some of the outstanding achievements that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has achieved since becoming a member of VNU until now?- Being a member of VNU since 1993, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has continued to affirm its leading position and pillar in research and training in Social Sciences and Humanities of the whole country. The University was honored to be awarded the title of "Hero of Labor" by the State in 2005 for its outstanding contributions during the renovation period. Regarding training, the University has been proactive in expanding new training majors suitable to the development needs of society, helping to increase competitiveness with other universities such as: Journalism and Communication, Oriental Studies, International Studies, Psychology, Social Work, Management Science, Anthropology, Intellectual Property... These are not only new majors in Vietnam, but the training quality is also well evaluated, many majors are very popular with learners and the admission score is always high. The school also opens many high-quality and internationally standardized programs, diversifies training forms, focusing on expanding international joint training with advanced universities in the world, contributing to training high-quality human resources for the country, while transferring technology and teaching processes from advanced universities, contributing to training staff to meet international standards. Aiming at the goal of high-quality training, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is the first unit in the Vietnam National University, Hanoi to basically switch to credit-based training, update and innovate curriculum and teaching methods. The school is also a pioneer in training quality assessment, participating in self-assessment and external assessment according to the standards of Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the Ministry of Education and Training; will participate in the AUN standard assessment in 2012. Regarding scientific research, the University's scientific staff continues to contribute to providing scientific arguments to solve many problems of social development, demonstrated through many large-scale interdisciplinary research projects and works with high practical value; pioneering in exploring new research fields.
In international relations, the School is a prestigious destination for foreign scholars and partners, expanding cooperative relations with more than 100 universities and international organizations, and is a typical representative of Vietnamese Social Sciences and Humanities in the international scientific community.
Promote all resources to integrate with the world
- It is known that last June, the 26th Party Congress of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities approved the goal of striving to bring the University into the top 200 universities in Asia in the next decade. What are the bases that ensure the success of this goal, Professor?- This is a very high goal and to achieve it, it is necessary to specifically identify and quantify each factor. However, the University has seen the basic premises to realize the above goal, which are: Firstly, the tradition and achievements in social sciences and humanities research have been accumulated over more than half a century; Secondly, the dynamism, creativity and position of the University have been established and affirmed in recent times, especially the successful implementation of many cooperation activities, many international linkage programs with major universities in the world, the participation of the University and VNU in many international scientific and educational forums in the region and in the world; Thirdly, the strong determination of the University to promote all resources to realize the above important goal.
- What recommendations or suggestions do you have for VNU in particular and the State in general to improve the quality of research and training in the current social sciences and humanities?- I would like to make the following suggestions: First, the State should soon issue a revised Decree on the National University to continue affirming the model and superiority of the National University model, which is fundamentally different from regional universities in terms of organizational structure and methods of operation and activities; thereby enhancing the position and pivotal role of VNU in the national higher education system. Second, there should be a special investment mechanism and policy so that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities can fulfill its leading mission; there should be a special policy in attracting, training and fostering talents, on the basis of being given high autonomy in enrollment, financial revenue and expenditure, including tuition fees. Third, the Ministry of Education and Training needs to quickly recognize and grant training codes to a number of undergraduate and postgraduate training majors that have been allowed to be piloted and have been tested for good quality, such as Tourism Studies... Fourth, allow the School to invest in both strengthening facilities in Hanoi's inner city to meet the school's development needs while waiting for the construction of a new facility in Hoa Lac.
- Thank you Professor Nguyen Van Khanh for the above information and wish the School success in achieving its set goals.
