Memorandum of Understanding between Nguyen Tat Thanh University and Aomori Tanaka Educational Academy: Prospects of joint training programs in the context of international integration

After the success of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony with Aomori Tanaka Educational Academy and Aomori Chuo Gakuin University (Japan) on April 10th, 2023, the delegation of Nguyen Tat Thanh University (NTTU) with Dr. Tran Ai Cam – President and Dr. Nguyen Lan Phuong – Vice President joined a series of discussions and activities related to joint training programs.

On April 11, 2023, representatives of NTTU had a working meeting on cooperation possibilities with Prof. Miki Maeda – Dean of Food Nutrition Faculty; Prof. Tomoko Kiyosawa – Dean of Early Childhood Education Faculty; Prof. Ito – Dean of Social Welfare Faculty. With long-term partnership strategies, the two institutions have mutually agreed on future cooperation opportunities to facilitate joint training programs and activities.

The meeting between the Board of NTTU Presidents and representatives of Aomori Chuo Junior College

Based on the areas of cooperation in the MOU, NTTU and Aomori Chuo Junior College conducted in-depth discussions on practical and beneficial joint training programs for students such as promotion of cultural exchange activities between Vietnam and Japan, lecturers and students exchange research, internship in Japan, Japanese language and Japanese cultural education, micro-credentials, etc. These cooperative models aim to train highly qualified and creative workforce for the future labour market in the context of international integration, expanding job opportunities in a multicultural environment for graduates.

As one of the pioneers in educational innovation over the years, NTTU has constantly established partnerships with many universities and colleges in Japan. Our partners have worked with us to organize cultural exchange activities, short-term courses, practice sessions and internships for nursing students to work in Japan. These programs have been the basis for establishing a cooperative relationship with Aomori Tanaka Educational Academy. Particularly, the potential cooperation in the field of Early Childhood Education include internships, student exchange, thematic seminars for first-year students majoring in Early Childhood Education, industry visits, articulation programs, etc. Meanwhile, representatives of both sides also discussed the plan to offer  the joint undergraduate programs in Food Technology (specializing in Nutrition and Food Processing) and Nursing at NTTU with the training curricula in Nutrition and Aged Care of Aomori Tanaka Educational Academy.

After mutual discussions, NTTU delegates visited kindergartens, nursing homes, student activities for aged care residents, making handmade toys, etc.

Dr. Tran Ai Cam – President and Dr. Nguyen Lan Phuong – Vice President visit kindergarten

…nursing home

…aged care training classes

…watching acting performances in aged care

…making handmade gifts

Based on mutual agreements, on the morning of April 12, 2023, Dr. Nguyen Lan Phuong was invited to present about Teaching Methodology on Early Childhood Education in Vietnam for students of Aomori Chuo Junior College.

Dr. Nguyen Lan Phuong – NTTU Vice President with her inspiring talks on Teaching Methodology on Early Childhood Education in Vietnam

Dr. Tran Ai Cam was also invited to present about “Cooperation, development and human resource training between Vietnam and Japan in 2023”. Regarding prospects for international cooperation between NTTU and Aomori Tanaka Educational Academy, Dr. Tran Ai Cam shared that Vietnam and Japan have become strategic partners to comprehensively promote cooperation in international trade and investment to the development of large-scale infrastructure projects as driving forces for sustainable socio-economic development, advanced technology transfer and human resource training for both sides. In particular, partnerships in higher education between Vietnam and Japan are demonstrated through many government policies, education and training institutions, industry-university educational cooperation through different transnational education models in fields of economics, industrial manufacturing, education, healthcare, health sciences, ect. Moreover, Dr. Tran Ai Cam expected that both sides would continue to expand cooperation to establish Vietnam-Japan joint training institutions which offer a range of transnational education programs embeded the strengths and similarities between Nguyen Tat Thanh University and Aomori Tanaka Educational Academy’s undergraduate programs.

Dr. Tran Ai Cam – President presents at the international conference of Aomori Tanaka Educational Academy (Japan)

Dr. Tran Ai Cam received many questions from students of Aomori Chuo Junior College

In addition, Dr. Tran Ai Cam hoped that mutual partnerships in Early Childhood Education, and Aged care discipline will be further facilitated by both sides. Not only Japan, Vietnam is also facing an aging population with a very high proportion of  people aged 65 and over. Hence, the need for health care with the increasing standard of living, high-quality healthcare services for elderly populations opens a lot of employment opportunities for Vietnamese graduates. In this case, the short-term programs can be offered which are aged care service for the learners without or with a little bit of professional knowledge and skills and nursing students-oriented programs for NTTU undergraduate students to upgrade their professional skills and knowledge. Regarding long-term plans, both sides can work together to develop an undergraduate curriculum in Aged Care for all Vietnamese students.

Dr. Tran Ai Cam at the Q&A session with Japanese students

Mr. Norihisa Ishida – Chairman of the Board of Directors, Aomori Tanaka Educational Academy delivers the closing speech with an expectation for a sustainable cooperative relationship in the future.

News: Thanh Hương

Photos: Tiến Thành