ICT - On December 3rd, Quy Nhon University welcomed and worked with a delegation from the Asia Africa Cultural and Public Benefits Fund, Tokyo (Japan), led by Mr. Tatsunori Katasho, the Fund's Research Director.

The Asia Africa Cultural and Public Benefits Fund is a non-profit organization founded in 1957 with the aim of promoting friendship and solidarity between Japan and countries in Asia. Currently, the Fund is engaged in activities such as: operating a Japanese language school for international students from Asian countries; managing a specialized library on the Asia-Africa region; facilitating exchanges with university lecturers through Japanese language education; and supporting foreign workers (interns focused on skills development).

Mr. Tatsunori Katasho, Research Director of the Asia Africa Cultural and Public Benefits Fund, shared insights about the Fund's activities.

Recognizing the long-standing cooperation between the University and its Japanese partners and businesses over the years, the Asia Africa Cultural and Public Benefits Fund held a working session with the University’s leadership and relevant departments regarding the implementation of a new project for an internship program aimed at university students from Vietnam, including those from Quy Nhon University. The session also focused on enhancing promotional activities for companies accepting interns.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Nguyen Van Thang, Deputy Head of the Department of Science and Technology and International Cooperation, presented the discussion topics, which included: the objectives of the internship program from the perspective of university education; the commitment displayed on the university’s website to actively promote the internship program in Japan; providing information on the current state of internships at the University; offering advice on developing a public cooperation framework between the two countries to further advance the internship program for Vietnamese students, and introducing the relevant organizations involved.

Dr. Ha Thanh Hai, Vice Rector of Quy Nhon University, delivered a speech during the meeting.

"In the current training process, the University has been establishing and expanding collaborations in the academic field and internship exchanges with major universities worldwide, including those in Europe, France, the United States, and more. Notably, in the past two years, the University has intensified cooperation with Japan and is developing and implementing an internship program in Japan by signing memoranda of understanding with Bluebird Co., Ltd., Nippon Sport Science University, and Ashikaga University. Additionally, the University is working with the Akita Union to sign a memorandum of understanding and promote an internship program in Japan for students from the Department of Accounting, Finance & Business Administration and the Automotive Engineering Department," emphasized Dr. Ha Thanh Hai, Vice Rector of the University, during the meeting.

The Vice Rector also highlighted that the University’s development strategy over the past five years has been to connect with the community and local areas in order to train human resources and improve people's livelihoods. At the same time, through this meeting, Dr. Hà Thanh Hải hopes that both sides will find solutions to overcome the challenges in implementing the internship program for students in Japan.

University leadership and representatives from relevant departments took a commemorative photo with the delegation.

During the meeting, Mr. Tatsunori Katasho also mentioned that while many individuals in Vietnam are aware of the internship system, Japanese companies have limited knowledge about it. As a result, the Fund has created a website to provide information to both sides about internships, specific skills, and other relevant details in both Vietnamese and Japanese.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Hà Thanh Hải, Vice Rector of the University, summarized the key points. The University has agreed to join the network of universities listed on the website of the Asia Africa Cultural and Public Benefits Fund and will provide information about internship opportunities on the website. Additionally, the University will assign someone to assist with editing content in Vietnamese. In the near future, the University and the Fund will continue to exchange necessary information, discuss further, and proceed with signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

The delegation visited and held a working session at the Japan Language & Culture Center, Quy Nhon University.

After the meeting with the University, the delegation continued their visit to the Japan Language & Culture Center (JC) at Quy Nhon University. Representatives from the Center introduced their key activities related to Japanese language teaching and the promotion of Japanese culture at the University. In addition to suggestions for better support in Japanese language education and resources on Japanese studies, the Center presented two main proposals to the Fund. These included supporting resources for organizing a series of talk shows to introduce Japanese culture at the University, as well as assisting in the organization of a seminar on the Reception and Influence of Japanese Culture in Vietnam, which is scheduled to take place in August 2025.

Bao Thuan