Phan Châu Trinh (1872–1926) was one of the most prominent reformist intellectuals of early twentieth-century Vietnam. Throughout his political–social thought and reformist discourse, Phan Châu Trinh consistently affirmed a foundational principle for national renewal and development: “Chi bằng học” (“Nothing is better than learning”). For him, education and intellectual enlightenment were not merely means of raising popular knowledge, but a prerequisite for forming free individuals, citizens capable of independent judgment, and a modern democratic society.
His essay “The Present Condition of the Problem” (1907), together with other writings and speeches, shows that Phan Châu Trinh approached Vietnam’s backwardness from an epistemological and social-ethical perspective. In his view, national weakness did not stem solely from political or economic circumstances, but more profoundly from outdated modes of learning, misguided purposes of education, and a lack of intellectual autonomy. He criticized the scholastic, examination-oriented Confucian learning that pursued empty prestige, as well as superficial and partial appropriations of Western knowledge. In contrast, he called for a form of liberal and emancipatory education grounded in freedom, democracy, practical engagement, and the spirit of self-reliant enlightenment.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Phan Châu Trinh’s death (1926–2026), this conference aims to reread, reinterpret, and engage in scholarly dialogue with the idea of “Chi bằng học”—not only in the historical context of the early twentieth century, but also in contemporary Vietnam, amid profound transformations driven by globalization, digital transformation, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The conference views Phan Châu Trinh’s thought not merely as a historical legacy, but as a source of critical reflection that continues to offer valuable insights for questions of education, human development, and national development in the twenty-first century.
The academic objectives of the conference are to clarify the position and structure of educational and enlightenment thought within Phan Châu Trinh’s intellectual system; to place the idea of “Chi bằng học” in dialogue with reformist, enlightenment, and educational movements in Vietnam and the region; to analyze its theoretical value and contemporary relevance for issues of education, public intellectual capacity, and civic competence; and to open up new approaches to learning and education in the context of globalization and the age of AI.
The conference welcomes submissions from a wide range of disciplines, including intellectual history, education studies, philosophy, cultural studies, sociology, development studies, and related fields. Suggested themes include, but are not limited to: analyses of “Chi bằng học” within Phan Châu Trinh’s broader intellectual framework; comparisons between his views on learning and early twentieth-century reform and enlightenment movements such as Tonkin Free School and Văn minh tân học sách, as well as with contemporary thinkers; studies of the role of education and learning in the formation of free individuals and modern citizens; examinations of Phan Châu Trinh’s educational thought in the context of globalization, including issues of global knowledge reception and cultural autonomy; dialogues between the spirit of “Chi bằng học” and emerging challenges of education in the age of AI and digital transformation; and assessments of the contemporary value of Phan Châu Trinh’s thought for educational reform and national development in present-day Vietnam.
CONFERENCE INFORMATION (TENTATIVE)
Time: March 24, 2026
Organizers: University of Culture (Ho Chi Minh City) and the Vietnam Studies Center (Fulbright University Vietnam)
Language: Vietnamese
Participants: Researchers, lecturers, doctoral candidates, graduate students, and scholars interested in Vietnamese intellectual history, education, culture, and contemporary development issues.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Participants are invited to submit an abstract of approximately 300–400 words, clearly outlining the research question, approach, primary sources, and scholarly contribution.
Deadline: February 10, 2026
Submission & registration: Link
For inquiries, please contact: vsc@fulbright.edu.vn
Submission Guidelines
Language: Papers should be written in Vietnamese. Vietnamese papers with an English abstract are encouraged (but not required).
Length: Working papers of approximately 4,000–6,000 words (excluding references). Draft papers in progress are acceptable.
Structure: Title; author name(s), affiliation(s), and email; abstract (150–200 words); keywords (3–5); main text (research problem, approach/materials, analysis and argumentation, discussion); references.
Formatting: A4 paper; Times New Roman (13-point for Vietnamese, 12-point for English); 1.5 line spacing; justified alignment; margins: top/bottom 2.5 cm, left 3.0 cm, right 2.5 cm; page numbers at the bottom.
Citations and notes: Footnotes are preferred, following common Vietnamese scholarly practice. Citation style is flexible (Chicago/APA not mandatory) but must be consistent and include full bibliographic details.
Historical and Hán–Nôm sources: Sources and editions used must be clearly specified. Transliterations or translations are encouraged.
Images and tables: If included, must be clearly numbered, captioned, and sourced; authors are responsible for copyright.
Academic standards: Papers should present clear arguments and avoid purely descriptive approaches; analytical, comparative, and contemporary-contextual perspectives are encouraged.
Submission: Files in .doc or .docx format, named Author Name – Paper Title. Working papers are for panel coordination and scholarly exchange and do not automatically imply publication; publication plans will be announced after the conference.
Selected papers will be invited for full submission, peer review, and publication in the conference proceedings.
