President: 'Universities do not only impart knowledge'

President Vo Van Thuong emphasized that universities must not only impart knowledge but also prepare students with the ability to adapt when they visit their old schools on November 20.

On the morning of November 13, President Vo Van Thuong, a former student of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, visited and worked with the school's staff and lecturers.

To begin, the President congratulated teachers on Vietnamese Teachers' Day, November 20. He mentioned many former teachers, recognizing their profound knowledge and exemplary personalities as shining examples, encouraging generations of students to enter life with many ambitions.

"More than 30 years ago, at this school, we studied with enthusiastic teachers who always cared about the progress of students. The successes of the student class at that time, including me personally, were partly due to the teaching of the teachers," the President shared.

Mr. Thuong emphasized that the mission of university education is not only to impart knowledge, create new knowledge, serve the progress, prosperity and happiness of society, but also to prepare people with enough qualities and capacity to act, be creative and adapt in a world that is constantly changing, complex and unpredictable.

Universities must be places to discover abilities, nurture values, create a foundation for individuals to develop comprehensively, maximize their potential and creativity; thereby providing society with responsible citizens who live well and work effectively.

According to him, the country is striving to realize its aspirations for prosperity and happiness, striving to become a developed country with high income by 2045. That aspiration and vision can only come true when there is a foundation of quality science and education, in which social sciences and humanities play an important role.

"The strength of a nation does not lie in underground or sea resources but in high-quality human resources with intelligence, knowledge and dignity," said Mr. Thuong.

President Vo Van Thuong speaks at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on the morning of November 13. Photo: LH

Regarding the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the President shared some orientations.

First, the school must be persistent. Innovation in thinking and action, constantly improving the quality of training and research.

Second, schools need to innovate management towards autonomy, professionalism and modernity.

Third is to innovate education towards comprehensive development of learners' capacity and qualities, building a cultural environment, academic environment for students to be confident, independent, and creative.

In addition, the school needs to have reasonable treatment and policies for highly qualified staff, creating conditions and an environment for teachers to self-study, research, and promote their pedagogical capacity.

President Vo Van Thuong visited the Faculty of Philosophy and talked with his former teacher, Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Tinh (far right). Photo: Le Nguyen

Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, Principal, said that in the context of university autonomy, the school hopes that the State will pay timely attention to training and research in basic sciences, including the field of Social Sciences.

"Without timely attention, these industries risk falling behind the market mechanism, leading to a shortage of basic science human resources in the future," Ms. Lan said, adding that there needs to be better remuneration policies for lecturers so that they can work with peace of mind.

On the other hand, to ensure fairness in access to higher education, Ms. Lan proposed that the State issue appropriate credit policies for students.

The President interacted with students of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication on the morning of November 13. Photo: Le Nguyen

The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, was established in 1957, formerly the University of Letters (under Saigon University), Ho Chi Minh City University of General Sciences. Currently, the school has 34 undergraduate majors, 34 master's majors, 18 doctoral majors in 7 fields.

Over the past 65 years, the school has trained more than 80,000 bachelors, 6,000 masters and 600 doctors for society. Regarding international cooperation, the school attracts students from 85 countries and territories to study, and has partnerships with more than 250 universities and research institutes around the world.

Mr. Vo Van Thuong is a former student of the Faculty of Philosophy from 1988-1992, and was Secretary of the Faculty Youth Union and Head of the School's Young Theory Club.

Le Nguyen

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