From the lecture hall to the National Assembly: Communication students at Dai Nam University learn their trades from policymakers.

To become a skilled communicator, classroom learning alone is insufficient. Students need to immerse themselves in environments where policies are formulated, where journalism fulfills its mission, and where professionals directly confront the challenges facing the nation and the times.

This is also how Dai Nam University trains its Communication students: bringing learners closer to practice so they can learn the profession from those already working in the field. Therefore, the recent participation in the Forum "Journalism and Parliament - A Creative Flow in the New Era" was not simply an extracurricular activity, but a special "open classroom" where students could observe, dialogue, experience, and grow.

Transform parliamentary practice into a lecture hall.

On the morning of June 27, 2026, leaders, lecturers, and 20 students from the Multimedia Communication and Public Relations major, Faculty of Communication, Dai Nam University, attended the forum "Journalism and Parliament - A Creative Flow in the New Era".

The forum, organized by the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society, the National Assembly Office, the Vietnam Journalists Association, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and other collaborating units, brought together many National Assembly delegates, leaders of press agencies, veteran journalists, and more than 250 outstanding students from journalism and media training institutions in Hanoi.

For many students in the Communication Faculty at Dai Nam University, this was their first time sitting in the same space as those directly involved in policy planning, leading media organizations, and guiding the national press. However, what they gained went beyond just presentations; it included professional stories, reflections on the social responsibility of journalism, insights into political integrity and professional ethics, as well as new demands placed on media professionals in the context of rapid digital transformation and artificial intelligence development.

These are lessons that textbooks can hardly convey fully. This is also the training orientation that Dai Nam University persistently pursues: connecting the classroom with practice so that students not only know but also understand, experience, and apply what they learn.

Dare to question policymakers.

The most memorable aspect of the forum was not only the speeches, but also the live dialogue sessions between the speakers and the students.

In the auditorium, amidst the presence of numerous National Assembly delegates, editors-in-chief, and experienced journalists, Vu Thu Phuong, a female student from class QHCC 17-01, confidently stood up and asked a question about issues that many journalism and communication students are interested in.

What Thu Phuong wants to know is not about journalistic techniques or how to use new technology, but what students need to prepare from today so that in the future they can help the public understand the system and policies correctly, and at the same time spread the image of Vietnam to international friends.

Thu Phuong's question received many insightful responses from National Assembly delegates, editors-in-chief, and veteran journalists. From various perspectives, the speakers all agreed that technology and artificial intelligence can support the journalistic process, but cannot replace critical thinking, social responsibility, professional ethics, and the integrity of a writer. In all circumstances, journalists and media professionals must always prioritize the national interest and the interests of the people, while constantly learning and innovating to adapt to the changing times.

Perhaps the most valuable aspect lies not only in the answers but also in the fact that a university student has gained enough confidence to engage in dialogue with those at the forefront of journalism. This is also what Dai Nam University aims to cultivate in its students: the ability to listen, to ask questions, to critically analyze, and the courage to responsibly voice their opinions.

Each trip is a lesson about the profession and responsibility.

Following the forum, the faculty and students continued their tour by visiting the archaeological site in the basement of the National Assembly building – a place preserving precious relics of Thang Long Imperial Citadel throughout more than 1,300 years of history.

Amidst the ancient foundations, artifacts, and cultural layers preserved beneath the iconic structure of Vietnam's legislative system, students not only broaden their understanding of national history and culture but also gain a clearer perspective on the connection between history, culture, institutions, and the responsibilities of media professionals.

Because media not only reflects what is happening today, but also carries the mission of preserving memories, spreading cultural values, fostering social trust, and telling the stories of the nation in the language of the times. These are lessons that no textbook can replace.

At Dai Nam University, every career forum, every business, every media agency, or every field trip can become an "open classroom." The university believes that media professionals are not only trained through lectures but also grow from experience; they learn not only to acquire knowledge but also to develop courage, responsibility, and real competence when entering the profession.

That is also the goal that the Faculty of Communication at Dai Nam University always strives for: to train communication professionals who are not only highly skilled but also understand society, the country, and its people, and are ready to use their pens, images, and technology to spread positive values, contributing to the development of the community and the country.