Kyushu University Forum “KYUDAI NOW” held in Hanoi, Vietnam

 On September 27, 2023, Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies held the Kyushu University Forum “KYUDAI NOW” in Hanoi, Vietnam at the Army Hotel. KYUDAI NOW aims to highlight Kyushu University’s latest research, as well as to create new networks between international Kyushu University alumni, individuals associated with Fukuoka Prefecture, and residents of the forum’s location who are involved in education, business, and government. This was the first time KYUDAI NOW was held in Vietnam.
 The forum consisted of a symposium and a dinner reception. The symposium opened with an address by Prof. Shuji Shimizu, Vice President of Kyushu University, followed by a guest address by Ms. Noriko Okamoto, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam. Eight speakers from Kyushu University delivered presentations to an audience of approximately 90 people.
The speakers included:

• Prof. Takuya Kimura from the Faculty of Human-Environment Studies
• Assoc. Prof. Kaoru Yamamoto from the Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering
• Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Dinh Hoa from the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
• Asst. Prof. Ping Yeap Loh from the Faculty of Design, Prof. Mako Nakamura from the Faculty of Agriculture
• Asst. Prof. Akiko Nakano from the Faculty of Agriculture
• Assoc. Prof. Akinori Ozaki from the Institute of Tropical Agriculture
• Assoc. Prof. Kun Qian from the Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies

The symposium was broadcast in real-time on YouTube, and the recorded version is available for viewing.

 After the symposium, a dinner reception was held in the same venue. 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 reception was attended by over 90 individuals, including Kyushu University Vietnamese alumni from more than 10 faculties and graduate schools, as well as Japanese alumni of the university who now represent organizations such as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Vietnam Office, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and Kyushu Promotion Center. In the forum, the attendees engaged in lively discussions and established new collaborations and personal networks for the future.

 On September 28, 2023, following the forum, all participants from Kyushu University officially visited universities in and around Hanoi City that had signed cooperation agreements with Kyushu University.
 First, they visited the Hoa Lac Campus of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU). A discussion meeting was held with Professor Pham Bao Son, Vice President of VNU, and Professor Motoo Furuta, the Rector of Vietnam-Japan University (VNU-VJU), which is one of the member universities of VNU. In the meeting, they explored potential collaborations related to international student programs, joint research, and exchange programs, thereby establishing a framework for future cooperation.
 Secondly, they visited the Jonathan KS Choi Cultural Center (Hanoi) and had discussions with Ms. Yannie Kim, the Manager of Sunwah Group Hanoi Office. This visit was inspired by the lecture and networking event held at The Jonathan KS Choi Cultural Center at Kyushu University in August 2023; the event focused on business, innovation, and cultural cooperation between Japan, the Greater Bay Area of China, and Vietnam. In the meeting, there was an active exchange of ideas related to prospective collaboration, joint research, and exchange programs.

 Next, they visited Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA), where many Kyushu University Vietnamese alumni who graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture are engaged in various educational and research activities. In the meeting with Professor Pham Van Cuong, Vice President of VNUA, and other Kyushu University alumni, they discussed the possibilities of research collaboration and human exchanges, including students and researchers.
 Lastly, they visited Thuyloi University (formerly Water Resources University), and were warmly received by the president, Professor Trinh Minh Thu, and other faculty members. They reviewed their previous collaborations, including student exchanges and joint research, and discussed future inter-university exchanges. Following the meeting, a reception was held by Thuyloi University, which served to further enhance their interactions.