Modernization to bring Vietnamese higher education to international level

GD&TĐ - Resolution 71-NQ/TW opens up opportunities to modernize, restructure and upgrade higher education, creating a foundation for developing quality human resources.

Training innovation, towards international integration

Resolution 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo emphasizes the need to modernize and improve higher education, creating breakthroughs in developing high-quality human resources and international integration.

In that spirit, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City) clearly defines the direction of innovation in training programs towards interdisciplinary, applied and global integration.

According to Professor Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, Principal of the school, one of the top priorities is to internationalize the training program and develop interdisciplinary and inter-school training programs.

"The school opens new majors that combine knowledge of social sciences and humanities with other fields to create human resources with multifaceted and flexible knowledge, adapting to social needs such as Korean Business, Education Quality Management, Educational Technology; in the near future, it will open a major in Commercial Chinese,...", Professor Lan said.

Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan - University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City). Photo: HCMUSSH.

Along with developing the training program, the school also focuses on soft skills training. Students are trained in critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, especially foreign language skills.

This is considered a provision for students to become “global citizens”. Not only studying in class, students also participate in many extracurricular activities and cultural exchanges with international students. “We want students to be confident in integrating and working in a globalized environment after graduation,” Professor Lan emphasized.

Another new point is the integration of technology and digital transformation into the curriculum. The school has added courses related to artificial intelligence, data analysis, and digital communication to equip students with digital skills.

This helps students not only access modern knowledge but also have the ability to proficiently use technological tools - an indispensable condition in today's working environment.

Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan at a signing ceremony of cooperation with a foreign university on teaching and research. Photo: HCMUSSH.

Connecting with businesses, developing high-quality human resources

In the context of international integration and competition, linking training with business needs is an inevitable requirement. Professor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan believes that the field of Social Sciences and Humanities currently has both advantages and challenges.

"Job positions related to issues of social relations, social norms, ethics, psychology, communication, spiritual depth, personal and social needs are increasingly in high demand in the context of digital society. This creates great opportunities for students of social sciences and humanities, especially those in the fields of journalism - communication, psychology, art, culture, literature, sociology, tourism, language, anthropology...", Professor Lan analyzed.

However, the difficulties are not small. The principal said that while society is developing in a technical and technological direction, which brings about quick, clear and outstanding results, social sciences are often overlooked and have not received proper investment.

“Finding and maintaining long-term cooperative relationships with businesses sometimes faces many obstacles due to the country’s and region’s policies prioritizing the development of science, technology, and economics. This is a big challenge, requiring schools to strongly innovate so that training programs are closer to social needs,” said Professor Lan.

To overcome this, the school has implemented many cooperation models. Enterprises are not only the place to receive interns but also directly participate in the training process. The school invites experts from enterprises to review the training program, teach specialized topics, and organize periodic employer conferences.

In addition, the school organizes field trips, study tours, and signs agreements on internship programs and in-depth experiences at partner businesses, helping students gain exposure to the real working environment, while increasing their chances of being recruited after the internship.

In particular, Professor Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan said that the Law on Teachers creates a mechanism to attract and mobilize experts outside the teaching force to participate in the training process. Resolution 71 also emphasizes the need to mobilize talented people to participate in teaching and training in educational institutions, especially the development of appropriate policies to attract talents from outside the teaching system.

The aim of this is to improve the quality of training, link theory with practice and create a dynamic educational ecosystem with the participation of many good experts in various fields.

Students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City) participate in cultural and academic exchanges in Malaysia. Photo: HCMUSSH.

In the future direction, the school continues to strengthen the three-way connection: School - Enterprise - Student; with leading organizations at home and abroad to create a long-term cooperation "ecosystem".

The school encourages lecturers and students to conduct research projects that are applicable or based on practical problems of businesses and society, thereby turning research results into valuable products and services.

At the same time, develop a stronger and more professional team of academic advisors and mentors to provide early and in-depth career advice and orientation to students; help them choose subjects and practical projects that are suitable for their career orientation during their university studies.

Graduation ceremony in June 2025 of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City). Photo: HCMUSSH.

"In order for students to increase their chances of employment and international competition after graduation, in addition to a solid foundation of professional knowledge, we especially focus on equipping students with interdisciplinary thinking, foreign language skills and the ability to apply creativity in work.

With the right investment and orientation, the school's students not only have solid knowledge but also possess the necessary skills to become global citizens, actively contributing to the development of the Southeast region," said the Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/hien-dai-hoa-de-giao-duc-dai-hoc-viet-nam-vuon-tam-quoc-te-post749523.html