VNU University of Languages and International Studies

VNU University of Languages and International Studies in Hanoi, Vietnam, (formerly College of Foreign Languages) (Vietnamese: Trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ, Đại học Quốc gia Hà Nội) is one of the six colleges that comprise Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in pedagogy and linguistic studies in Arabic, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Thai.[1] The college is located at VNU Cau Giay campus.[2]

VNU University of Languages
and International Studies

Trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ- Đại học Quốc gia Hà Nội
Former name	College of Foreign Languages
Motto in English	Creating Opportunities Together
Type	Public
Established	1955
Rector	Do Tuan Minh
Undergraduates	6158
Postgraduates	549
Other students	1192
Address	2, Pham Van Dong Road, Cau Giay district , Hanoi , Vietnam
Campus	Urban
Colors	Blue
Affiliations	VNU Hanoi
Website	www.ulis.vnu.edu.vn

Recently ULIS ("University of Languages and International Studies") was rated as one of the top universities in South East Asia for Languages and language studies at the undergraduate level. ULIS also has a large number of exchanges with various other universities around the world and offers Vietnamese language studies for visiting exchange students. ULIS was originally known as the School of Foreign Languages until the 1950s. In 1958, the School of Foreign Languages was merged into Hanoi University of Education, forming its Faculty of Foreign Languages. As one of the three first members of Vietnam National University, Hanoi University of Foreign Language Education since 1993 has been widely known as the University of Languages and International Studies – Vietnam National University, Hanoi (ULIS - VNU). Its international and national staff has enlarged since 2012 and now includes lecturers from many countries including Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Taiwan, Korea, and the United States.[3]

As of 2014, VNU-ULIS offers bachelor's degrees in Translation, Interpreting, and Teacher Education in English, Japanese, Korean, German, Russian, French, Chinese, and Arabic. Students can also join a double major program with many of VNU other universities such as 'International Business' or 'English-Finance and Banking', and 'Economics and Business' just to name a few.

Graduate programs are offered in English linguistics, as well as French, Japanese, Chinese, and Russian Linguistics. There are also graduate courses where students can receive a masters in Theory and Methodology in Teaching, either for English, French, Russian, or Chinese. Master's degree level courses in English are also offered with a partnership program with Walkato University in New Zealand. Doctorates are offered in English Linguistics, Russian Linguistics, and French.

VNU-ULIS enjoys close international connections with Taiwan, South Korea, the United States, and Japan. Staff and student exchange programs have been successful like the KOICA and the Korean Foundation. ULIS has expanded cooperation with a variety of Korean institutions including the University of Seoul, Yonsei, Chunggang, Kookmin, Kyunghee, Hansung, and Inha. ULIS students studying Korean receive valuable scholarships from Korean corporations such as Lotte, Kumho, Samsung, Daewoo, Miwon, Keb, LG, Posco, Booyang, Sellex and others.

Many partnerships have been set up through the Japanese Foundation as well. The Japanese Foundation is an arm of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has been active with ULIS with special guests and lectures, student trips, and short training courses in Japan. Other connections with Japan include University of Kumamoto Gakuen (considered a sister university to ULIS), Daiaku, Nagaoka, Tokyo Foreign Language University, as well as several agreements with various business firms from Japan. VNU-ULIS was the first institution in Vietnam to offer degrees in Japanese Language Teacher Education.

VNU-ULIS is the only institution in Vietnam to have a bachelor program in German language teacher education.[4]

The joint ULIS-Southern New Hampshire University (USA) English program is one of the programs as is their intensive English studies program. When Former US President Bill Clinton spoke at Vietnam National University on November 17, 2000, he is most quoted as saying “While we can not change our past, we can change our future” and that has been seen not only with this program in the US, but with many other similar partnerships.[5]

There are also other joint agreements where students can earn credit or a degree from various partner institutions such as the University of Picardie Jules Verne in France. Students can also spend two years at the ULIS campus and then another two years in China and receive degree credit from Shanxi Normal University, Huadong Normal University.

Besides the various programs and international agreements, several training and research centers follow under the ULIS umbrella organization. These include the Centre for Foreign Language Education Research and Quality Assurance, Centre for Research and Application of Information Technology in Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages, Centre for Distance Training and Teacher Development, and the Centre for International Education. The university also has close ties with the Foreign Languages Specializing School (FLSS). This school, established in 1969 and affiliated under the ULIS administration, is considered to be one of the best high schools for foreign language study in Vietnam. The national public magnet institution, Foreign Languages Specializing High School is also a part of the VNU University of Languages and International Studies.

References

1. http://www.cfl.vnu.edu.vn/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=13&Itemid=704
2. http://ulis.vnu.edu.vn/english/
3. http://ulis.vnu.edu.vn/english/
4. ULIS Magazine, Spring, 2013. pg3. "ULIS Strengthens Connections with Germany"
5. William J. Clinton Presidential Library, Speech at Vietnam National University, Vietnam. November 17th 2000, Master Tape 12242