03/08/2026
The Faculty of Social Sciences was established on the foundation of the former Faculty of Social Sciences of Thanh Hoa College of Education, inherited nearly five decades of experience in training teachers in Literature, History, and Geography. Throughout the development, from Thanh Hoa 10+3 Teacher Training School, to Thanh Hoa College of Education, and now Hong Duc University, the Faculty has educated tens of thousands of teachers and education professionals serving Thanh Hoa Province as well as many other localities across Vietnam. This long-standing tradition has provided a solid foundation for the Faculty’s continued growth and expansion in undergraduate and postgraduate education.
Academic Programs
Throughout 30 years of establishment and development (1997–2027), academic training has remained the Faculty’s core mission. From earliest years, the Faculty was a pioneer in offering undergraduate teacher education programs in Literature, History, and Geography, meeting the growing demand for highly qualified teachers in Vietnam’s education sector.
In response to changing workforce needs, the Faculty of Social Sciences has continuously diversified and modernized academic portfolio by introducing application-oriented undergraduate programs. These have included Vietnamese Language and Literature, Literature, History (with a specialization in Heritage and Historic Site Management), Geography (with specializations in Natural Resources and Environmental Management, later Land Administration), Vietnamese Studies (with specializations in Tour Guiding, later Hotel and Tourism Management), Sociology (with a specialization in Social Work), Social Work, and, most recently, Tourism. The continuous development and renewal of these academic programs reflect commitment of the Faculty to meeting the evolving needs of society while providing students with knowledge, professional competencies, and practical skills aligned with labor market demands.
Alongside undergraduate programs, the Faculty of Social Sciences has been one of the pioneering units at Hong Duc University in postgraduate education. The Faculty has offered and continues to offer master's degree programs in Vietnamese Linguistics, Vietnamese Literature, Theory and Methodology of Teaching Literature and Vietnamese, Vietnamese History, and Geography. The Faculty also offers doctoral programs in Vietnamese Literature, Theory and Methodology of Teaching Literature and Vietnamese, and Vietnamese History.
Academic programs of the Faculty are regularly reviewed and updated to align with learning outcomes, societal needs, quality assurance standards, and the ongoing innovation of teaching and learning under the credit-based education system. These efforts ensure that graduates are equipped with solid disciplinary knowledge, professional competence, and the adaptability required in an evolving educational and professional landscape.
In addition to academic programs, the Faculty of Social Sciences is responsible for providing Vietnamese language training for Lao students under the cooperation program between Thanh Hoa Province and Houaphanh Province, Lao PDR. Over the years, thousands of Lao students have completed Vietnamese language courses at the Faculty and have gone on to pursue further studies at Hong Duc University as well as at other higher education institutions across Vietnam, thereby contributing to the strengthening of the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
Over the past three decades, the Faculty of Social Sciences has educated approximately 6,000 undergraduate students, more than 3,000 college graduates, over 1,000 in-service and articulation-program graduates, nearly 500 master's and doctoral graduates, and close to 1,000 Lao students who completed Vietnamese language training. At the peak, the Faculty enrolled approximately 2,500 students, reaffirming the position as one of the largest academic units at Hong Duc University.
Alongside academic training, research has consistently been one of greatest strengths of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Research activities are closely aligned with enhancing teaching quality, supporting the socio-economic development of Thanh Hoa Province, and promoting academic integration at both the national and international levels. Over the past 30 years, academic staff of the Faculty have led numerous research projects funded at the national, ministerial, and provincial levels; published nearly one thousand articles in domestic and international scholarly journals; and authored hundreds of textbooks, monographs, and reference materials to support teaching and learning. The Faculty has also played a leading role in organizing and contributing to numerous scientific conferences at the national, provincial, and university levels. In addition, many students of the Faculty have received awards for outstanding scientific research at both the ministerial and university levels.
The Faculty has continuously expanded the international cooperation through a wide range of academic exchange programs, international summer schools, visiting professorships, and collaborative partnerships with universities in Germany and other international institutions. In particular, the educational cooperation program with the Lao People's Democratic Republic has become one of the hallmark initiatives of the Faculty, enhancing the reputation of Hong Duc University while strengthening educational collaboration and the longstanding friendship between Vietnam and Laos.
The development of a highly qualified academic staff has been one of the key factors underpinning the sustainable growth of the Faculty. From having only one doctoral degree holder at the time of the establishment, the Faculty has built a strong academic team comprising associate professors, doctoral degree holders, and doctoral candidates educated at prestigious institutions both in Vietnam and abroad. This highly qualified workforce serves as the cornerstone of excellence in teaching, research, and international engagement of the Faculty, while also contributing many academic and administrative leaders to Hong Duc University and governmental agencies in Thanh Hoa Province.
The Faculty of Social Sciences has continuously strengthened the governance and organizational structure with a focus on effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainable development. The Party Cell, Trade Union, and Youth Union of the Faculty have consistently been recognized for outstanding achievements, while the academic divisions have been reorganized and enhanced to meet evolving educational and research demands. A collegial, innovative, and academically vibrant working environment has been fostered and continuously reinforced. As a result, the Faculty of Social Sciences has repeatedly been recognized as an Outstanding Labor Collective and has received numerous certificates of merit and commendations from the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, the Standing Committee of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, and the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.
Entering a new stage of development, the Faculty of Social Sciences remains committed to building on the 30-year tradition of excellence while pursuing the vision of becoming a leading center for education and research in the social sciences and humanities in Thanh Hoa Province and the North Central region of Vietnam.
The Faculty will continue to enhance the quality of academic programs, introduce new disciplines and specializations, strengthen research capacity, increase international publications, further develop a highly qualified academic staff, and expand partnerships with domestic and international institutions. Through these strategic initiatives, the Faculty aims to contribute significantly to the vision of becoming a smart, innovative, and internationally integrated university with a strong regional and global presence of Hong Duc University.
Images of the Faculty of Social Sciences through the years
