Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Fulbright University Vietnam, the first independent, non-profit, liberal arts university in Vietnam, officially signs a Memorandum of Understanding as part of a long-term effort to strengthen the cooperative relationship with the State Records and Archives Management Department of Vietnam.
Ms. Dam Bich Thuy, President of Fulbright University Vietnam and Mr. Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the State Records and Archives Management Department of Vietnam.
Ms. Dam Bich Thuy, President of Fulbright University Vietnam shared: “One of the fervent missions of Fulbright is to “create the next generation of change-makers in Vietnam for a rapidly evolving world”. That is why the Fulbright community always strives to bring new teaching and learning approaches in everything we do. However, we strongly believe that one must study the past to better understand our identity as one nation, and only then, can we best prepare for future challenges. Therefore, this partnership with the State Records and Archives Management Department of Vietnam is invaluable for us to continue creating new opportunities for the young generation to learn more about the Vietnamese history and culture, and thus, nurture their love for their motherland.”
Ms. Dam Bich Thuy delivered her speech at the ceremony.
According to this 5-year agreement, Fulbright University Vietnam and the State Records and Archives Management Department of Vietnam will collaborate to organize academic seminars, displays, and exhibitions; digitalize and conduct research to promote a wide variety of cultural heritage, world documentary heritage, and Vietnamese archival documents and artifacts. These efforts will introduce to the domestic and international public the image of Vietnam, its people, culture, and history, and at the same time, contribute to the education of the youth, encourage their national pride and patriotism, thus, raise awareness and responsibility in preserving and promoting the cultural and documentary heritage.
“Partnering with Fulbright University Vietnam is an opportunity to bring invaluable documents that the State Records and Archives Management Department of Vietnam holds preservation closer to, and more useful for Fulbright faculty and students, as well as the domestic and international audience. Today’s MOU signing ceremony is a meaningful start for which both parties will extend our potential and strengths to coordinate in carrying out numerous influential activities, helping the public to learn accurately and thoroughly about Vietnamese history and culture, hence, use that as a foundation of growth for Vietnam,” said Mr. Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the State Records and Archives Management Department of Vietnam.
Mr. Dang Thanh Tung shared at the ceremony.
Also at the ceremony, Dr. Nora Taylor, Interim Provost of Fulbright University Vietnam officially announced the establishment of the Vietnam Studies Center at Fulbright, under the management and leadership of Dr. Nam Nguyen, Director of the Center and Faculty of Vietnam Studies. “As a Vietnamese university that is inspired by the American liberal arts but deeply rooted in Vietnamese context, Fulbright has a mission to reimagine Vietnam studies. Starting with Vietnam Studies as a major, and now with the Vietnam Studies Center, Fulbright is committed to becoming a leading place for researchers in Vietnam and abroad, an incubator for research, teaching and learning initiatives, with Vietnam being at their focal point,” Dr. Nora Taylor emphasized.
Dr. Nora Taylor announced the establishment of the Vietnamese Studies Center at Fulbright University Vietnam.
The Vietnam Studies Center is officially launched in April 2022 with the initial support from C+P Consulting Foundation to sustain and promote Vietnamese cultural values.
“It is my honor to be able to support the Vietnam Studies Center in this early stage. I believe that this will create more opportunities for Vietnamese youth to access, and gain deeper understanding and appreciation about the Vietnamese identity, core cultural values, and history, which will play as a strong foundation for them to face a VUCA world ahead,” shared Mr. Hung Vo, Advisor of C + P Consulting.
According to the MOU, the Vietnam Studies Center will collaborate with the State Records and Archives Department of Vietnam in major projects in 2022 such as the Tonkin Free School Conference (Hội thảo Đông Kinh Nghĩa Thục), building a prototype in preparation for the development of Saigon’s Geographic Information System (GIS) through historical periods as documented in the archives, and structuralizing the French Cochinchina’s Sino-Vietnamese characters system (sổ bộ Hán – Nôm Nam kỳ) (1819-1918).
The Vietnam Studies Center at Fulbright is under the management and leadership of Dr. Nam Nguyen (in the middle).
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About Fulbright University Vietnam
Fulbright University Vietnam is Vietnam’s first independent, not-for-profit, liberal arts university. We are an expanding international team of educational innovators, with deep roots in Vietnam, strong political and financial backing, and connections to educational institutions around the world.
At Fulbright, we believe in the power of collaboration, transdisciplinary thinking, and risk-taking, and we understand that effective education requires putting students at its center. Globally integrated but deeply embedded in Vietnamese society, Fulbright is dedicated to providing a world-class education, utilizing the latest advancements in institutional design, teaching, learning, technology and other fields to create an institution that is both innovative and globally relevant. Importantly, Fulbright is committed to serving Vietnamese society through rigorous research and responsible civic engagement.
About the State Records and Archives Management Department of Vietnam
The State Records and Archives Management Department is a governmental agency directly under the Ministry of Home Affairs to advise and assist the Minister of Home Affairs in state records, nationwide archives and document management. Currently, the National Archives Centers under the management of the State Records and Archives Management Department are preserving more than 33,000-meter-shelves of document written in Chinese, Sino-Vietnamese (Han-Nom), French, English, Vietnamese, etc. on papers, woodblocks, films, photos, tapes, discs, etc. formed and collected during the operation of various agencies, organizations, individuals, families, and clans, reflecting the entire politics, economy, culture and society of our country from the 19th century to the present.
These are important and valuable documents, significant historical evidences containing authentic information on numerous matters and events in all fields of social life, reflecting creative achievements of the people over the periods, contributing to the establishment and protection of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. These documents are valuable not only for historical research, but also in national construction and defense.
