This is the content agreed upon at the working session and signing of a memorandum of understanding between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the Central Cultural Committee, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha on May 12, 2024.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of the cooperation document and the Scientific Discussion on the planning of Buddhist cultural centers, Principal Hoang Anh Tuan quoted the late Professor Tran Van Giau that “the dawn of our nation is closely linked to Buddhism; Buddhism is the torch of civilization in our country”. The Principal emphasized the worldly nature of Buddhism and the important contribution of Buddhist culture in the historical process of the nation, supporting the plan to form a number of Buddhist cultural centers in strategic cultural and social areas. The Professor expressed his belief that these Buddhist cultural centers will at the same time be community cultural and social spaces that make practical contributions to social stability, people's solidarity, and local tourism development... in accordance with the spirit of “Buddhism - Nation - Socialism”.
Rector Hoang Anh Tuan affirmed that with a team of nearly 400 highly qualified scientists - interdisciplinary, currently working in more than 30 specialized fields, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will accompany and share the professional tasks of the Central Committee of Culture, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the coming time, including the United Nations Vesak Festival 2025 held in Vietnam. The school also hopes to receive the attention and support of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in researching and training Religious Studies and Religious Affairs programs at all three levels: bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
According to the content of the cooperation agreement, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the Central Committee of Culture, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will coordinate to implement topics, projects, research programs... on Buddhist culture; coordinate to implement scientific seminars on Buddhist culture; scientific discussions, communication, writing, editing and publishing publications related to the field of Vietnamese Buddhist culture.
In addition, the two units will coordinate to organize surveys, research, collect and systematize documents on Buddhist culture, build valuable scientific dossiers on Buddhist culture, in order to preserve, honor and promote the value of Vietnamese Buddhist cultural heritage.
At the meeting, scientists from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities also had many comments and contributions to the project outline "Vietnamese Buddhist Architecture - Unity in Diversity" of the Central Cultural Committee, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.