According to Prof. Dr. Motoo Furuta- Rector of Vietnam Japan University (VJU), many universities in Vietnam still adopt narrow specialized training for students without equipping them with broad vision to adapt to the “sailing without a compass” era today.
On September 09th, VJUis launching the first master’s programs in Vietnam which have been designed with innovative philosophy & curricula. VietNamNethad a talk with Professor Furuta- Rector of VJU on issues of higher education in Vietnam as well as how VJU can overcome these challenges.
Prof. Furuta- Rector of VJU
Reporter: Dear Prof. Furuta, VJU is about to launch the first six master’s programs in Vietnam. Could you let us know why VJU, instead of choosing undergraduate level or PhD level, decide to opt for master’s programs? Also, what is the basis for selecting of these six training programs?
In the future, we desire to build one university of relatively large scale, which will incorporate both undergraduate and graduate trainings. However, this would take great efforts of both Vietnamese and Japanese Governments. In the meantime, given constrained resources, we decide to go ahead first with master training level.
Regarding specialized majors, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) and Japan’s coordinating universities agreed that VJU will start with specialized trainings in which Vietnam and Japan hold competitive advantages, taking interdisciplinary approach and advanced technology as the fundamental direction for training and research activities.
Previously, we conducted a baseline survey on the training needs. On this basis, we agreed to choose the 6 master’sprograms which will commence from this September.
First of all, we prioritize certain areas that VNU and a number of coordinating universities in Japan have long-term cooperative relations. They are “Vietnamese Study” and “Japanese Study”, Business Administration, Environmental Engineering, and Nanotechnology. Then, we select two other areas which Vietnam is in great demand (also are the strengths of Japanese universities), namely Public Policy and Infrastructure Engineering.
Reporter: So what are VJU’s development plans for the future, Sir?
In the next 1-2 years, the University plans to launch other master’s programs in Climate Change, Aquatic Science, and Political and Strategic Leadership.
In addition, currently we have not establish subordinate faculties but the road map will be to develop a number of Faculties such as Advanced Science and Technology, Sustainable Science, Management and Development Science, International Studies, etc.
By 2020, we hope to launch undergraduate training. At this level, we value philosophy of liberal arts education which will equip learners with broad vision and high adaptability. Specific plans are still being discussed by both Vietnamese and Japanese partners.
Reporter: Professor mentioned liberal arts education philosophy that VJU will aim towards. Could you explain in more details about this educational philosophy of VJU?
As far as I have observed, a characteristic in Vietnamese education is to emphasize specialized training in some majors. This is the typical model of single-discipline universities in Vietnam, which may be suitable for a relatively stable society, for example, like Japan.
However, the current fast changing society requires a broad vision to better confront the situation of “sailing without a compass”. Therefore, a solid knowledge base is a critical requirement for VJU’s training activities.
VJU will aim for liberal arts education philosophy, which will equip students with solid knowledge base to tackle pressing problems of today’s society.
In addition to the core scientific knowledge, students at interests. In other words, students who are entitled to liberal arts university model will exercise self-learning capability right in the learning process and gradually maintain that enthusiasm for life long learning. VJU can choose courses tailored to their.
The students, after graduation, might not be able to perform well immediately. It might take time for them to become familiar with specific jobs. However, they will adapt very quickly to the job requirements or changes of the times. Those students would be more successful in their career.
Three key issues of Vietnamese undergraduate system
Reporter: The objective of the VJU’s training is to generate qualified human resources and high-quality training. Having that said, what makes VJU special compared to other training programs of the Vietnamese universities?
Our master’s programs are developed based on Japanese coordinating universities’programs. Of course, we would adjust to make it aligned with the Vietnamese context.
Approximately 50% of the faculties are those from Japanese universities. The language of training is entirely in English, except for some specific programs such as Japanese studies, or Vietnamese studies. The fellow will have opportunity to travel to Japan for a 3-month internship.
Besides specialized knowledge, our training program aims to equip learners with broad vision of sustainability science, as I mentioned above. I hope that the VJU’s students will have great ambition and good leadership skills to become great decision makers not only for Vietnam, but also for the region and the world.
Reporter: Students, even those obtaining master, doctoral degrees in Vietnam, do not receive equal recognition as peer graduates from regional countries’ institutions. Could the training programs of VJU address this shortcoming?
Student quality is undoubtedly a great concern for our university. Admission quality of VJU 1st Intake is relatively high. 95% of them have attained distinction results, and 50% attained high distinction results at undergraduate level.
The quality of our master’s programs is of the same as that of Japan’s top universities. So if student graduate VJU’s master’s program with high distinction, they are guaranteed to be admitted to the doctoral programs in Japan or other countries.
In the current conditions of Vietnam, we have incorporated many synergic solutions such as intensive training in a standardized academic setting, and each training program is built towards outcome-based assessments and upon the curriculum of coordinating universities in Japan.
Third, we also ensure the quality of the faculties at international level, with minimum of 50% of specialized courses will be taught by lecturers from Japanese universities.
Our school also focuses on practice skills through conducting experiments and field work. Especially, each program has 6 credits for internships in laboratories, research institutes or businesses in Japan or Vietnam, to help students meet the job requirements immediately after graduation.
As a person having lived and worked in Vietnam for many years, how do you assess the situation of higher education in Vietnam.In your opinion, how does the training model of VJU fix the problems in Vietnamese educational system?
I think that, the people of Vietnam has long tradition of being industrious. This is the most fundamental advantage of Vietnamese educational system in general and higher education in particular. In some areas,especially basic sciences and humanities, Vietnamese scholars are no inferior to international ones.
However, I think that there are 03 key issues in undergraduate training in Vietnam:
Firstly, research and training are often separated. In Vietnam, research is mainly conducted by institutes, and training is considered universities’ responsibilities. Such assignment in current situation is not reasonable. We should combine research and training, especially if we are looking to build an educational environment of international quality.
Secondly, it is the issue that I mentioned above. University education in Vietnam emphasizes specialized knowledge, and somewhat underestimate the importance of a solid foundation and broad vision. In other words, we lack a liberal education philosophy.
Thirdly, policies of the Government of Vietnam emphasize the importance of university’s autonomy. However, when people talk about autonomy, they still perceive it as financial autonomy. I think that autonomy is an indispensable characteristic of each university. We must further strengthen the autonomy of the universities on training, research and human resources, such as the authority to appoint professor title.
The university education in Vietnam have its own strengths, and VJU will combine the strengths of the top universities in Japan and Vietnam to build a successful training model. Therefore, I am convinced that we can overcome the above-mentioned problems.
On September 09th, VJU is launching the opening ceremony and introductory session of the university’s training programs. The ceremony will be held at Nguyen Van Dao Hall in Vietnam National University, Hanoi. This will also mark the official inaugural of VJU and its training programs. Over 400 guests and speakers are expected to attend the workshop, including: representatives from the Cabinet, Ministries, and local authorities of the two countries Vietnam and Japan, the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, VNU, Japanese coordinating universities, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), scientists, education experts, businesses, the media of Vietnam and Japan, etc. and particularly, the leadership, faculty and students of VJU.