On November 18, 2011, right after the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Graduate School of General Culture, University of Tokyo, the opening ceremony of the Japan Research Support Program Office was held.The Japan Research Support Program is one of the contents of the cooperation agreement between the two schools. This program is sponsored by Zensho Corporation to promote the development of Japanese studies in Vietnam and is one of the activities of "Supporting Asian talent training" of Zensho Corporation for the University of Tokyo. The program is expected to last for 5 years. Attending the opening ceremony, on the Japanese side, were: Professor Hasegawa Toshikazu - President of the Graduate School of General Culture, Professor Furuta Motoo - General Director of the University of Tokyo Library, Mr. Sugiyama Kenichi - Deputy Executive Board of the University of Tokyo, Mr. Ogawa Kentaro - Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Zensho Corporation. Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh - President of the University - thanked the University of Tokyo for cooperating and helping the University build the Japan Research Program in Hanoi. The President said: In 1995, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities established the Japanese Studies Department under the Faculty of Oriental Studies. The Japanese Studies Department was built in the direction of regional studies combined with Japanese language training. It is expected that in the near future, the University will develop the Japanese Studies Department into an independent department training from bachelor's to master's and doctoral levels. Every year, the Tokyo Graduate School of Culture will send lecturers to teach at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. At the same time, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will also send young lecturers and students to intern at the Tokyo Graduate School of Culture. The Japanese research support program will contribute to promoting the development of Japanese Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Vietnam, further strengthening the strategic cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Japan.
Prof. Hasegawa Toshikazu - Rector of the Graduate School of General Culture - affirmed that the two schools have had a close cooperative relationship for many years. Since 2008, the two schools have organized and implemented a distance learning program. Prof. Hasegawa Toshikazu emphasized: The Department of Japanese Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is one of the key centers for Japanese studies in Vietnam, and this will be the place to sow the seeds for Japanese studies in Vietnam from now on. The Japanese studies program is implemented with the joint contributions of the staff and lecturers of the two schools. Mr. Ogawa Kentaro - Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Zensho Group - said: Zensho Group sponsored this program with the desire to promote the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Japan. Mr. Ogawa Kentaro expressed his admiration for the spirit and resilience of the Vietnamese people in the past as well as the present. He believes that both Vietnamese and Japanese people are hard-working and tireless, and that in the future, the two countries will become strong developed countries. He hopes that the Japanese Research Support Program will be one of the activities that create conditions for young people to contribute to building the future of the country.
