28/09/2026
CHIA SẺ:
On the morning of September 26, the Nhan Van Hall at the Linh Xuan campus became the rendezvous point for generations of IR students during the QH24-26 Freshman Welcome Ceremony. More than just marking the first day of their university journey, the program was a moment for the new "pieces" to officially step into the International Relations home - a place where knowledge, liberal thinking, integration spirit, and the aspiration to reach out to the world have been cultivated by many generations.
If every IR generation carries the marks of its time, the QH24-26 cohort is entering the lecture halls at a unique moment: as the world witnesses deepening strategic competition, prolonged conflicts, the intersection of economy and security, and the powerful rise of technology, data, and artificial intelligence. From this context, Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi - Dean of the Faculty of History and International Relations - sent a memorable message to the freshmen:
"And perhaps there is rarely a more interesting time than 2026 to start studying International Relations." But studying International Relations, according to him, is not about memorizing the fluctuations happening on the world map. What is more important is the ability to look through the surface of events, ask questions, and form independent judgments: "It is more important to learn how to ask questions about what lies behind events." Why do nations both cooperate and compete? Why can the economy become a tool of power? How is technology changing the relationship between nations? And in an uncertain world, how will Vietnam define its position, interests, and approach? These are not just questions of a subject. These are also questions that a generation of International Relations students will gradually learn to answer throughout the journey ahead.
Photo: Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi - Dean of the Faculty of History and International Relations
The journey that QH24-26 has just begun also continues a path of more than two decades of the International Relations major at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City. From the first cohort of IR bachelor's students enrolled in 2000 to the official establishment of the Department of International Relations in 2003; from the first formal bachelor's cohort in the 2004-2005 academic year to the development into the Faculty of International Relations and entering a new chapter when the Faculty of History and the Faculty of International Relations merged into the Faculty of History and International Relations from 2025 - each milestone marks the efforts of generations of teachers, students, and IR alumni. And today, QH24-26 - the "24th Floor" - officially becomes a new level in that home. In an era where AI can generate information and summarize thousands of pages of documents in a very short time, Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi specifically advised freshmen on the value of independent thinking: "Use technology and AI, but don't let technology think for you." Because the advantage of today's university students no longer lies simply in "knowing a lot," but in the ability to distinguish what is important, verify what is reliable, connect seemingly disconnected phenomena, and thereby form their own judgments. And to truly become an International Relations student, looking towards the world never means moving away from the values of one's own country: "Be interested in the world, but at the same time, must deeply understand your own country." That is also a message about an IR generation that is not only good at foreign languages or knowledgeable about the international situation but also knows how to listen, knows how to engage in dialogue with differences, is responsible to the community, and understands that behind big concepts like power, war, diplomacy, or national interest, in the end, it is always about people.
Photo: Do Cam Ly - 2nd Runner-up Miss Cosmo Vietnam 2025 - International Relations alumna
Another special highlight of the program was the exchange session with Do Cam Ly - 2nd Runner-up of Miss Cosmo Vietnam 2025, an IR alumna. From her own journey, she brought intimate sharing about the spirit of continuous learning, professionalism, responsibility, and dedication to every choice. That story also shows that an International Relations student can walk on many different paths - diplomacy, research, media, business, culture, arts, or global fields - but the values formed during their university years can still become a companion for each person long after.
Photo: MIR Art Club
The atmosphere of the ceremony continued to be lit up by performances from the MIR Art Club, along with the "Waves Reaching Further" performance by the Faculty of History and International Relations team at the 2026 Student Cultural Festival. Interspersed with those youthful colors were moments of honoring and awarding individuals and collectives with outstanding achievements and contributions - images showing that the life of an IR student does not only take place in the lecture hall but is also created by research, academics, community activities, culture, arts, and countless experiences outside the classroom.
Photo: “Waves reaching further” performance
After a long journey to step through the university gate, the Freshman Welcome Ceremony is perhaps not the end of a competition, but the starting point of a bigger journey. The four years ahead will have interesting lessons and also challenging subjects; there will be confident presentations and debates that make us look back at what we once believed to be true; there will be success, failure, new friends, and roads that no one can imagine yet.
But as Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi sent as a message: "Let those four years help you have a broader worldview, sharper thinking, a more responsible heart, and stronger courage in the face of the changes of the era." Welcome QH24-26. Welcome to the "24th Floor"! A new journey has begun. And from today, the new members of the IR home will join previous generations to continue writing new pages of the International Relations major.
Let's join 𝒍𝒖𝒎𝑰𝑹𝒊𝒂 to reflect on the brilliant moments of the QH24-26 Freshman Welcome Ceremony!
Full photos here: Photo link
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𝒍𝒖𝒎𝑰𝑹𝒊𝒂 is the Freshman Welcome Program Series for International Relations students, cohort QH24-26, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City.
Fanpage: The Pionarea of IR - USSH HCMC
Email: chaomungqh2426@gmail.com
Huynh Vu Nhu Giang - Head of Organizing Committee (Phone: 0903 657 606)Le Tran An Nguyen - Head of Events Committee (Phone: 0358 025 357)CHIA SẺ:
Ngày cập nhật: 28/09/2026
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