Inaugural Speech by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phạm Quang Minh

Rector of

University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-Hanoi

Date: 18 January, 2016

Venue:  USSH Great Meeting Hall, 8^th Floor, E Building

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Duc, Vice President of the Vietnam National University- Hanoi,

Distinguished international and Vietnamese guests,

Former USSH Rectors Phung Huu Phu, Pham Quang Long, Pham Xuan Hang and Nguyen Van Khanh,

Faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students of the USSH,

1.  First of all, I wish to thank the Party Executive Committee and the Board of Presidents of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi as well as the Party Executive Committee and the Board of Rectors of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), for the solemn inauguration of me as the new USSH Rector. I think it is a day of joy for over 500 faculty and staff members and approximately 10,000 students of our University, of whom I am just a representative.

I want to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest thanks to all USSH faculty, staff and students who entrusted me with this position; to all international and domestic partners for their constant cooperation; to my family and friends for their support and encouragement. I also wish to express my gratitude to my former rectors including Prof. Phung Huu Phu, Prof. Pham Quang Long, Prof. Pham Xuan Hang and Prof. Nguyen Van Khanh, and other teachers. My thanks go to scholarship - granting institutions and such German organizations as Oekumenisches Studienwerk (OSW), Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst -The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD ) and to universities where I studied, including the History Department of former University of Hanoi, the Department of Russian for Vietnamese Studying in the USSR (Hanoi Foreign Language College), the Department of Preparatory Training of Moscow University, the Kuban State University (Russian Federation), the University of Passau and Humboldt University at Berlin (Federal Republic of Germany).

At this very moment, I feel deeply honoured, and I am also well aware of the heavy responsibility entrusted to me by our faculty and staff members and by the VNU-Hanoi  President’s appointment of me as the new Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, a leading prestigious university in Vietnam.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Pham Quang Minh - Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-Hanoi

2. On this solemn day of inauguration, in my mind there are innumerable thoughts, which I would like to share with you on only 3 points:

First, what I’m always concerned about and try to imagine is what our University will be like in the next five years and beyond. My vision for it is our University of Social Sciences and Humanities should become one of the leading advanced research universities in Asia - the one that acquires core values of liberal education; creates a democratic and friendly environment, adopting dialogue and constructive criticism; and gets involved in integration, all of which constitute the central tasks so as to develop maximum creativity and capability of all its members. I’m entirely convinced that we can reach our goals as we possess an invaluable asset, human resources and a wealth of experience gained from 70 years of institutional development.

Second, however valuable our assets are, they are not enough and will be buried in oblivion if we are not dynamic and creative. Globalization, regionalization and integration, especially the successful establishment of the ASEAN Community on December, 31, 2015, require all the universities to open up their doors fully to the outside world, thus breaking with the scholastic tradition, to link their education and research process with exciting reality not just nationwide, but worldwide.

Third, the central tasks we are to carry out in the coming time are to make improvements to the appropriate model of research university; to pay due attention to the development of the faculty body, particularly the young one, as well as focusing on graduate education with the aim of turning out top quality products in research, and to make efficient use of financial resources. Of these, the groundbreaking task is to create a professional university governance environment, which is open, friendly and equitable, and in which every faculty, staff member or student feels he or she is part of it. In such an environment, resources will be freed, everyone will consciously and zealously devote himself to the cause of our University, which can attract more talented faculty members and students and becomes a reliable and attractive place for both domestic and international partners to come.

Vice President of the Vietnam National University- Hanoi grants the decision of appoinment of Rector to Assoc. Prof. Dr Pham Quang Minh 

3. Finally, I pledge that, together with you, I will do my best to build our common home - the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, making it better known scientifically nationwide and worldwide. I always wish to receive the heartfelt support from the entire faculty, staff members and students; leadership support from all levels and assistance and cooperation from our domestic and international partners.

To conclude, I wish you all good health, happiness and success.

Thank you very much.