Department of Science, Information and Journal of International Studies

Department of Science, Information and Journal of International Studies

The Department of Science, Information and Journal of International Studies is an unit affliated to the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam. Its functions include assisting the President of the Academy in managing scientific, technological and innovation activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Academy; managing and utilising the Academy’s database systems and library resources to support the teaching, learning and research needs of the Academy’s staff, lecturers, students, and those of other units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; storing and preserving information within its mandate and according to the decentralised management of the Ministry and the Academy; acting as the focal point for the application of information technology and digital transformation across the Academy’s operations, ensuring information safety and security in compliance with State and Ministry regulations on the protection of State secrets; editing and publishing the Journal of International Studies - the press agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs based at the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam - and other publications that support research and foreign affairs information.

History of formation and development

The predecessor of today’s Department of Science, Information and Journal of International Studies  was the Information and Documentation Division under the Institute of International Relations, established in 1977. In 1984–1985, the Information and Documentation Division and the Library were merged to form the Information and Library Division.

A key milestone in the Department’s development was the merger of the University of Diplomacy and the Institute of International Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under Decree No. 78 dated 19 May 1987 of the Council of Ministers. Under this decision, the Library of the University and the Information and Library Division of the Institute were combined into a single Information and Library Division comprising two units: Information and Documentation, and Publishing - responsible for serving the Academy’s staff, lecturers and students.

In 1993, after many years without undergraduate enrolment, the Academy resumed undergraduate enrolment with the 20th cohort, followed by the establishment of postgraduate programmes. Since then, regular admissions have continued uninterrupted. This expansion necessitated the enhancement and modernisation of information and library services to meet the growing demand for academic resources, particularly among students, trainees, lecturers and researchers of the Academy.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, internet became increasingly accessible in Viet Nam. The Academy’s first internet-connected computer was installed in the Information and Library Division. Over subsequent years, the modernisation and computerisation of information and library services accelerated. A local area network (LAN) was built and expanded to provide Internet access across the Academy, enabling staff, students and trainees to access information more efficiently.

In 2008, the Information and Library Centre was renamed the Information and Documentation Centre under Decision No. 1785 issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Centre comprised three divisions: the Archives and Library; the Editorial and Journal Administration Office of the Journal of International Studies; and the Informatics.

On 28 June 2024, pursuant to Decision No. 08/2024/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister (effective from 15 August 2024), the Information and Documentation Centre was renamed the Department of Science, Information and Journal of International Studies Review. The Department now consists of four divisions: the Science Management; the Archives and Library; the Information Technology; and the Editorial and Administration Office of the Journal of International Studies.

With its assigned structure, functions and tasks, and under the close guidance of the Ministry’s and Academy’s leadership, the Department has made significant contributions to the fulfilment of the Academy’s mandate in research, training and other activities.

Prominent Activities

Since the Academy resumed undergraduate enrolment in 1993, the Department has supported information, documentation, technical and information technology needs for 31 undergraduate cohorts, 23 intermediate-level cohorts totalling nearly 5,000 students, 24 master’s cohorts with more than 2,000 trainees, 14 doctoral cohorts with over 150 researchers, and hundreds of annual professional training courses in diplomacy, consular affairs, economics, culture, pre-departure preparation and international integration.

The Library currently houses around 55,000 items, including more than 30,000 book titles, nearly 5,000 undergraduate theses, master’s theses and doctoral dissertations, over 500 scientific research reports at various levels, 25 Vietnamese-language journals and newspapers, and 15 foreign-language journals and newspapers. The Library also maintains extensive specialised resources on international relations; international economics; international law; regional and global affairs; Marxism–Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought; domestic and foreign policies of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Vietnamese State; and the political, historical, cultural, religious, defence and security developments of Viet Nam and many countries worldwide. Textbooks, monographs, reference materials and teaching resources for training programmes are updated and supplemented annually.

The Nguyen Co Thach Book Collection is housed at the Library, comprising 2,238 volumes — mostly in English and French — including many valuable works in history, theory, international economics, international relations and international law. Successive leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have consistently valued research and have regularly donated important books and documents to the Library.

The modernisation of the Library continues, including the development of an electronic and digital library. The digital repository has grown significantly. The Department is preparing to implement the smart library project under a KOICA-sponsored capacity-building programme. The Library is also working to integrate major domestic and international scientific databases. Currently, students, trainees, lecturers and researchers of the Academy and the Ministry can access e-books via the VitalSource platform, and use the National Agency for Science and Technology Information database and the ProQuest Central database, offering millions of searchable results. This represents a landmark achievement in the Academy’s information and library development.

The Academy has strengthened international cooperation. Numerous partners — such as the Ford Foundation, JICA, and diplomatic missions in Viet Nam including the Embassies of Singapore, Australia, France and China — have provided books and equipment, helping to modernise the Library and enhance service quality.

The Department is also responsible for advising on, coordinating, and managing scientific research, technology and innovation activities within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Academy. The quality, efficiency and focus of its work in managing scientific and technological activities and intellectual property have continued to improve, contributing to the development goals of the diplomatic service and the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam.

As the Academy’s focal point for information technology and digital transformation, the Department has increasingly strengthened system and network administration, most notably through the installation and upgrade of a campus-wide wireless network providing full indoor and outdoor coverage. The Department also supports the adoption of modern software applications in management, teaching and research, contributing to enhanced operational efficiency — especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Journal of International Studies

Alongside the development of the Information and Documentation Centre, the Journal of International Studies published its first volume in 1993 under Licence No. 727 issued by the Ministry of Culture and Information. To meet the growing demand for academic exchange, especially after the Institute of International Relations joined the Network of ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies, the Ministry authorised the Journal to publish two English-language issues per year.

Under the dedicated leadership of successive Editors-in-Chief and Deputy Editors-in-Chief - distinguished diplomats and senior researchers including Dao Huy Ngoc, Bui Thanh Son, Phan Doan Nam, Vu Duong Huan, Nguyen Quang Chien, Duong Van Quang, Nguyen Dinh Luan, Dang Dinh Quy, Nguyen Thai Yen Huong, Nguyen Vu Tung, Nguyen Anh Tuan and Nguyen Hung Son — the Journal of International Studies has steadily developed into one of Viet Nam’s leading academic journals in international relations and foreign policy.

The Journal has successfully fulfilled its mission of disseminating the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws on foreign affairs; introducing Viet Nam’s achievements in diplomacy and international relations to global audiences; and providing a venue for academic exchanges on international issues directly affecting Viet Nam’s security, diplomacy and development.

In 2015, the Journal was recognised by the State Council for Professorship as an academic journal with convertible academic points in the interdisciplinary field of Philosophy–Sociology–Political Science, with a score of 0.75. The volume and quality of submissions have continued to grow, the network of contributors and readership expand considerably.

Achievements and Future Objectives

In recognition of its significant contributions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, the Department received Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2018 and 2023. Many members of the Department have also been awarded certificates of merit and recognised as prominent staff in the emulation movement of the Academy and the Ministry.

In the coming years, the Department aims to develop into the scientific data centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the national specialised library on international relations and diplomacy; to continue advancing information technology applications within the Diplomatic Academy; to contribute actively to the Ministry’s digital transformation strategy; and to further develop the Journal of International Studies, maintaining its position as a leading academic journal on international relations and Viet Nam’s foreign policy. The Department also intends to operate both print and electronic editions of the Journal, contributing to the Ministry’s foreign affairs information activities and strengthening its academic prestige.

Leadership of the Department of Science, Information and Journal of International Studies

• Director-General: Assoc. Prof. Dr Dang Cam Tu (Link Bio)
• Deputy Director-General: Dr Le Viet Duyen 
• Deputy Director-General: Doan Khanh Tam 
• Deputy Director-General Dr. Nguyen Thanh Van 
• Assistant Deputy Director-General: Dr Nguyen Dong Anh