Diplomatic students and the opportunity to reach the world

     As students at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, each of us is excited to hear about international conference and conference programs, with diverse opportunities in size, content and attending roles. This is both a deep honor and pride, and a great responsibility when students need to strive to fulfill their tasks as well as demonstrate diplomatic identity in each event.

     Apart from the Academy’s faculties, the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies and the East Sea Institute are the Academy’s two leading research institutes, which are intermediaries to connect students with opportunities to meet and interact with famous scholars, outstanding leaders while these undergraduates are still in school. Many Track II diplomacy activities such as the meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, etc. have attracted a large number of students to attend. Students also participate in many international talks, seminars and conferences, notably the Cambodia- Laos- Vietnam Summit on Development Triangle Area, the 2nd ASEAN- RoK Think Tank Strategic Dialogue…

     As collaborators and organizers, students are honored to contribute their efforts to  the country’s major events such as the Global Inter-Parliamentary Conference 2015 (IPU132), activities in APEC 2017, the World Economic Forum on ASEAN Conference (WEF ASEAN 2018), the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41)... Students at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam are also pioneers to participate in and organize official simulation conferences such as the The Model Asia-Europe Meeting by the Asia-Europe Foundation and the ASEAN Foundation Model ASEAN Meeting by the ASEAN Foundation.

     Participating in international seminars and conferences is an extremely valuable opportunity for students' academic and professional research. Students can directly  observe opinions and analysis from leading experts; acquire knowledge from practice; exercise to be active and proactive when asking speakers. The seminars provide a lot of practical, multidimensional information to help students gain a more diverse and comprehensive perspective on international issues, thus they can apply these knowledge to research and study at school. Along with the access to practical knowledge, students also have the opportunity to apply knowledge from the skill subjects at school into practice when directly attending diplomatic reception work such as event preparation, logistics support, conference reception…

     Participating in conferences and seminars is not only especially beneficial for students in studying but also meaningful for their work and life. It is necessary for students to proactively attend discussions as well as acquire knowledge, thereby improving their ability to build social relationships, develop soft skills and form multi-dimensional points of view. Students are also trained to think acutely in grasping the trend of society, a skill that employers always want their employees to possess, especially in the context of the post-Covid economy when the human resource market is increasingly competitive. These skills need to be developed every day through rewarding curricular activities and they are indispensable in any current profession’s work, not just in diplomacy or foreign affairs.

     International seminars and conferences are a 'specialty' of students at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. Whereby, students are preferably provided with  opportunities to exchange, learn and gain experience from leaders, staff and leading experts in the service domestically as well as in the world. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh shared that: “Every diplomat student needs to practice firm courage, discipline and commitment.” In a constantly changing world, the student’s learning can not only lie on books but must have the flexibility to suit the requirements of modern society that study must go in pair with practice, knowledge attaches to skills, with a sense of progressive spirit and positivity. Attending and organizing international seminars and conferences will help Diplomacy students to bolster their confidence, independent thinking as well as passion for study and work; actively implement the motto “Dynamism- Aspiration- Vision” to meet the country's new requirements in the process of deep international integration.