Keeping the flame of philosophy alive amidst the flow of innovation and integration.

On May 16th, the Faculty of Philosophy, Hanoi University of Education, held a ceremony to celebrate its 15th anniversary (2011-2026), reflecting on its journey of development with many outstanding achievements in training, scientific research, international publications, and the development of its staff and lecturers.

Associate Professor, Dr. Kieu Van Hoan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Rector of Hanoi Pedagogical University, delivered a speech at the commemoration ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the leadership of Hanoi Pedagogical University; scientists , experts, and lecturers from many training institutions and research institutes nationwide; representatives of the Vietnam Philosophy Association; and many generations of staff, lecturers, researchers, postgraduate students, and undergraduates of the Philosophy Department throughout its history.

The event also served as an opportunity for many generations of teachers, scientists, researchers, postgraduate students, and undergraduates who have been associated with the Faculty in the journey of cultivating a foundation of humanistic thinking and knowledge.

While 15 years may not be a long time in the more than seven-decade history of Hanoi Pedagogical University, it is enough for the Faculty to affirm its position as one of the prestigious centers for philosophy training and research in the country.

Established in 2011, the Faculty of Philosophy carries the mission of improving the quality of philosophy education, developing scientific research, and building a high-quality workforce to serve the cause of education and national development.

A cultural performance program to welcome the guests.

From its early days, facing numerous challenges regarding facilities, staff, and training scale, the Faculty has gradually built a serious academic environment, persistently cultivating a tradition of research and training. Previous generations of lecturers, including prominent professors and scientists of Vietnamese education, laid the crucial foundation for this development. Continuing this tradition, today's faculty continues to affirm its academic prowess in the context of rapidly changing global knowledge.

According to the summary report presented at the anniversary celebration, the Faculty of Philosophy achieved many outstanding accomplishments in scientific research during the period 2011-2026. In terms of publishing alone, the faculty members published 72 books, textbooks, and monographs. Many of these works have high academic and practical value, directly serving undergraduate and postgraduate training.

Notable examples include textbooks such as: "Religious Studies" co-edited by Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dang Sinh, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, and Dr. Tran Thi Ha Giang; and "Philosophy of Educational Sciences" by authors Le Van Doan, Pham Thi Quynh, Nguyen Duy Nhien, Cao Thi Sinh, Nguyen Thi Van, etc. These works not only contribute to standardizing training programs but also demonstrate the connection between philosophical theory and educational practice and social life.

Honoring the educators and researchers who contributed to the founding of the Department of Philosophy.

In the field of monographs, the Philosophy Department demonstrates a broad research scope with diverse approaches such as religious philosophy, history of philosophy, philosophy of life, sociology, educational science, etc. Research works on Mother Goddess worship, Vietnamese culture, Augustine philosophy, or the history of human thought have contributed to enriching the academic life in the country.

One of the outstanding highlights of the Philosophy Department over the past 15 years has been its strong breakthrough in international publications. While the initial period only saw foundational articles, from 2021 to the present, international publication activities have clearly developed with 34 articles published in journals belonging to the ISI, Scopus, and AHCI systems. In total, over the past 15 years, the Department has had 37 high-quality international publications.

The young faculty members also demonstrate their research capabilities through publications in prestigious international academic journals. Associate Professor Nguyen Thi Tho has numerous research papers on the thought of Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Binh Khiem, and moral education published in Q1 and Q2 journals. Dr. Nguyen Duy Nhien has made his mark with multidisciplinary research on spiritual life and education. Dr. Tran Thi Ha Giang has published articles on Vietnamese beliefs and Buddhism in specialized international journals. Dr. Nguyen Thi Van has research on anthropology and epistemology published in many European academic forums.

Representatives from the school presented certificates of commendation to individuals and groups who have made significant contributions over the past 15 years.

According to scientists, the increasing number of international publications not only reflects the research capacity of the faculty but also shows that Vietnamese philosophy is gradually participating more deeply in the global flow of knowledge. Besides international research, the Faculty of Philosophy continues to play an important role in domestic theoretical life with 216 scientific articles published in prestigious specialized journals such as: the Journal of Philosophy, the Journal of Communism, the Journal of Political Theory, the Journal of Vietnamese Social Sciences… Research content spans from Western classical philosophy, Ho Chi Minh's thought, ethics, environmental issues to contemporary social changes from a philosophical perspective.

Besides focusing on research, the Department of Philosophy is also considered a dynamic unit in organizing national and international scientific conferences. Many major conferences have been held in recent years, such as: "Research and Teaching of Logic in Vietnam Today", "Philosophy of Life in Vietnamese Culture", "Issues of Teaching Philosophy in Universities and Colleges in the 4.0 Era", "Philosophy of Education - Theoretical and Practical Issues in Vietnam Today"...

Academic forums create an environment for professional exchange, while also contributing to connecting the philosophy research community nationwide and promoting dialogue between philosophy and other scientific disciplines. Another important milestone mentioned at the celebration was the strong development of postgraduate training. From the first postgraduate courses in Hai Phong in the period 2012-2014, the Faculty of Philosophy has now expanded its training scale to many localities in the Northwest, Central Highlands, An Giang, Can Tho, Ben Tre, etc. Hundreds of postgraduate students have graduated and become officials, lecturers, and researchers at many agencies, schools, and units throughout the country.

The event attracted a large number of delegates and researchers from across the country.

In 2018, the Faculty officially launched its doctoral program in philosophy. From the first doctoral students, the number has steadily increased, reflecting the need for in-depth research and the Faculty's academic prestige. In 2026 alone, the Faculty of Philosophy had 10 doctoral students receiving their degrees – the largest doctoral degree awarding ceremony in the Faculty's history.

According to representatives from the Faculty of Philosophy, this achievement is the culmination of a persistent process of building a strong team, innovating teaching methods, and developing a rigorous academic research environment. Many young lecturers, well-trained, with strong foreign language skills and international publications, are becoming the core force of the Faculty in this new phase.

Alongside training and research, the student movement of the Faculty of Philosophy has also made significant strides. From nearly 200 members in its early years, the Faculty's Student Union now has nearly 550 participating students. Student scientific research activities have flourished with hundreds of projects each year; many works have won awards at the university level and been published in academic forums.

In particular, the Vietnam Philosophy Olympiad is considered one of the typical activities contributing to spreading the value of philosophy among students. After being held at many universities, in 2026, the Philosophy Department of Hanoi University of Education will continue to host the competition with the theme: "The role of philosophy in the new era of development and the awareness and actions of Vietnamese students".

Sharing their experiences at the anniversary celebration, many generations of lecturers and students emotionally recalled the Philosophy Department's arduous journey over the past 15 years. These included trips to remote locations to conduct classes, nights spent working with students to revise theses and dissertations, and the unwavering commitment to maintaining a serious academic environment amidst the many changes in educational life.

According to many educators, what gives the Philosophy Department its vitality, besides the figures on publications and training, is the spirit of solidarity among generations of lecturers and the aspiration to preserve the depth of thought within the educational environment. It is also the journey of educators who silently cultivate a foundation of humanistic knowledge for many generations of students.

Building upon the foundation established over the past 15 years, the Faculty aims to further improve the quality of education, promote in-depth research, expand international cooperation, and create a modern and humane academic environment.

THUY PHUONG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/giu-ngon-lua-triet-hoc-giua-dong-chay-doi-moi-va-hoi-nhap-post962540.html