European studies in Vietnam: the 20-year journey and prospects – Nimble fingers survey

International Workshop on “European studies in Vietnam: the 20-year journey and prospects”

To commemorate the 20^th anniversary of its foundation, the Institute of European Studies held the international workshop on “European studies in Vietnam: the 20-year journey and prospects” on 8 November 2013.

International guests attended the workshop including Prof. Mazyrin Vladimir, Director of the Center for Vietnam and ASEAN Studies, the Far East Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences; Prof. Sergei Riazantsev and Prof. Kobelev Evghenhi Vaxilevich, Institute of Economics and International Politics, Russian Academy of Sciences; Prof. Grigory Mikhailovich Locsin, Russian Academy of Sciences; Arve Hansen, PhD Candidate, Centre for Development and Environment, University of Oslo, Norway; Parsifal Reparato, PhD Candidate, Naples Eastern University, Italy. On Vietnam’s side, the guests seated in the workshop were Prof.Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan, Deputy President of Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS); Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen An Ha, Director of Institute of European Studies; managers and scholars from member departments and units of VASS; and the delegates from ministries and departments as well as universities in Hanoi.
The workshop was co-chaired by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen An Ha, Director of Institute of European Studies, and Prof. Mazyrin Vladimir, Director of the Center for Vietnam and ASEAN Studies, the Far East Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences

According to Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen An Ha, Europe had a long history and the politic and economic importance. The European Union (EU) and many European countries are traditional and key long-time partners of Vietnam. In recent years, Vietnam has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with European countries such as Russia, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, and France as well as signed agreements of cooperation between Vietnam and these countries.
European studies in Vietnam have become increasingly interested and valued, not only for research institutes and universities but a number of agencies and businesses also. The study about the social-science-related issues in European countries and the regional organizations of Europe is to provide scientific foundations for domestic and foreign policy planning of the Vietnam Communist Party and the State. This is also the key function of the Institute for European Studies.
Despite the achievements of European studies in Vietnam in recent years, it is still necessary to promote the collaboration and innovative approaches in European research and teaching activities due to the more extensive and deeper integration in different areas, including research cooperation between Vietnamese and European scholars.
The workshop received 20 papers from home scholars and international research partners such as the Institute of Economics and International Politics, Russian Academy of Sciences; Center for Vietnam and ASEAN Studies, the Far East Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences; Polish Academy of Sciences; Centre for Development and Environment at the University of Oslo (Norway); Naples Eastern University, Italy; and Uppsala University (Sweden).
Among those, there were five papers selected to be delivered at the workshop: “The study of law-governed states in Europe – Our needs and orientations” by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Nhu Phat, Institute of State and Law; “Russia-Vietnam cooperation in the new international context” by Prof. Mazuril V. M., Center for Vietnam and ASEAN Studies; “Consumer demand of automobiles in Vietnam” by Arve Hansen, PhD Candidate, Centre for Development and Environment, University of Oslo; “Promotion of research cooperation with European countries for Vietnam’s rapid and sustainable development” by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Duong Van Sao, Vietnam Trade Union University; and “The impact of trade barriers on the exports from Vietnam to EU in 2007-2013” by Dr. Dang Hoang Linh and Do Thi Nhan Thien, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
The lively discussion focused on some the following topics: the evaluation of European studies at the Institute of European Studies as well as in Vietnam in the last 20 years; the trends of European studies in Vietnam in the coming years; solutions to promote research cooperation between Vietnam and Europe as well as among research institutions of European studies for the development of European studies in Vietnam.
The organizers wished and hoped the workshop would help the scholars from different countries come closer together for the future exchange, research and cooperation activities in European studies.
Nguyen Thu Ha