On March 14, 2019, we held a program results presentation and completion briefing sessions for the Okayama-Hue International Master’s Program, a joint program between Okayama University and Hue University in Vietnam. International students from Vietnam who completed the program this time transferred into the second year of the Master’s Course of the Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science at Okayama University in April 2018 and pursued their studies for one year. This briefing session was held to provide the students with the opportunity to present the outline of their master’s thesis as their learning outcome and to report their completion of the program to their sponsors that had provided them with financial and emotional support.

In the session, the international students gave a presentation on their research results in English and expressed their gratitude to their sponsors in Japanese. Meanwhile, the sponsors gave the students messages of encouragement, saying, “Many Japanese companies have been entering the Vietnamese market. We hope that you will act as a bridge between Japan and Vietnam to help both countries achieve further development.” All participants shared a precious time together.

The eight students who have completed the program are expected to play an active role back in their own country, using the knowledge and experience that they have gained through the program. We will work to further improve the program, including the academic guidance and support systems. In addition, we will continue to have exchanges with Vietnam and help improve education in the country, to which we attach great importance to accelerate international exchanges with ASEAN countries.