On September 17 and 18, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH-VNUHCM) proudly represented Vietnam at the 25th SEAMEO CHAT (SEAMEO Regional Centre for History and Tradition) Governing Board Meeting. Held in a hybrid format broadcasting from Yangon, Myanmar, the high-level summit convened regional leaders to map out strategic collaborations in history, tradition, and education, alongside shaping the Center's overarching 2027–2031 Strategic Plan.
The assembly gathered prominent educational figures, including Dr. Zaw Myint, Myanmar’s Deputy Minister of Education; Ms. Pintip Iamnirath, Deputy Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat; and Dr. Naw Si Blut, Director of SEAMEO CHAT. Leading the Vietnamese delegation was USSH-VNUHCM President, Professor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, acting as Vietnam's official representative on the Governing Board. She was joined by Associate Professor Phan Anh Tu, Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Studies, and Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi, Dean of the Faculty of History and International Relations.
Kicking off the agenda on September 17, the board reviewed the 2025–2026 operational and financial reports before outlining future trajectories. Key priorities included embedding historical and cultural knowledge into community education, advancing teacher training, and creating dynamic platforms for young researchers to thrive.
During the policy discussions, Professor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan championed two strategic initiatives. First, she urged member states to proactively inject their own localized initiatives into SEAMEO CHAT’s upcoming strategic framework, thereby increasing each nation's direct involvement in the Center's overarching mission. Second, she advocated for the Center to co-host more events across member countries to amplify its regional footprint and network. The SEAMEO Secretariat strongly commended these recommendations, forwarding them to the Executive Board for integration into the operational roadmap.
In the subsequent sessions, Dr. Le Hoang Dung, USSH-VNUHCM Vice President, represented the university leadership to delve into specialized academic programs. A focal point of these talks was the upcoming regional seminar, “Living Repositories of History, Culture and Knowledge.” Slated for December 15 and 16, 2026, this hybrid event will be co-hosted with the Faculty of Humanities at Chiang Mai University, exploring critical themes surrounding living heritage, traditional knowledge systems, and community engagement.
On September 18, the summit pivoted to the transformative 2027–2031 Strategic Plan, which envisions elevating SEAMEO CHAT into the premier Regional Knowledge Center for Southeast Asian History, Heritage, and Tradition. The board emphasized bolstering regional research, capacity building, and digital knowledge sharing. Seizing this collaborative momentum, Dr. Le Hoang Dung proposed the launch of the “ASEAN Young Ambassadors of Regional Cultural Heritage” initiative. Designed to empower the region's youth as active custodians of their national heritage, the program aims to foster deeper cross-cultural understanding and identity sharing among Southeast Asian nations. The proposal was met with widespread acclaim from the board, reflecting a strong consensus on youth-driven heritage preservation.
Serving as Vietnam's voice on the SEAMEO CHAT Governing Board empowers USSH-VNUHCM to weave a robust network of international experts, project Vietnam's unique cultural insights onto the global stage, and unlock high-impact collaborative ventures. Moving forward, the university will continue to tailor these academic partnerships to meet the evolving educational needs of the region.
