TTLA: Vietnam-Japan Educational Cooperation at the University Level, 2002-2020

1. Full name of doctoral candidate: Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu 2. Gender: Female
3. Date of birth: July 10, 1980 4. Place of birth: Hue City
5. Decision to recognize doctoral students: Decision No. 4416/2019/QD-XHNV dated November 26, 2019
6. Changes to the training process (if any): None
7. Thesis title: Vietnam-Japan Educational Cooperation at the University Level, 2002-2020
8. Major: International Relations 9. Code: 9310601.01
10. Scientific supervisors: 1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Thai; 2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Hai Linh
11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:
1. Purpose and scope of the thesis
The purpose of this thesis is to summarize and evaluate the Vietnam-Japan higher education cooperation process from 2002 to 2020 within the context of the developing comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Based on projected prospects, the thesis proposes several policy implications to promote Vietnam-Japan higher education cooperation until 2030.
Subject of the thesis: Educational cooperation between Vietnam and Japan at the university level.
2. Research methods used
To complete this thesis, the research approaches and methods used are:
+ Information Collection Method: The thesis collects information from primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on policies and diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan in English, Vietnamese, and Japanese; and documents, statistics, and data from the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) on the content, form, and programs of educational cooperation at the university level in general and between Vietnam and Japan in particular. Based on this, relevant theoretical issues related to the topic are generalized to build the theoretical framework of the thesis. Secondary sources include: previous studies that selectively build upon and develop the research findings of domestic and international scholars, with content relevant to the dissertation, encompassing both theory and practice... These sources include books, newspapers, journal articles, dissertations, theses, scientific reports, conference papers, legal documents, and articles published on the Internet.
+ Analytical Method: This method is used throughout the entire thesis, with particular attention paid to the three levels of international studies analysis. At the international level, the thesis approaches and analyzes the theoretical basis of international educational cooperation at the university level. At the national level, the thesis analyzes the role of state agencies in both Japan and Vietnam in the relationship of higher education cooperation. At the individual level, the thesis focuses on clarifying the key roles of individuals such as the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education and Training in building and strengthening higher education cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.
+ Statistical methods and comparative diachronic and synchronic methods of historiography: These were extensively used in Chapter Three to clarify the reality of Vietnam-Japan educational cooperation at the university level during the period 2002-2020. This is evidenced by the qualitative and quantitative changes in the relationship between the two countries, moving from a reliable, stable, long-term partnership (2002-2009) to a comprehensive strategic partnership (2010-2020).
+ Synthesis and generalization method: In chapters one and two, this method is used most extensively to synthesize and systematize theoretical issues related to the topic, thereby building a theoretical framework for the thesis. In addition, this method is also used in chapter four to suggest some proposals to further promote educational cooperation between Vietnam and Japan at the university level over the next 10 years.
3. Main research findings and conclusions
3.1. Main results
This dissertation provides an overview of the research situation regarding cooperation in higher education between Vietnam and Japan. Based on the survey, the doctoral candidate draws personal assessments of issues that have been agreed upon and those that are still under debate or lack consensus, and identifies research gaps that the dissertation will focus on.
The thesis has clarified the theoretical and practical basis of higher education cooperation, particularly cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.
This thesis presents and analyzes the current state of Vietnam-Japan educational cooperation at the university level during the period 2002-2020. The analysis systematically examines the context, policies, and objectives of Vietnam-Japan educational cooperation at the university level, as well as the practical implementation of this cooperation in two smaller periods: 2002-2009 and 2010-2020.
This dissertation, based on an analysis of the current state of higher education cooperation between Vietnam and Japan from 2002 to 2020, draws conclusions and assessments of the achievements, limitations, and difficulties in Vietnam-Japan higher education cooperation during this period. It also analyzes and predicts the prospects and trends in Vietnam-Japan higher education cooperation, and proposes several policy implications to promote bilateral educational cooperation in the future.
3.2. Conclusion
- Vietnam-Japan cooperation in higher education from 2002 to 2020 is a process of rapidly developing bilateral cultural and educational cooperation that has yielded many great positive results, taking place within the context of the rapid development of Vietnam-Japan cooperative relations.
- One of the outstanding features of the Vietnam-Japan cooperation in higher education is that both sides have strived to improve policies through different stages, stemming from the specific circumstances and socio-economic development requirements of each country.
- An analysis of the implementation of Vietnam-Japan cooperation at the university level during this period also reveals the reciprocal impact between cooperation in education and training and bilateral cooperation in general.
- Based on a SWOT analysis, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, the thesis clearly outlines the continuing development trends and optimistic prospects for bilateral cooperation in higher education.
- Based on the results drawn from the analysis and evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the Vietnam-Japan bilateral cooperation in higher education over the past period, this study also identifies the opportunities and challenges for this cooperation in the future.
The novelty of this thesis lies in its contribution to systematizing and clarifying the theoretical basis of Vietnam-Japan educational cooperation at the university level. It clarifies the foundation of this cooperative relationship, identifies the role of cooperation, forms of cooperation, and factors influencing educational cooperation between the two countries at the university level, as well as the reciprocal impact of higher education cooperation on bilateral relations in general. Furthermore, based on this foundation, the thesis forecasts future trends in Vietnam-Japan educational cooperation at the university level and proposes several recommendations and solutions to promote cooperation between the two countries over the next 10 years.

12. Directions for further research:
The author will continue to research the cooperation in higher education between Vietnam and Japan in the next phase, especially from 2020 to 2030, when the cooperation between Vietnam and Japan is at a new level and the educational cooperation between the two countries is increasingly developing.

13. Publications related to the dissertation:

1. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2019), “International training linkage at the International Training Institute - Hanoi University of Science and Technology: current situation and solutions”, Science Journal, Hanoi University of Education. (64), ISBN 08663719, pp.103-109.

2. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2021). “Higher Education cooperation in the field of information Technology between Vietnam and Japan in the context of Technologicaly Revolution 4.0, The development issues in the new situation”. International conference proceedings.Vol. II, ISBN 978-604-345-113-9, pp.61-80.

3. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2022). “Vietnam-Japan Higher Education Cooperation in the First Two Decades of the 21st Century”. WILAYAH : The International Journal of East Asian Studies, VOL.11(1), ISSN 2232-0679, pp.23-33.

4. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2022). “Vietnam - Japan Education Cooperation from 2000 to the present”, Northeast Asian Studies Journal. (7), ISBN 2354-077X, pp.23-31.

5. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2022). “Factors that impact the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation in higher education”. The first international conference on the issues of social sciences and humanities, ISBN 978-604-9990-98-4, pp.1079-1096.

6. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2022). “Vietnam-Japan Higher Education Cooperation Today: Opportunities, Challenges and Trends in the New Context”, 3rd International Conference on Culture and Education (ICCE2022), pp. 629-641.

1. Full name: Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu

2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: July 10, 1980

4. Place of birth: Hue City

5. Amission decision number: 4416/2019/QD-XHNV dated November 26, 2019 by VNU University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: No

7. Official thesis title: Vietnam – Japan Higher Education Cooperation in the period 2002-2020

8. Major: International relations

9. Code: 931060101

10. Supervisors: Assoc. Pham Hong Thai; Assoc. Phan Hai Linh

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis

1. Research purpose and subject of the thesis
The purpose of the thesis is to summarize and evaluate the process of Vietnam-Japan higher education cooperation in the period 2002-2020 in the context of developing the extensive strategic partnership between the two countries. By predicting the prospect of the cooperation, the thesis proposes a number of policy implications so as to promote Vietnam - Japan higher education cooperation until 2030.
The research subject of the thesis: Higher education relationship cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.
2. Research methods
To fulfill the thesis, the author has utilized the following research methods:
+ Method of collecting information: The thesis has collected information from primary and secondary sources. The primary sources consist of documents and materials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on policies and diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan in English, Vietnamese, and Japanese; documents, materials, and statistics on contents, forms, and programs of higher education cooperation in general and between Vietnam and Japan in particular of the Ministry of Education and Training (referred to as MOET) and Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (referred to as MEXT). Thenceforth, the thesis has generalized the theoretical issues related to the research topic in order to make a theoretical framework for the thesis. Secondary sources consist of previous studies through selective inheritance and development from theoretical and practical research results of domestic and foreign scholars related to the thesis. These sources consist of books, newspapers, articles, theses, dissertations, scientific reports, conference papers, legal documents, and informative articles on websites.
+ Method of analysis: this method is used throughout the thesis, in which the author has used the three levels of analysis in international relations. At the international level, the thesis approaches and analyzes the theoretical basis of international education cooperation at the university level. At the state level, the thesis analyzes the role of state agencies in Japan and Vietnam towards higher education cooperation. At the individual level, the thesis focuses on clarifying the role of individuals such as Prime Minister, Minister of the Ministry of Education and Training in building and strengthening Vietnam - Japan higher education cooperation.
+ Method of statistics and method of diachronic and synchronic comparison of history: these methods are mainly used in chapter 3 to clarify the real situation of Vietnam – Japan higher education cooperation during the period 2002-2020. This is evidenced by the qualitative and quantitative changes in the relationship between the two countries, from a long-term stable and reliable partnership (2002-2009) to a comprehensive strategic partnership (2010-2020).
+ Method of synthesis and generalization: this method is mainly used in chapter 1 and chapter 2 to synthesize and systemize theoretical issues related to the topic, thereby building a theoretical framework for the thesis. In addition, this method is also used in chapter 4 to propose recommendations to further promote higher education cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in the next 10 years.
3. Key research results and conclusion
3.1. Key research results
The thesis has reviewed the literature on higher education cooperation between Vietnam and Japan. Since then, the author has drawn out personal assessments about the united issues and controversial issues and pointed out research gaps that the thesis needs to explain.
The thesis has clarified the theoretical and practical basis of higher education cooperation and Vietnam-Japan higher education cooperation.
The thesis has presented and scientifically analyzed the real situation of Vietnam-Japan higher education cooperation in the period 2002 - 2020 such as situational context, policies and objectives of higher education cooperation between Vietnam and Japan as well as the practice of implementing Vietnam-Japan higher education cooperation in two small periods 2002 - 2009 and 2010 - 2020.
By analyzing the real of higher education cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in the period 2002 – 2020, the thesis has drawn out comments, assessments of achievements, limitations, and difficulties of Vietnam – Japan higher education cooperation in this period, and it has analyzed and made recommendations on the prospect and predicted trends of Vietnam – Japan higher education cooperation, as well as policy implications to further promote bilateral education cooperation in the coming years.
3.2. Conclusion
- Vietnam - Japan higher education cooperation from 2002 to 2020 is a process of bilateral cultural-educational cooperation that develops very quickly and brings many great positive results in the context of the rapid development of the relationship between Vietnam and Japan.
- One of the outstanding features of the process of implementing Vietnam-Japan higher education cooperation is that both sides have made efforts to improve policies over different stages stemming from the specific circumstances and requirements of the socio-economic development of each country.
- The analysis of the process of implementing Vietnam - Japan higher education cooperation in this period also shows the reciprocal impact of cooperation in the field of education and training and bilateral cooperation in general.
- On the basis of SWOT analysis, indicating strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges, the thesis has pointed out the development trend and optimistic prospects of bilateral cooperation in the field of higher education.
- Additionally, on the basis of analyzing and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the bilateral cooperation process between Vietnam and Japan in the field of higher education in recent years, the thesis has pointed out opportunities and challenges of this cooperation in the coming years.
The new findings of the thesis are: The thesis contributes to systematizing and clarifying the theoretical basis of Vietnam - Japan higher education cooperation, also clarifying the basis for forming the relationship between Vietnam and Japan, pointing out the role of cooperation, forms of cooperation and factors affecting the educational cooperation relationship between the two countries at the higher education as well as the reciprocal impact of higher education cooperation to bilateral relations in general. In addition, the thesis also forecasts the trend of Vietnam - Japan higher educational cooperation in the coming time; proposes a number of recommendations and solutions to contribute to promoting cooperation between the two countries in the next 10 years.

12. Further research directions:

The author will continue to study the higher education cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Japan in the next period, especially the period from 2020 to 2030 when the cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Japan is on a new level and the educational cooperation between the two countries is growing.

13. Thesis-related publications

1. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2019), “International training linkage at the International Training Institute - Hanoi University of Science and Technology: current situation and solutions”, Science Journal, Hanoi University of Education. (64), ISBN 08663719, pp.103-109.

2. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2021). “Higher Education cooperation in the field of information Technology between Vietnam and Japan in the context of Technologicaly Revolution 4.0, The development issues in the new situation”. International conference proceedings.Vol. II, ISBN 978-604-345-113-9, pp.61-80.

3. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2022). “Vietnam-Japan Higher Education Cooperation in the First Two Decades of the 21st Century”. WILAYAH : The International Journal of East Asian Studies, VOL.11(1), ISSN 2232-0679, pp.23-33.

4. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2022). “Vietnam - Japan Education Cooperation from 2000 to the present”, Northeast Asian Studies Journal. (7), ISBN 2354-077X, pp.23-31.

5. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2022). “Factors that impact the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation in higher education”. The first international conference on the issues of social sciences and humanities, ISBN 978-604-9990-98-4, pp.1079-1096.

6. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu (2022). “Vietnam-Japan Higher Education Cooperation Today: Opportunities, Challenges and Trends in the New Context”, 3rd International Conference on Culture and Education (ICCE2022), pp. 629-641.