Activity Report of Open Application Program 2023 vol.6 (Course A)
Vietnamese Students have learnt the Environmental Technologies developed in Kitakyushu
Report from the University of Kitakyushu
On August 19, 2023 three students from Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University Hanoi, two students from Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, and two students from Hue University arrived at Fukuoka, together with their coordinators, Assistant Professor Nguyen Minh Khai (Hanoi University of Science), Professor Nguyen Vieta Anh (Hanoi University of Civil Engineering), and Le Van Tuan (lecturer, Hue University).
The University of Kitakyushu has been performing various kind of student exchange programs with Vietnamese universities since 2010s, leading to implementation of various kinds of joint research projects for water treatment and waste treatment, together with Hanoi University of Science, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, Hue University and the University of Da Nang, University of Technology. Specifically, JSPS Bilateral Collaborations, research projects of Sewerage and Wastewater Management Department at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the JICA−JST's SATREPS program, and joint research with private sectors, collaboration on Kitakyushu City's international projects.
The University of Kitakyushu's Sakura Science Program is also implemented to integrate existing the graduate school−level programs and the above joint research, which may be further developed to explore the chance to study in high−quality laboratories of the University of Kitakyushu with Governmental full−scholarships given from Vietnam and/or Japan. This is also to help the Vietnamese universities' research where lab equipment is limited. Based on this, the SSP program was designed to demonstrate the Kitakyushu's environmental technologies which may be also applicable to other Asian countries.
All invited students were first−timers to see Japan, a field trip to experience Japanese culture was carried out in the first 2 days, including Dazaifu tenmangu (shrine), Beppu onsen (hot sprong) and Mojiko−retro district (classic buildings in Meiji era). These sites are rich in histories and beautiful environment in North Kyushu. At Beppu onsen, a technical tour was also conducted to sample geothermal underground water for the materials in the subsequent laboratory experience at the University of Kitakyushu, where inorganic fractions were analysed and modelled in theoretical calculations.
During day 3 and day 5, various kinds of experiments and lectures were performed in the field of environmental chemistry and biotechnologies. In Vietnam, due to rapid economic growth and expansion of urbanized area, relevant infrastructures to maintain environment of waterbodies are still under development. Dr. Kiwao Kadokami, emeritus professor of the University of Kitakyushu conducted a lecture how Kitakyushu people tackled the environmental pollution and controlled. Furthermore, Vietnamese Ph. D. students of the University of Kitakyushu instructed them microbial reactors to decompose pollutants and state−of−the−art technologies to analyse cellular DNAs. Because of limited experimental experience of the invited students in Vietnam, they were so excited and happy to carry out the experiments by their hand (including the invited coordinators). They also enjoyed technical tours to see one of the biggest wastewater treatment plants and eco−towns to recycle various kinds of wastes. It seems that all participants were highly impressed by the balanced atmosphere between natural environment and industries of Kitakyushu.
In day 6,the invited students participated a workshop with oral/poster presentations for their own research being conducted at their universities. To run constructive presentations and discussions, they had paid their best effort to prepare the presentation materials until the day. Nevertheless, they were impressed by the Ph.D students' sophisticated and high−quality contents, which were more progressed than their own products. After the workshop, the ceremony to forward SSP certificates to the Vietnamese students and the coordinators was carried out.
In the evening on day 6, they were invited to the farewell dinner party hosted by the international and Japanese students of the University of Kitakyushu. The 7−day itinerary flied very fast but successful. In the next morning, the 7 Vietnamese students and the 3 coordinators invited to the SSP came back to Vietnam. Hope that they should incubate their ideas during the flight to stimulate their research and study plan in abroad.