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Kyushu University Forum “KYUDAI NOW in Hanoi, Vietnam” Event Report

Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies held the Kyushu University Forum “KYUDAI NOW in Hanoi, Vietnam” on September 27, 2023, at Army Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam. The purpose of KYUDAI NOW is to showcase the latest research from various fields within the university,to expand the network of Kyushu University alumni abroad, as well as individuals associated with Fukuoka Prefecture, including those involved in education, business, and local government. Previously, this forum has been held in countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Australia. This was the first time it was held in Vietnam. Planning for the event began in June of this year, and we had over 130 individuals pre-registered. The forum consisted of an afternoon symposium and an evening networking event. During the symposium, nine faculty members from various fields, including engineering, agriculture, design, and education sociology, delivered research presentations to  audience of approximately 90 people. The symposium was live-streamed on YouTube, and the archived footage is still available for viewing (https://www.youtube.com/live/3R3Z1sktgkY?). The symposium opened with an address by Professor Shuji Shimizu, Vice President of Kyushu University, and was followed by a guest address by Ms. Noriko Okamoto, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam.”

The first session of the symposium, themed “Humanities and Technology”, featured presentations by Professors from Kyushu University. Professor Takuya Kimura from the Faculty of Human-Environment Studies delivered a talk on “Collaboration with Japanese-style Education in Asia”. Following this, Associate Professor Kaoru Yamamoto from the Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering spoke about “Scalable Control in Multi-robot Systems”, using examples such as autonomous trucks and drones. Associate Professor Nguyen Dinh Hoa from the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research presented on “Modeling, Optimization and Control of Complex Systems”. Finally, Assistant Professor Ping Yeap Loh from the Faculty of Design talked with a title of “Emerging Issues in Human Factors and Ergonomics: A Perspective from Physiological Anthropology”. After the conclusion of the first session, a group photo of the symposium participants was taken, followed by a break.”

Photo 3: Research Presentations in the First Session of the Symposium (Top Left: Professor Takuya Kimura, Top Right: Associate Professor Kaoru Yamamoto, Bottom Left: Associate Professor Nguyen Dinh Hoa, Bottom Right: Assistant Professor Ping Yeap Loh)

Photo 4: Group Photo of KYUDAI NOW in Hanoi, Vietnam Symposium

In the following “Environment and Agriculture” themed second session, Professor Mako Nakamura from the Center for Promoting International Education and Research of Agriculture affiliated with the Faculty of Agriculture presented a research titled “Shall we think about sustainable food and meat production together with people from around the world?”. This was followed by Associate Professor Akinori Ozaki from the Institute of Tropical Agriculture, who delivered a presentation entitled “20 Years of Progress in Water Environment Research in Vietnam: Transition from International Cooperation to Global Co-creation”. Additionally, from the Faculty of Agriculture, Assistant Professor Akiko Nakano presented on “Challenges to Develop Ground Improvement Techniques Using Microbial Functions”. In the final third session titled “Kyushu University Today”, Associate Professor Kun Qian from Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies provided an introduction to Kyushu University and the Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies, closing the symposium.

Photo 5: Presentations in Symposium Sessions 2 and 3 (Top Left: Professor Mako Nakamura, Top Right: Associate Professor Akinori Ozaki, Bottom Left: Assistant Professor Akiko Nakano, Bottom Right: Associate Professor Kun Qian)

After the symposium, a dinner reception was held in the same venue, attended by over 90 individuals, including Vietnamese and Japanese Kyushu University alumni. The reception commenced with an opening address by Professor Shuji Shimizu. As a special guest, Dr. Phan Trung Nghia, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Japan Alumni (VAJA) and Associate Professor at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, delivered a toast. The networking event brought together Kyushu University alumni from more than 10 faculties and graduate schools, both Vietnamese and Japanese, as well as representatives from organizations such as JICA Vietnam Office, JETRO, and Kyushu Promotion Center, who engaged in lively discussions and established new collaborations and personal networks for the future.

Photo 6: Moments from the Dinner Reception (Top Left:the venue view, Top Right: Toast by Dr. Phan Trung Nghia, Bottom Left: Group Photo of Vietnamese Alumni, Bottom Right: Vietnamese Alumni in Kyushu University happi coat)

On September 28, 2023 (Thursday), the day following the Kyushu University Forum “KYUDAI NOW”, all participants from Kyushu University officially visited universities in and around the Hanoi City with which cooperation agreements have been signed. First, we visited the Hoa Lac Campus of the Vietnam National University (VNU) Hanoi, located in the new university city. In discussions with Vice President of VNU, Professor Pham Bao Son, and Professor Motoo Furuta, the president of the Japan-Vietnam University (VJU), a subsidiary of VNU, we explored collaborations related to international students, agreements, joint research, and exchange programs, thereby establishing a framework for future cooperation.

Next, we returned to Hanoi and visited the Jonathan KS Choi Cultural Center (Hanoi) located in the old campus of VNU. We engaged in discussions with Ms. Yannie Kim, the Manager of Sunwah Group Hanoi Office, regarding future collaboration, joint research, and exchange programs. The Jonathan KS Choi Cultural Center also exists at Kyushu University, and the discussions were a continuation of the lecture and networking event held at Kyushu University at the end of August 2023,which focused on business, innovation, and cultural cooperation in Japan, the Greater Bay Area of China, and Vietnam.”

Photo 7:Visit to the University Headquarters at Hoa Lac Campus

Photo 8:Visit to the Jonathan KS Choi Cultural Center guided by Sunwah Group

In the afternoon, we first visited the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA). We were greeted by Vice President Professor Pham Van Cuong and other attendees and discussed the possibilities of research cooperation and human exchanges, including students. Many Vietnamese alumni who graduated from Kyushu University’s Faculty of Agriculture are now affiliated with VNUA and are engaged in various educational and research activities. Several alumni attended our visit, and we had engaging discussions. Following this, we visited Thuyloi University (formerly Water Resources University) and held a meeting with President Trinh Minh Thu and others. We reviewed our previous collaborations, including student exchanges and joint research, and discussed future inter-university exchanges. After the meeting, we participated in a reception hosted by Thuyloi University, further enhancing our interactions. Following this series of visits, the participants from Kyushu University headed to Hanoi Airport and boarded their return flights. The Kyushu University Forum ‘KYUDAI NOW in Hanoi, Vietnam’ and the official visits concluded successfully.

Photo 9. Visit to the Vietnam National University of Agriculture

Photo 10. Visit to Thuyloi University