2024 Activity Report vol.35:The University of Osaka

In January 2025, a total of eight members—seven students and one faculty member—from the High School for Gifted Students (HSGS), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, were invited to Osaka University to participate in Course A: Science and Technology Experience Program, focusing on cutting-edge research in the field of semiconductors. Additionally, eleven students and one teacher from Hyogo Prefectural Hyogo High School, which has conducted international collaborative programs with HSGS for several years, were partially involved in the program. This initiative aimed to promote student and academic exchanges between higher education institutions in Japan and Vietnam, and to foster mutual understanding and learning toward future international collaborative research partnerships.

[January 17]

An online exchange session was held prior to the group's arrival in Japan. The session included self-introductions and a preliminary learning on semiconductors. Students from Hyogo High School also participated.

[January 19]

The HSGS delegation arrived in Japan and participated in an orientation shortly after.

[January 20]

At Toyonaka Campus, participants were introduced to the School of Science and took part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony experience. Students from the School of Science joined the event, shared their student life experiences—especially regarding interactions between international and Japanese students—and enjoyed lunch together. HSGS students actively asked questions, making the session highly engaging. The tea ceremony was conducted with the support of Osaka University's tea ceremony club. The HSGS students were deeply impressed by the traditional performance by students dressed in kimono. They also had hands-on experience in making tea, which provided an authentic cultural experience and deepened their sense of familiarity with Japan.

[January 21]

The participants visited four laboratories conducting fundamental research in semiconductor science. In the morning, a lab tour was conducted at Suita Campus, and in the afternoon, a joint lab tour with Hyogo High School students took place at the Toyonaka Campus. Each lab provided introductions to their research and equipment. There were opportunities to handle experimental devices and engage in discussions with professors, offering both practical experience and valuable learning. Both students gradually began to communicate with each other, marking an important first step in student exchange between Japan and Vietnam.

[January 22]

In the morning, students experienced a hands-on chemistry experiment session to gain a feel for the educational environment at the School of Science. In the afternoon, they visited the Center for Japanese Language and Culture to observe the high-quality Japanese language education provided at Osaka University. In both sessions, international students from the School of Science offered support, facilitating active discussions about daily life at Osaka University and encouraging vibrant student exchange.

[January 23]

In the morning, HSGS students visited Tekijuku—a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan—with Osaka University students. Tekijuku features historical materials outlining the origins of Osaka University, allowing students to deepen their understanding of the university's history while experiencing traditional Japanese architecture. In the afternoon, along with Hyogo High School students, they visited Daikin Industries, Ltd., where they received a presentation on the company's research environment and were given a guided tour. This visit provided a valuable opportunity to experience the high quality of corporate research in Japan.

[January 24]

In the morning, six international students from the School and Graduate School of Science shared their reasons for choosing Osaka University and described their campus and research life. The HSGS students listened with great interest and actively asked questions, leading to lively discussions. In the afternoon, joined by Hyogo High School students, they introduced their respective schools, further promoting exchange. In the evening, a social gathering session was held at the university cafeteria, where HSGS students, Osaka University students and staff, and Hyogo High School students enjoyed informal conversations. A traditional dance performance by the HSGS students highlighted the event and fostered deeper intercultural understanding.

[January 25]

The HSGS delegation was seen off at Kansai International Airport as they departed for home.