On March 6, 2024, Foreign Trade University organized the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shitennoji University (IBU) (Japan) to collaborate on training activities, student, faculty, and staff exchanges, and research activities. This agreement is effective for five years, from 2023 to 2028.
At the signing ceremony, representing Shitennoji University were Mr. Suhara Shouji, President of Shitennoji University; Mr. Miyawaki Toshiya, Vice Director of the Regional Cooperation Promotion Center - Professor of International Professions, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Shitennoji University; and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Liaison Representative of Shitennoji University in Vietnam.
Representing Foreign Trade University were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Anh Tuan, President of the University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cao Dinh Kien, Director of International Affairs; Mr. Yoneda Kazuhiro, Chief Advisor of the VJCC Project; and MS. Tran Thi Kieu Minh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam-Japan Human Resources Development Institute (VJCC), along with other faculty members.
In his speech at the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Anh Tuan welcomed and thanked the delegation from Shitennoji University. He highlighted the long-term collaboration between Foreign Trade University and various Japanese universities. Foreign Trade University has several new training programs developed in collaboration with Japanese universities and businesses, such as International Business based on the advanced Japanese model (JIB) and Digital Business (DB.) The signing of this MoU is a crucial legal foundation for implementing cooperative activities between the two universities. He expressed his hope that the two universities would discuss and implement specific activities regarding student and faculty exchanges, training, and scientific research transfer in areas of mutual interest.
Shitennoji University is built on an educational philosophy that values Buddhism and the "Spirit of Harmony" preached by Prince Shotoku over 1,400 years ago. The university was officially established in 1922 by Monk Yoshida Gen’o, the abbot of Shitennoji Temple. Currently, Shitennoji University has five faculties: Literature, Sociology, Education, Business Administration, and Nursing, offering seven major fields of study. The university always provides its students with opportunities for international exchange with the goal of gaining overseas experience and creating valuable connections to help them plan their careers and seek employment in the future. Thus, IBU has chosen Foreign Trade University as one of its two key partners in Vietnam.
In his speech, Professor and President Suhara Shouji evaluated Vietnam as a country with a rapidly developing economy. He noted that Vietnam and Japan share many cultural and lifestyle similarities, including a respect for Buddhism. Professor Suhara also mentioned that he had heard of Foreign Trade University as a prestigious institution, one of Vietnam's leading universities, which has produced many leaders and excellent employees trusted by Japanese businesses. He expressed his honor and confidence that, with its mission to develop future-leading human resources, Shitennoji University could cooperate with Foreign Trade University to contribute to the development of human resources who will bear the future responsibilities of not only Japan and Vietnam but also Asia as a whole.
In the context of celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations, this special event marked an important milestone in establishing cooperative relations between the two institutions, opening up opportunities for the development of training and research activities for faculty and students of both universities in the future, and strengthening the good friendship between Vietnam and Japan.