Receiving a delegation from Shukutoku University (Japan)

At the meeting, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh briefly introduced the history of training and research of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities as a leading address for training in social sciences and humanities in Vietnam. Among the partners, the Rector affirmed that Japan has always been an important partner in the international cooperation strategy of the University. The University has close relations with Japanese universities such as the University of Tokyo, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Osaka University, Showa Women's University, Waseda University. Therefore, it also wishes to strengthen cooperation with Shukutoku University through activities such as student and lecturer exchanges, especially through short-term courses such as Summer School; organizing translation and publishing of documents and textbooks on social work in Vietnam; co-organizing international conferences; co-conducting short-term and long-term research.

On behalf of Shukutoku University, Professor Masatoshi Hasegawa highly appreciated the cooperation proposals of Professor Pham Quang Minh. He also expressed his wish to continue the research project “Social Work and Buddhism” between the two sides. Through this project, professors and scholars of Shukutoku University and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities can exchange and discuss the relationship between Buddhism and social work in many different countries, including Vietnam and Japan, in order to analyze and compare the role of Buddhism with social work in diverse social contexts. The research results will be published in a monograph with contributions from many different countries.

Within the framework of this project, in the next 2 days, representatives of the Faculty of Sociology will join a working group from Shukutoku University to conduct field surveys at a number of pagodas in Hanoi and neighboring provinces.

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh received a souvenir from Prof. Masatoshi Hasegawa

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh took a souvenir photo with the delegation of Shukutoku University

Shukutoku University was established in 1965 in Chiba, Japan and has had many cooperative projects with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. In March 2012, a research delegation from Shukutoku University, Japan, came to Vietnam and discussed and signed a contract to coordinate research and implement the research project "The role of Buddhism in social work" initiated by Professor Nguyen Hoi Loan of Hanoi National University. The project was supported by the World Buddhist Sangha and agreed by Mr. Hasegawa Masatoshi - President of Shukutoku University and lasted for 3 years.