Establishing and promoting the unique identity of students in the new era.

On the occasion of the Traditional Student Day (January 9th), Nghe An Newspaper had a conversation with student Phan Thi Hoai Thuong (born in 2003) - Vice President of the Student Union of Nghe An College of Education, Member of the Secretariat of the Nghe An Provincial Student Union, and Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Student Union.

PV:The Congress of the Vietnam Student Union for the 2023-2028 term clearly stated its action slogan: "Vietnamese students: strong identity - rich aspirations - creating the future - building the nation." In your opinion, how should we correctly understand the element of "identity" of students mentioned? Why is it placed at the forefront of the action slogan for a term?

Phan Thi Hoai Thuong:An American journalist once said, "When I came to Vietnam, I didn't expect to see energetic hip-hop performances on the streets, nor was I interested in enjoying fried chicken and fast food. What I wanted to see were the unique characteristics of your country." Hearing that, I thought a lot about the element of identity within myself, or more broadly, within the student community in general.

Because, currently, many young people are not enthusiastic about the historical and cultural values ​​of the nation, gradually losing their customs and traditions, and are indifferent and lacking understanding of the good traditional values ​​of their birthplace. This reality is also one of the issues that the Vietnam Student Union has been very concerned about recently.

Therefore, at the 11th Congress of the Vietnam Student Union, term 2023-2028, Ms. Ho Hong Nguyen – Standing Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Union – affirmed that the element of identity is extremely important. It helps students to "integrate but not assimilate." Vietnamese students, based on their distinctive personal characteristics, will actively contribute to the overall development of the country.

Analyzing the identity of modern-day students in more detail, the fundamental elements include: connection to national cultural roots along with knowledge, creativity, pioneering spirit, and critical thinking. This will create a foundation for building intrinsic strength in the process of deep integration and facing challenges in the context of globalization.

Students with strong character will know how to select and absorb useful information, thereby developing their knowledge and skills systematically. They are not only consumers of knowledge but also creators of value, contributing to the development of the community and the country.

Therefore, identity is not just about rigidly preserving cultural heritage, but about connecting and developing to create spiritual resources, a foundation that helps Vietnamese students integrate effectively and develop themselves in depth.

In Nghe An, students are always proud of their homeland, a place with a long history of formation and development, rich revolutionary traditions, and a spirit of studiousness. From this pride, Nghe An students always strive to compete and train themselves to embody the qualities of "diligence" and "studiousness"—virtues considered traditional virtues of the people of Nghe An for generations.

Furthermore, in our heroic Soviet homeland, the generation of students in Nghe An always strives to live responsibly towards the country and maintain unwavering faith in revolutionary ideals. This is also the motivation that drove me to participate in the "Light Guiding the Way" competition organized by the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union, where I won the Encouragement Prize.

At the same time, in the overall development of our province, I and my classmates must not only master the history and culture of our nation but also strive to keep pace with the digital transformation, enhance our foreign language and computer skills to meet the increasingly high demands of society.

PV:As the Vice President of the Student Union of Nghe An College of Education, a member of the Provincial Student Union Secretariat, and a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Student Union, what do you think the Student Union needs to do to support students in maintaining their "unwavering identity" in the context of global integration?

Phan Thi Hoai Thuong:It can be said that student union programs and student movements are ideal environments to help students identify and promote the positive values ​​of their individual identity.

In the current context, the Vietnam Student Union at all levels, in general and Nghe An province in particular, is striving to create numerous programs and activities focusing on national history and culture, including competitions and seminars. Beyond theory, organizing practical experiential activities has helped students better understand their national identity and fostered pride and inspiration for positive life values.

Student associations at all levels need to continue maintaining the effectiveness of programs promoting the positive values ​​of the socialist regime, the revolutionary ideals of the Party, and the goals and aspirations of the country and nation. At the same time, they should strengthen creative, lively, and psychologically appropriate methods to make social sciences and humanities subjects more accessible and appealing to students, especially those with a core system of political theory knowledge, such as infographics, short clips, and theatrical performances.

In particular, in the context of the development of social media, many students are beginning to show signs of "lack of resistance" to hostile forces, making the issue of "cultivating ideals" in students very important. Therefore, the Youth Union at all levels has made efforts to organize forums and exchanges with experts related to "Young people and behavior in cyberspace".

Through this, we can understand student trends and simultaneously educate students about the Cybersecurity Law, behaviors that violate the ethics, customs, and traditions of the nation… in order to preserve the "truth, goodness, and beauty" identity of Vietnamese students in general, and those in Nghe An in particular.

Furthermore, organizing and engaging students in extracurricular activities with international students—such as Laotian and Thai students in Nghe An—provides opportunities for students to broaden their horizons and knowledge, while also introducing Vietnamese culture to the world. This helps students better understand and appreciate the cultural values ​​of their own nation.

All these efforts not only help students preserve their individual identities but also help them become global citizens with a more comprehensive perspective and understanding.

PV:It can be said that the "Five Good Students" movement has always been considered the backbone of the student movement. In my opinion, in the new context, does this movement need any additions to better suit the changes in society and create a foundation for "Five Good Students" to receive greater recognition in the labor market?

Phan Thi Hoai Thuong:The "Five Good Students" movement has contributed to building a well-rounded student body, providing a high-quality young workforce for the country. As a provincial-level "Five Good Students," I understand that achieving this title is very difficult and requires self-improvement in five criteria: "Good Morality - Good Academics - Good Physical Fitness - Good Volunteerism - Good Integration."

However, in the new context of the country's transition into the digital revolution, digital competence should be considered as an additional factor. This could include greater proficiency and agility in using digital tools such as computers, smartphones, social media, and advanced application and software platforms. It could also encompass the ability to analyze and think critically to evaluate and process the vast amount of information one will need to access for future work.

Equipping students with digital skills early on will foster experiences, habits, and behaviors related to digital technologies in their daily lives, as well as in their studies, research, and work. This will enable students to more easily integrate into the digital transformation ecosystems of businesses and organizations after graduation.

Furthermore, as the Gen Z generation of students grows in number with many fresh and innovative personalities, movements should also incorporate youthful and modern elements while upholding traditional values, avoiding rigid and mechanical approaches.

Regarding the question of how to better value "Outstanding Students" after they receive the award, I think that's a concern for many students. Because, despite being praised and honored at all levels, from school to provincial, policies and solutions for "Outstanding Students" after graduation and after receiving this title have not received much attention.

Therefore, in my opinion, there needs to be a policy to introduce "Outstanding Students" to organizations in need of human resources. For example, introducing them to local authorities, agencies, and training programs so that they can be aware of the potential of "Outstanding Students".

At the same time, for students, the various levels of the Student Union also need to be introduced to and informed about local talent development programs to motivate students to strive for excellence. In addition, it is necessary to disseminate to students the standards that businesses require, turning this into one of the criteria for evaluating student competence during their university studies.

PV:Regarding the roles and responsibilities of students, many people assert: "Students only need to study well and train well; volunteer activities are unnecessary." What is your opinion on this statement?

Phan Thi Hoai Thuong:University education isn't just about classroom lectures. It opens up many opportunities for students to gain practical experience, and one way to do this is through volunteer work.

Besides students who dedicate all their time to their studies and personal lives, on the other hand, many students maintain excellent academic performance while also doing a great deal of humanitarian work for the community and society.

I still remember when Nghe An province was struggling to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, many medical students volunteered to cooperate with authorities in the fight against the disease, which touched many people. Or the education students who didn't hesitate to go to remote areas to teach children for free. And the engineering students who worked together to repair "Lighting Up the Countryside" projects, or built roads and playgrounds for children.

These contributions bring love to the disadvantaged land of the province and further enrich the hearts of students with kindness that no textbook can replace.

Besides helping the community, volunteering is also a way for students to help themselves. As a student union officer at various levels, having interacted with many generations of students, I have noticed that students who excel academically and actively participate in volunteer activities are always more mature, sociable, and quick-witted in their behavior and lifestyle. They are able to work effectively in teams and possess better time management, task management, planning, and project development skills compared to those who focus solely on their studies.

These are crucial factors for a student to find a good job after graduation. Therefore, I believe every student should participate in at least one volunteer activity. This will allow them to grow and mature through each journey of their youth!

PV:Thank you for the conversation!

Phan Thi Hoai Thuong (born in 2003) - a student of class K43D, Department of Preschool Education, Nghe An College of Education, is currently the Vice President of the Student Union of Nghe An College of Education, a member of the Secretariat of the Nghe An Provincial Student Union, and a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Student Union.

Outstanding achievements include: Excellent student of the 2022-2023 academic year; Certificate of Merit from the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Student Union for outstanding achievements in student union work and student movements in the 2022-2023 academic year; Certificate of Merit from the Executive Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Nghe An province for outstanding achievements in youth union work and school youth movements in the 2022-2023 academic year; "5 Good Students" title at the provincial level in 2022; Encouragement Award in the "Light Guiding the Way" competition in 2023 in Nghe An province...