VietNamNet Bridge – More films and videos on social issues should be produced to enhance understanding of the most recent social-science research, university professors have recommended.

Universities and social-science research institutes should work with communication agencies, film and television studios to produce the films, which could be shown to a variety of audiences at schools and cinemas, or on TV.

Assoc Prof Pham Dinh Nghiem, of the HCM City Social Sciences and Humanities University, said that such films could influence policies and activities of the Government, organisations and individuals.

Nghiem spoke at an international conference on social-science research held yesterday, Dec 15, in HCM City.

He said the films or documentaries could highlight issues related to the economy, politics, culture and society, all of which could help leaders, politicians, economists and managers make better decisions.

Demand for such films is high, and their use could be helpful in abolishing outdated traditional customs that adversely affect the country’s socio-economic development, according to Nghiem.

The films could also help disseminate information about the Party’s policies, he said.

Domestic tourism companies need such films to advertise Viet Nam and its people to other countries, he added.

Such films would also be helpful for foreign companies and organisations that want to conduct research on Viet Nam. In addition, they could be useful teaching tools in schools, he said.

He cited two research studies as examples that could be used as topics for films: “Cultural, Social and Economic Issues of Residents on the Southern Coast” by Asso. Pro and Dr Phan Thi Yen Tuyet and colleagues, and “Social Changes of Viet Nam’s Farmers in the Economic-Structure Process” in the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta by Dr Nguyen Van Tiep and his colleagues.

Speaking at the conference, experts said that more applicants at universities would apply to study social science as its relevance becomes more important.

Professor and Dr Ho Si Quy, head of the Viet Nam Social Sciences Information Institute, said some faculties at universities had suspended operations because of an insufficient number of students.

The entire country had only 92,249 applicants for social-science occupations this school year, accounting for 4.7 per cent of the total number of applicants.

The conference also heard scientists’ presentations, including topics on the interdisciplinary relations of the social sciences, development of social sciences in the era of global integration, and improvement of social-science training and research quality.

The conference, organised by Viet Nam National University-HCM City, attracted many domestic and foreign social-science experts from China, the US and Australia.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News