Promoting Vietnamese Studies research and teaching in the new era
Vietnamese Studies achievements, USSH, VNU-HCM
In her speech at the opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, Rector, claimed that Vietnamese Studies had become more and more popular due to an increase in global demand. With over 20 years of teaching and research history, USSH, VNU-HCM is one of the most prominent higher education institutions that offers Vietnamese Studies programs, attracting large numbers of students from 90 countries and regions.
In order to improve the quality of training and strengthen its leading position in the Vietnamese studies sector, the University focused on innovating teaching and teacher training methods not only for teachers from the University but also the South region, she added. Since 2008, the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies has organized numerous research and teaching conferences on Vietnamese language and Vietnamese studies, with the attendance of many domestic and foreign scholars. In 2013, the University officially held its 1st International Conference of Vietnamese Studies.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan at the opening ceremony.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Giang, Former Dean of Vietnamese Studies, the conference received 110 reports by professors and researchers from the United States, Japan, Russia, China, Taiwan, France, Australia, and Bulgaria, as well as other universities in Vietnam, namely Hanoi, Da Lat, Kon Tum, Hue, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, Dong Nai, Thu Dau Mot and Ho Chi Minh City. The reports were sent to highly qualified researchers in various fields of study for approval. At the conference, 75 qualified reports were presented, focusing on three sub-themes: Vietnamese Linguistics and Teaching, Vietnamese Culture and Literature, and Vietnamese History and Society.
The innovation of Vietnamese studies
Based on internal evidence from Chữ Nôm materials, Prof. Shimizu Masaaki, Osaka University, Japan, concludes in a paper regarding the process of changing the rhyme system in dialects from the 19th to the 20th centuries: It took about 100 years for the complete merger of final -n/t to -ŋ/k, bringing about the development of rhymes with palatal, apical, and pharyngeal ending sounds.
At the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Son, former Deputy Director of the Institute of Literature, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, also presented his papers titled "The contemporary Vietnamologists in China: the case of Professor Luu Chi Cuong". His findings suggest the new generation of contemporary Vietnamologists is distinguished by their mastery of the Vietnamese language and reading comprehension. They also have direct access to authentic resources as well as information about the current national and international research situation of Vietnamese studies. It should be noted that Professor Luu Chi Cuong is recognized as a high-level expert on Vietnamese studies specializing in Chinese literature for his contributions to promote research and teaching on the two countries’ culture and literature.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Huu Son presented his research “The new generation of Vietnamese studies scientists in China: the case of Professor Luu Chi Cuong.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Giang hopes that the conference will resolve concerns and inspire scholars, allowing them to expand their studies and teaching and achieve outstanding results in Vietnamese studies.
Research-teaching Vietnamese studies and language have a long history and is expanding rapidly in Vietnam and across the world. As such, the program is designed to provide opportunities for researchers and lecturers to teach and publish the latest research in Vietnamese studies and Vietnamese language, promoting both national and international research in Vietnamese Studies.
Minh Sang
Translated by: My Phung, Ngoc Han
