KU and HUST hold "International Symposium on the Education and Research of the Global Environmental Studies in Asia" (30 October - 1 November 2017)

Published on

2018/01/19

From 30 October through 1 November, Kyoto University and Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) held the "International Symposium on the Education and Research of the Global Environmental Studies in Asia" in Vietnam.

The event was sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Student Service Organization (JASSO), and KU Vietnamese Alumni. Funding was provided by JSPS and Japan's science and education ministry MEXT. Attendees totaled 285 -- 247 researchers and students from 50 universities, and 38 representatives of 20 environmental companies, as well as other organizations across Asia, Europe, and North America.

The Symposium opened with an address from Dr Masao Kitano, Kyoto University's executive vice-president for education, information infrastructure, and evaluation. This was followed by keynote lectures from Professor Hiroaki Tanaka of the KU Graduate School of Engineering and other speakers. Sub-sessions followed, with presentations by students and young researchers on environmental studies topics, as well as lively discussions on internationalization of education, research, and academia-industry collaboration.

Day two featured a plenary session on international research collaboration. Opening remarks from HUST Vice President Tran Van Top and KU President Juichi Yamagiwa were followed by a congratulatory address from Mr Jun Yanagi, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Japan. President Yamagiwa then delivered a keynote lecture, after which a panel discussion was held, moderated by Professor Eiji Nawata of the KU Graduate School of Agriculture. The panel explored a wide range of related topics.

The three-day event wrapped up on 1 November with a study tour to Tràng An Scenic Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near the city of Hanoi, and Nam Son Waste Treatment Complex.

During the Symposium, the KU Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES, Dean: Shinya Funakawa) renewed student exchange agreements with four South Asian partners -- HUST, the University of Danang (Vietnam), Royal University of Agriculture (Cambodia), and Bogor Agricultural University (Indonesia) -- while President Yamagiwa and other KU representatives paid courtesy visits to the Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam and HUST President. Other activities held in conjunction with the event include a meeting of KU Vietnamese Alumni, and a "Study at Kyoto University Fair", which attracted 60 students from local universities and high schools.