On the afternoon of April 10, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH, VNUHCM) hosted a scientific seminar at its Dinh Tien Hoang Campus under the theme “Enhancing the Quality of Key Student Scientific Research Projects Towards Competing for External Awards.”
In the opening remark, Dr. Le Hoang Dung, USSH’s Vice President, emphasized that the event was an opportunity for students to listen to expert insights, ask questions, and refine the direction of their research. “With the guidance of our faculty and the proactive spirit of our students, we can elevate the quality of research and foster a more dynamic and effective academic environment,” he affirmed.
Dr. Le Hoang Dung encourages faculty members and students in completing key scientific research projects – Photo: Quynh Nhu
The seminar featured three in-depth presentations, all focused on improving the quality of student scientific research. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Sinh, Vice Chair of the University's Research Ethics Council, delivered a presentation on refining academic content in student research. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan, Director of the Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities and Director of the Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies, provided an overview of the Euréka Award and the Ministry of Education and Training’s research competitions, outlining their criteria and orientation. Dr. Hoang Ngoc Minh Chau, Deputy Head of the Office of External Relations and Research Affairs, discussed key considerations in completing research papers and preparing for publication.
In her presentation on “Enhancing Academic Content in Student Scientific Research”, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Sinh addressed the formulation of general and specific research objectives, identifying research subjects and scope, and structuring scientific reports. She underscored the importance of presentation style, citation, and references during the progress, offering practical advice for students to strengthen their scientific research.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Sinh analyzes presentation errors in students' scientific reports – Photo: Quynh Nhu
Following that, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan shared insights into the Euréka Award and the Ministry-level awards. She detailed assessment criteria for national and international student research competitions, and highlighted USSH’s impressive track record at these events. Her talk served as both an informative guide and a motivational boost for aspiring student researchers.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan shares about her journey supervising students to win first prize in the field of Culture and Arts at the 25th Euréka Scientific Research Student Awards – Photo: Quynh Nhu
Dr. Hoang Ngoc Minh Chau’s presentation centered on completing scientific articles and preparing for publication. She introduced key publication platforms such as academic conferences and both domestic and international journals, and provided guidance on writing and formatting research papers to meet scholarly standards. She also expressed her expectation on the student research projects, especially key topics with the potential to compete for prestigious academic awards beyond the university in the near future.
Dr. Hoang Ngoc Minh Chau shares insights on the Journal of Science and Technology Development of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City during her presentation – Photo: Quynh Nhu
Collectively, the three presentations offered students practical knowledge and specific guidance to enhance their research projects and position themselves competitively for academic awards. The speakers also emphasized the important role of supervising progress between the students and their supervisors as a key factor in the success of student endeavors.
The seminar concluded with a dynamic Q&A session between students and representatives from the Office of External Relations and Research Affairs. Many important topics were discussed, notably the guidance on revising the project proposals for key scientific research topics, as well as clarifying issues related to application documents for external scientific competitions and academic awards.
A student with a key scientific research project raises a question during the discussion session – Photo: Quynh Nhu
By organizing the seminar “Enhancing the Quality of Student Scientific Research Projects“, USSH aims to support students with their key research projects in elevating their work to new heights, equipping them with the necessary tools to engage with prestigious external academic awards. This initiative is part of the university’s broader strategy to advance its academic standing and affirm the reputation of both USSH and VNUHCM within the scientific community.
Photos from the seminar:
Story and Photos: QUYNH NHU - CAM TU
Translation by KHANH LIN
