Dr. NAKAMURA Chiharu, Vice President/Director in charge of International Exchange and Regional Partnership,
visited Hanoi in September to visit the Foreign Trade University (FTU) in Hanoi
(a partner university that ranks amongst the top class in the study
of economics and Japanese language education in Vietnam),
and to attend the 1st Vietnam-Japan Presidents' Conference-Higher Education Cooperation.
On September 16, Dr. NAKAMURA paid a courtesy visit on Prof.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Quy, the Vice President of FTU. In the meeting, 
Dr. Quy told Dr. NAKAMURA that most of the students studying economics
at FTU are doing so in English rather than in Japanese.
For that reason she wanted to increase the number of students sent
from FTU to include those who will study in courses taught in English at Kobe University,
in addition to those who wish to study Japanese language education.
Dr. NAKAMURA replied that the Graduate School
of International Cooperation Studies at Kobe University already has courses taught in English;
and there are plans to establish courses taught in English in Undergraduate levels and other Graduate Schools as well.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. NAKAMURA said he would like to see further expansion in student exchange between the two universities.
The 1st Vietnam-Japan Presidents' Conference, held on September 17 and 18,
brought together approximately 250 presidents/vice presidents from 53 Japanese universities and 71 Vietnamese universities.
In addition to introducing information about diversified exchange
and cooperation activities in higher education between the two countries,
they also exchanged opinions on various issues and requests.
During intermission,
Dr. NAKAMURA met with many university representatives including
Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Chau, the President of FTU.
In spite of his tight schedule, Dr. NAKAMURA also provided a special lecture at the Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI); visited Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Science (VAAS) and Vietnam-Japan Human Resources Cooperation Center (VJCC); attended a reunion of Kobe University Alumni Association in Vietnam and visited with Vietnamese governmental officials (Department of International Cooperation).