In today’s globalized academic landscape, attracting top-tier international experts is pivotal to elevating educational and research standards. At the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH-VNUHCM), the international visiting professor program across the Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Social Services has emerged as a major highlight, bringing rigorous academic knowledge and a multidimensional scholarly environment to both faculty and students.
The program boasts a distinguished roster of leading academics. Among them is Professor Luong Van Hy, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto (Canada), an expert in interdisciplinary studies, ethnology, sociolinguistics, and Vietnamese culture, as well as the former President of the Association for Asian Studies (AAS). He is joined by Associate Professor Mark Stephan Felix, an anthropology and sociology expert with an extensive research background in the sociology of health and community care across Asia.
The distinguished lineup also features Dr. Filip Kraus, whose research focuses deeply on social anthropology, contemporary social transformations, and advanced anthropological methodologies; Professor Akifumi Iwabuchi from the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, an authority on Japanese sociocultural issues, maritime anthropology, and East Asian cultural heritage; Associate Professor Le Nguyen Hoang Giang, who specializes in social justice education, pedagogy, and gender and sexuality in education; and Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuong Oanh, a researcher at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at KU Leuven (Belgium) with profound expertise in religious theology, Christology, the Trinity, biblical hermeneutics, and Johannine theology. The presence of these prominent scholars not only provides a wealth of knowledge but also seamlessly connects the university’s academic community with prestigious global research networks.
A primary value of onboarding international visiting professors is the direct transfer of advanced methodologies and current global research trends to the university's learners and students. Through specialized lectures, seminars, and mentorship, the academic community gains hands-on access to modern social analysis tools, empowering them to scientifically tackle contemporary sociocultural challenges. Furthermore, this initiative heavily promotes interdisciplinary research, breaking down traditional silos between the humanities and social sciences to foster a holistic, multidimensional perspective.
Integrating international visiting scholars is a strategic move that helps USSH-VNUHCM internationalize its curricula and cement its regional academic standing. This allows the university's learners to directly engage with global academic standards, mastering the latest theoretical frameworks and measurement tools. Ultimately, this integration underscores the institution's commitment to advancing research in the humanities, social sciences, and community service.
Amid rapid global integration and social transformation, the need to deeply understand human behavior and culture has never been more critical. Although academic programs in the Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Social Services face challenges regarding career orientation and enrollment, their future developmental potential is immense. Solving complex social equations, shaping cultural policies, and preserving heritage require a workforce equipped with both a solid theoretical foundation and empirical, interdisciplinary research skills. Therefore, elevating training quality, cultivating practical skills, and expanding global integration for students in these fields are urgent steps to meet the shifting demands of the global labor market.
Beyond merely bolstering the teaching staff, the international visiting professor program serves as a strategic catalyst for sustainable academic breakthroughs. It lays a vital foundation for USSH-VNUHCM to assert its position as a leading regional hub for humanities and social sciences research. Moving forward, the university looks forward to welcoming more international scholars to its campus for collaborative teaching and research.
