Venerable Danh Ut successfully defended his doctoral thesis in Cultural Studies, majoring in Southern Khmer Culture

(TVU) – Venerable Danh Ut, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Association, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Rach Gia City, Standing Vice Chairman of the Union of Patriotic Monks in Rach Gia, Abbot of Thon Don Pagoda (Kien Giang), has successfully defended his doctoral thesis in Cultural Studies, majoring in Southern Khmer Culture at Tra Vinh University. The research was on “Changes in the cultural life of Khmer Theravada Buddhist Monks in the Southwest today,” which was guided by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Tran Hong Lien.

The doctoral thesis defense included Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Tiet Khanh – Chairman of the Council of Tra Vinh University and Chairman of the Thesis Evaluation Committee; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Lam Nhan, Dr. Phan Anh Tu, Dr. Mai My Duyen (the thesis reviewers) and other members of the committee.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Tiet Khanh, Chairman of the doctoral thesis evaluation committee

The thesis “Changes in the cultural life of Khmer Theravada Buddhist monks in the Southwest today” has four logical chapters, clear scientific arguments, meaningful value in the life of Khmer Theravada Buddhist monks, and a great influence on the culture of Khmer Theravada Buddhist monks in the Southwest today.

The thesis clearly showed the change in the cultural life of Khmer Theravada Buddhist monks in the Southwest region, in accordance with the general development rules of the society and the country’s general changing situation; the preeminent values and limitations in transforming Theravada Buddhist monks’ life in the real context, and at the same time offer solutions to contribute to stabilizing the social life of Vietnam.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Tran Hong Lien, the thesis advisor, said: “Candidate Danh Ut has made outstanding efforts during his research process. The topic is very meaningful, with diverse materials studied by researchers in 7 provinces and cities in the Southwest region. The research’s applicability is high and does not coincide with any previous research topic.”

At the defense session, 100% of the members of the Evaluation Committee voted to agree that Candidate Danh Ut successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis majoring in culture with good results. The research has highlighted its scientific and practical significance in the current social context of Vietnamese people.

Besides, the Committee suggested that Candidate Danh Ut needs to review and adjust the introduction, restructure the theoretical system, clarify the theory of cultural life, comment, evaluate and predict the monastic life, supplement the thesis’ conclusion, and correct other errors in the thesis.

By My Nhien