At a recent academic forum titled “Training and Research in Social Sciences and Humanities in the New Context”, hosted by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), university leaders and scholars voiced deep concerns over the mounting challenges in the field.

Associate Professor Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh, Director of the Institute of History, acknowledged a harsh reality: most research conducted at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences remains tied to political-scientific missions and lacks diversified funding sources, making it difficult to mobilize adequate resources.

Another pressing issue lies in how society perceives the role of social sciences. Some have questioned, "How much do the social sciences and humanities contribute to the GDP?" Dr. Vinh responded, calling this a misguided perspective.

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Associate Professor Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh, Director of the Institute of History. Photo: USSH

He emphasized that contributions from social sciences and humanities lie in foundational research, policy advising, and long-term societal insight - areas that cannot be measured by GDP alone.

“For example, historical knowledge helps craft informed policy warnings. Research on ethnic groups and religions supports social stability, while timely forecasts can prevent conflict or unrest. If we evaluate social sciences solely through the lens of GDP, we risk stifling their development - especially in fundamental research,” he argued.

Dr. Vinh added that the Academy has proposed to government agencies to shift their thinking and recognize the true mission and value of this field.

Training faces equally dire challenges

From a training standpoint, Associate Professor Dr. Truong Dai Luong, Chair of the University Council at Hanoi University of Culture, said the labor market presents significant hurdles for social science and humanities education.

At Hanoi University of Culture, several departments - such as Family Studies, Ethnic Minority Culture, and Heritage Studies - have had to cease admissions. Though intellectually rich and socially meaningful, these fields are not in demand, and graduates face bleak employment prospects. Consequently, the university was left with no choice but to pause these programs.

Other traditional majors like Cultural Studies have also seen dwindling enrollment due to low student interest.

To respond, the university is shifting from purely academic research-based education to interdisciplinary models.

Instead of a standard Cultural Studies degree, the school now offers programs such as Media Culture, International Cultural Relations, and Cultural Industries. These new programs not only attract students but also better meet labor market demands.

“If we don’t restructure our programs to be interdisciplinary and responsive to real-world needs, we will inevitably be eliminated,” Dr. Luong said.

Some majors must persist despite economic inefficiency

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Professor Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Photo: USSH

Meanwhile, Professor Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, acknowledged that some highly specialized disciplines cannot be abandoned due to their national mission.

He cited archaeology as an example: even to train five undergraduates per year, the university must maintain a dedicated department, fieldwork infrastructure, and specialized resources. The average cost of training these five students is roughly 15 times their tuition fees.

Despite these costs, the university remains committed to deep training in fundamental scientific disciplines while continuing to expand interdisciplinary programs to better align with societal development.

From theory to practice

Facing these tough realities, Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh, former Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, called for a sweeping shift in both research and training approaches to make them more relevant to practical needs.

“In the past, programs focused purely on theoretical foundations. But now, universities must move toward applying these theories to economic, social, and cultural development,” he said.

He warned that if research continues in a purely theoretical vacuum - as seen in Marxist-Leninist philosophy or abstract philosophy - it will lose its value.

Training and research must serve social demands, he emphasized.

According to him, university curricula must be restructured toward interdisciplinary formats. This includes merging narrowly focused disciplines and creating new programs that serve both scientific progress and real-world application.

“If we cling to outdated majors, interest will continue to decline. Eventually, we will be forced to close them down,” he concluded.

Thuy Nga