JAPANESE FORMER PRIME MINISTER PAYS 2ND VISIT TO VNU VIETNAM JAPAN UNIVERSITY

    This is the second visit of H.E. Suga Yoshihide to the University that symbolizes the cooperation between Japan and Vietnam in global human resource education.

    On January 10, 2023, former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide met with leaders from Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) as well as with leaders, lecturers and students from Vietnam Japan University (VJU) at its My Dinh campus.

H.E. Suga Yoshihide

    This is the second visit of H.E. Suga Yoshihide to the University that symbolizes the cooperation between Japan and Vietnam in global human resource education.

    Participants in the event included Prof.Dr. Le Quan, President of VNU cum Chairman of VJU University Council; H.E. Yamada Takio, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Vietnam; Mr. Shimizu Akira, Chief Representative of the JICA Vietnam Office together with cadres, lecturers and students at VJU. 

    The first meeting session took place between the former Prime Minister and VNU’s President, Vice President; VJU’s Rector, Vice Rector together with the university’s cadres.

    Addressing at the meeting, the former Prime Minister once again asserted that VJU was the symbol for the friendship cooperation between the two countries and played very important role in global human resource education. He confirmed that the Japanese government, corporations and universities would continue to accompany and support VJU in its future development stages. The former Prime Minister expected that the leaders of the VNU would pay their on-going support to the construction of the University’s new facilities in Hoa Lac as well as other issues relating to special financial mechanism.

    Prof. Dr. Le Quan, VNU President expressed his respect for the affection and care from H.E. Suga Yoshihide and his delight to welcome him to the University right at the beginning of 2023 on the occasion of the 50-year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between the two countries. He announced that VNU had submitted to the Government the Feasibility Studies Report for the project on Construction of Vietnam Japan University. Besides the priority in facilities so that the University could carry out its teaching and learning activities in Hoa Lac, the VNU had also prepared a Scheme to help the University attract and develop high qualified scientists.

Prof. Dr. Le Quan, VNU President

    Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo – Rector of VJU also reported to the former Prime Minister about new progress in the University’s education and research activities as well as the timely support that VJU received from the VNU Presidential Board, especially from Prof. Dr. Le Quan – Chairman of the VJU University Council by allowing the University to use facilities of HT01 building and QGHN04 building until the completion of University’s new facilities, and other issues that needed to ask for approval from VNU Presidential Board.

    The former Prime Minister spent most of the remaining time to talk with students. He attentively listened to sharing of five students who attended the commemorative lecture series about Contemporary Japan and the Vietnam-Japan cooperation which were conducted by VJU based on inspirations from his own speech entitled “Building Together the Future of Indo-Pacific” made during his first visit to the University in October 2020. The former Prime Minister also enthusiastically answered different questions from the students such as “What skills do young people need to adapt to the rapid changes in the world?”, “What were the most memorable moments of the Prime Minister’s university days”, etc.

    Regarding the former question, H.E. Suga stressed the importance of identifying the essence of this rapid changes. And, in response to the question about his time in university, he encouraged students to set their own goals and take challenges. The former Prime Minister described a time during university when he challenged himself to tackle multiple responsibilities simultaneously, including studies, sports as well as part-time work. Despite the rigorous demands, he was proud of the goals he had set and the resulting accomplishments. 

    “I think it is really great that you are all studying now with goals in mind for various things. I believe that you always have a firm purpose. Think about how you can achieve it, and, if you can’t, you can consult your professors who can point you to the right direction. I hope that you will study at the VJU in a diligent manner.”

    According the Rector Furuta, the “Commemorative lecture series of Prime Minister Suga’s visit to the VJU” had a very strong impact on the students. Also, Rector Furuta commented that the former Prime Minister’s advice and reminder about the ability to identify the “essence of change” was a powerful encouragement to students, and one that aligns exactly with VJU’s philosophy.

    The former Prime Minister’s visit once again proved the special attention from the Japanese side to the development of cooperation relationship in education, culture, human resource training between the two countries as well as the determination from the Rectorate Board of VJU in realizing the University’s goals, mission and philosophy in education and training.

Thuy Le – VJUMedia