As a reward for winning the Career Quest 2018, between February 23rd and 25th, four students from the Master’s program in Area Studies at Vietnam Japan University (VJU), Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNUHN) had the opportunity to visit Japan and represent VJU in attending the Quest Cup 2018 – an annual playground held for students across Japan.
On the first day of the trip, VJU students visited the National Diet of Japan and Tokyo Imperial Palace. The delegation also met with the Director-General for International Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and received a special video conveying the wishes for success from Prof. Suzuki Kan, who is currently serving as the special advisor to the Minister of MEXT. Following the meetup, the delegation also visited the exhibition showcasing the history of education, sports, science and technology as well as Japanese culture.
VJU students had the opportunity to meet and talk with Prof. Yonekura Seiichiro from Hosei University and Hitotsubashi University, and one of the main judges at the Quest Cup 2018. In particular, Prof. Junichi Iwatsuki – Co-Director and Ms. Ito Mariko – Lecturer of VJU’s Master’s program in Area Studies also spared special support for the team.
The same day, the delegation also visited and met with leaders of Inoac, a leading company in the Japanese material industry, especially Uretan. Currently the company is exporting to many countries including Vietnam. During this visit, the delegation was astonished to find out that Inoac’s products are actually present in the products we are using daily such as washcloths, tempered glass for phones, tires, etc.
February 24 is the official commencement day of the Quest Cup 2018. Together, the teams had to present their unique innovative solutions to problems that businesses are faced with. This is a significant event attended by around 1,000 audiences and the competition was live on the Internet. Plus Alpha representing VJU as an invited team from Vietnam successfully completed the contest and received many compliments from the judges.
Before returning to Vietnam, students visited the Meiji Temple, Odaiba, and were lucky enough to enjoy some cherry blossoms in early bloom here.
Mr. Tran Minh Anh and Ms. Hoang Thi Cham, students of the Master’s program in Area Studies, said “This is my first time to Japan, albeit majoring in Japanese studies. The trip has helped me gain hands-on experience of what I am learning, exploring more about the country and people of Japan. The unprecedented chill of 2-3 degrees Celsius on a winter day, unrivalled cleanliness, comfort, and hustle and bustle of the Tokyo people make me very excited.”
“Above all that, joining the Quest Cup 2018 is a privilege for students like me. During the event, I had a chance to meet many young Japanese people, listen to their unique ideas, and share our ideas with everyone. I hope there will be more valuable opportunities like this for us and other students sharing the same passion for learning about Japan.”
Some photos of the trip:
