As part of the Short-Term Student Exchange -- Nippon Discovery (SEND) Program, seven students and one researcher -- a Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) -- from Kyoto University took part in the 2014 Summer School program hosted by Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) and Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi. During their two-week visit, participants attended classes in Vietnamese language and culture, and joined students from two VNU member institutes -- the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS) and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) -- in a reciprocal learning program (including a joint presentation) about Japanese language and culture. Field trips to the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex and the ancient village of Duong Lam were also organized as a way of deepening knowledge about Vietnamese culture.
Throughout the two-week program, in addition to furthering understanding of Vietnamese culture, students of the same generation who may play a critical role in the advancement of Japan and Vietnam were able to spend time together, deepen discussion, and thereby strengthen their resolve for the future. By building on their firsthand experiences and understanding of culture, it is anticipated that the students will continue to develop friendships with their Vietnamese counterparts founded on mutual trust.
Report from a Participating Student
Junya Kuroda
Assistant Group Leader for the VASS-VNU Summer School
Fourth-year student, Faculty of Economics, Kyoto University
(Report presented at a debriefing held on Friday 10 October 2014)
The two weeks I spent in Vietnam enabled me to learn so much and experience so many things -- these are experiences I will never forget for the rest of my life.
During those two weeks, we visited various sites and met many different people; two things in particular stay with me. One concerns local people's thoughts about other countries. In particular, I was surprised to learn that many of the people I talked with had a favorable view of France, a country that had once colonized Vietnam. In contrast, many of the people I met were openly distrustful of neighboring countries and regions, apparently due to ongoing disputes in these areas. I found these types of perception deeply interesting.
The second impression I gained, which albeit puts us to shame, is that compared with Vietnamese students, we have too many gaps in knowledge about our own country. While VNU students were able to answer our questions about Vietnam precisely, we were often helpless when faced with questions about Japan. For example, we were stumped by questions about how many UNESCO World Heritage Sites there are in Japan or reasons behind our society's changing attitude toward gender equality. Being Japanese and yet not knowing enough about Japan ― at the same time as experiencing embarrassment at this realization, I felt I needed to get to know, and indeed cannot afford not to know, more about Japan.
Going forward, as a part of daily life, I have resolved to learn more about Japan and actively share what I have learned with others.
These thoughts and impressions are a direct result of having studied, played, and talked with people on site during the study trip, and from now on I aim to find new ways to create opportunities for similar encounters.
I gained a great deal from the study trip; what I treasure most is the friendships we made with local students. The fact that we got along with these students to such an extent is a really happy outcome and I intend to stay in touch with them. Even though our lives in Japan and Vietnam may be far apart, I am to continue to treasure these valuable friendships.
With ULIS students
At Duong Lam village
Having lunch with USSH students
A conversational Japanese class at ULIS
Presentation and discussion about the SEND Program
KU students dressed in a'o da`i at the closing ceremony
About the SEND (Student Exchange-Nippon Discovery) Program
The SEND Program aims to train students to become experts who can build cultural bridges between Japan and ASEAN countries. In addition to studying abroad to learn a different language and culture, in exchange, students assist in teaching the Japanese language and introducing Japanese culture, thus promoting cross-cultural understanding. Through these activities, the Program aims to cultivate an interest in Japan among students in the host country, at the same time as fostering human resources capable of playing active roles on the world stage and helping to build trust among the next generation of future leaders.
For FY2014, the SEND Program is being operated as part of the "Rediscovering Japan through Collaboration in the Open ASEAN+6 - International Human Resource Development Centering on the SEND Program" with support from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO).
