Dr Bui Tran Phuong earned her bachelor’s degree in history at the University of Paris I, France (1972). She graduated Master at the University of Paris VII, France and her PhD at Lyon 2 University, France in 1994 and 2008 respectively. From 1972 to 1991, she worked at Can Tho University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. She was Head of the Department of Vietnamese History; and later became Vice Dean of Faculty of History, University of Pedagogy, HCMC. From 1996 – 2016 she was President of Hoa Sen University. Her research projects focus on the pre-modern history of Vietnam, especially the history of women in Vietnam. Currently, she is a member of The Council of Thai Binh Duong University, Nha Trang and a visiting Professor at University of Social and Human Sciences (HCMC), Open University (HCMC), and several Universities in France and the USA. In 2017, Forbes VN names Dr Bui Tran Phuong as one of the 20 most influential women in Viet Nam stated that she had made effective contributions to higher education and college reform in Viet Nam.
Từ 1972, TS Bùi Trân Phượng đã giảng dạy tại ĐH Cần thơ, ĐH Sư Phạm Tp HCM, là Trưởng Bộ môn, rồi Phó Trưởng Khoa Sử. Về trường Hoa Sen từ 1991, bà là Trưởng Ngành, Phó Hiệu trưởng, rồi Hiệu trưởng trường CĐ Bán công Hoa Sen từ 1999, Hiệu trưởng ĐH Hoa Sen từ 2006 đến 2016. Ngoài ra bà thỉnh giảng ở các ĐH Pháp và vài chương trình tại VN của các ĐH Mỹ.
Nghiên cứu và bài giảng của bà liên quan đến các lãnh vực sau về Việt Nam: lịch sử thuộc địa như một lịch sử chia sẻ, có tính đến tác động, ảnh hưởng qua lại giữa thực dân và dân thuộc địa; lịch sử phụ nữ, gia đình và giới; lịch sử giáo dục và trí thức; lịch sử văn hóa Việt Nam có đối chiếu với văn hóa Trung Hoa và các dân tộc Đông Nam Á.
Hiện bà là thành viên Hội đồng Trường ĐH Thái Bình Dương. Bà dạy môn Xã hội học về giới trong chương trình Cao học Xã hội học của ĐH Mở Tp HCM và là giáo sư thỉnh giảng của Collège de France, với khóa học “Phụ nữ Việt Nam: Quyền năng, Văn hóa và Đa bản sắc”.
MEETING RECAP
Before this meeting, the project team had given three questions to Dr Phuong as follows:
– What are the social norms and institutions which might obstruct or support women to achieve career advancements?
– What has she done to overcome those obstacles and create changes in her university?
– Her advice for women and especially women working in education as leaders are to make changes and pursue their careers effectively.
Dr Bui Tran Phuong’s presentation was titled “money, power, gender norms and the role of women”. Starting with money, Dr Phuong pointed out the money effects on education especially in Vietnam after 1975. Using her own experience as examples, she mentioned how negative it has shaped the school environment, social perception between public and private schools, teacher’s motivation, and education quality. Next, she suggested that a hierarchy of authority and political interests have diverted the original purpose of education which subsequently alter its structure, operating, research and publishing activities. In her opinion, this system of superiority administrative hinders creativity and education development. She went on to compare the differences between Western and Eastern universities and explained the pivotal role of higher education in social and economic growth. At the key point of her speech about empower women to thrive in their careers, Dr Phuong strongly believes in a merit-based system as gender equity leverage in which women contributions will be acknowledged based on their performance at work. Finally, she concluded with a strong message for all attendees by asking “do you want to be a victim of your situation, or do you want to be in control of your life?”.
After her presentation, Dr Phuong kindly accepted to join the focus group discussion on ‘Work’ context with 5 questions as below for each participant:
- Can you summarise your career milestones?
- Describe your current role as a manager/leader?
- What factors in your work environment has obstructed/supported women careers in general and your career in particular?
- What is the one thing that you wish to change related to your work that you think it would maximise your leadership/potential?
Back from the group interview, each group moderator recapped all the answers and Dr Phuong had some final inputs before the meeting concluded successfully.
