The Journey of Self-Learning and Scientific Research: Following Uncle Ho’s Example from the Smallest Things
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh always regarded self-learning as one of the most important paths to self-improvement and dedication to the country. He once affirmed: “Learn at school, learn from books, learn from one another, and learn from the people.” This was not merely advice, but also a life philosophy that President Ho Chi Minh practiced throughout his life. From a young man who set out to seek a path to national liberation with nothing but his determination, through extraordinary self-learning and perseverance, he became a great thinker, a prominent cultural figure, and the beloved leader of the Vietnamese nation.
In the context of higher education facing strong demands for innovation, President Ho Chi Minh’s spirit of self-learning holds even greater significance for every lecturer. Knowledge is constantly being updated, science and technology are advancing every day, while digital transformation and international integration are placing increasingly demanding requirements on professional competence, teaching methods, and research capacity. Without proactively pursuing learning, each individual can easily fall behind.
For lecturers, self-learning is not merely about reading additional materials or participating in professional development courses; it is also a process of proactively updating new knowledge, improving foreign-language proficiency, information technology skills, research methods, and modern teaching skills. Self-learning also means being willing to change one’s way of thinking, explore new research directions, listen to feedback from learners, and continuously improve oneself. It is precisely the spirit of lifelong learning that enables each lecturer to maintain a passion for the profession and adapt to the changes of the times.
Alongside self-learning is scientific research. For university lecturers, scientific research is not only a professional responsibility but also a pathway to generating new knowledge, improving teaching quality, and contributing to the development of the university and society. Every scientific article, research project, or teaching innovation is the result of accumulated knowledge, critical thinking, and persistent learning.
In practice, valuable research projects rarely originate from major ideas from the outset. Instead, they are often formed through the observation of very small issues in practice. These may be a student’s question in class, a limitation in a teaching method, a gap in the research literature, or an issue arising from socio-economic development. When lecturers maintain the habit of taking notes, reading materials every day, engaging in academic discussions with colleagues, and continuously asking “why” and “how,” research ideas gradually emerge and develop into valuable scholarly works.
Studying and following the thought, morality, and style of Ho Chi Minh does not necessarily have to begin with great or extraordinary deeds. For each lecturer, following his example can begin with simple yet persistent actions: setting aside additional time each day to read specialized materials; keeping up with new research; learning an additional data-analysis skill; proactively engaging in academic discussions with colleagues; guiding students to participate in scientific research; or persistently refining each manuscript before submitting it for publication. It is these small actions, carried out consistently, that create significant changes in professional competence and research quality.
In today’s university environment, building a culture of self-learning and scientific research is not only the responsibility of each individual but also an important foundation for improving the quality of education and the academic reputation of the university. A faculty community committed to continuous learning will create a dynamic academic environment, encourage innovation, spread the spirit of research among learners at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including master’s students and doctoral candidates, and contribute to successfully achieving the goals of higher education development in the new era.
The journey of learning and research is a journey without an endpoint. Every book read, every research project completed, every article published, and every new skill acquired represents a step forward on the path of self-development. Following the example of President Ho Chi Minh, every lecturer should begin with the smallest things: learning something new every day, studying a professional issue more thoroughly, and further innovating a teaching method. When self-learning becomes a habit and scientific research becomes a passion, studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style is expressed through concrete, practical, and meaningful actions for the cause of education.
After all, studying and working in accordance with President Ho Chi Minh’s example is not merely about remembering his teachings; more importantly, it means transforming those teachings into motivation to continuously learn, innovate, and contribute to helping the university and the country progress day by day. Every step forward in today’s journey of self-learning will contribute to creating sustainable values for individuals, the university, and the country’s future development, toward a Vietnam that is prosperous and strong, with a just and civilized society.
Ho Thi Lam, Chu Thi Thanh Trang
School of Financial and Banking Technology.