Fulbright University Vietnam is proud to announce a significant advancement in Vietnamese studies through a pioneering partnership with Columbia University. This collaboration has been made possible by a generous $600,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation, aimed at revolutionizing the global accessibility and study of Vietnamese heritage and academic resources through digital technology.
Titled “Digitizing Vietnam: The Virtual Future of Global Vietnam and Vietnamese Studies,” this project is set to establish a state-of-the-art infrastructure for Vietnamese Studies, focusing on the development of an integrated hub for digital humanities (DH) research. This initiative will not only digitally safeguard but also enhance access to a wealth of pre-modern manuscript collections, alongside a comprehensive catalog of archival and library collections of the modern era located within Vietnam.
Over four years of implementation, the project aims to leverage its impact on three levels:
- The Digital Workbench and Repository
This phase focuses on the scholar-sourced production of new digital resources and new digital humanities tools. The outcome will transform Vietnamese, East, and Southeast Asian Studies, which are currently understudied in a global context.
- Vietnam for Educators
An array of translations, curated images, lessons, and other resources will be made available for pedagogical approaches. This level aims to globally enhance education on Vietnam-related topics.
- Understanding Vietnam
To transform general awareness and understanding of Vietnam, the project will engage in various community outreach activities. Online mini-lectures, podcasts, and other public events or workshops will be designed to introduce Vietnam to mainstream audiences.
At the heart of this initiative are three key roles: the Columbia Digital Curator role, the Fulbright Digital Librarian role, and the Columbia-Fulbright Digital Solutions Architect role. The Digital Curator, based at Columbia Libraries, will oversee the construction, collection, curation, and management of the digital hub. Concurrently, the Digital Librarian at Fulbright will bridge the gap between Fulbright Libraries and Fulbright’s Vietnam Studies Center, ensuring seamless integration and operation. This role will also extend to liaising with various institutions across Vietnam, fostering a network that supports the scholarly and public utilization of the DH tools developed through this project. Meanwhile, the Digital Solutions Architect will manage the annotation tools for digital humanities, underscoring researcher-student collaboration, enriching data analysis, and offering interactive learning methods for aspiring students.
This collaboration between Fulbright University Vietnam and Columbia University represents a significant leap forward in the digital humanities landscape, setting a benchmark for global academic partnerships. By digitizing and making accessible vast repositories of Vietnamese cultural and historical data, this project promises to enhance the global understanding and appreciation of Vietnam’s rich heritage. Fulbright University Vietnam is excited to lead this charge, reaffirming our commitment to innovation and excellence in Vietnamese and Southeast Asian studies.
