2025 Activity Report vol.8:Takasaki University of Health and Welfare

From October 18 to October 25, 2025, we welcomed eight students from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (three from Public Health, three from Pharmacy, and two from Medical Technology) and carried out an exchange program under the theme: "Exploring Rapid and Optimal Disaster Relief — Creating a Sustainable Society through the Use of Advanced Technology."

The purpose of this program was to learn about the disaster-related scientific and technological advancements that have developed in Japan, where natural disasters frequently occur. It also aimed to deepen understanding and improve disaster response capacities that may be required in their own country. Throughout the program, students connected these learnings with their respective academic specialties, while also exploring the relationship between medical and welfare fields.

【Lectures and Practical Training】

Special lectures and hands-on training were conducted on scientific and technological applications related to emergency and evacuation situations, including the use of AI-based chatbot builders for providing critical information, image analysis, drone applications for aerial search operations, and body care techniques for life in evacuation shelters.

In addition, students learned practical knowledge and strategies for establishing and operating a disaster volunteer center. They also received lectures from faculty members with professional experience in disaster response within the fields of Pharmacy, Healthcare Informatics, Social Welfare, Health and Nutrition, Appliced Biological Sciences, and listened to presentations by students who had previously participated in disaster relief volunteer activities.

【Site Visits】

During the visit to Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, a core disaster base hospital in the prefecture equipped with a DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) doctor helicopter, participants attended a lecture on DMAT missions and observed actual disaster preparedness measures. When they saw the doctor helicopter up close upon its return from a mission, the invited participants burst into excited cheers.

Additionally, during the field study at Yamba Dam—an infrastructure that has helped reduce flood damage in the lower reaches of the Tone River—participants listened attentively to explanations about its history, scale, and the technologies utilized, which left a strong impression.

【Project】

On the final day, the participants integrated the knowledge and skills they had gained throughout the week and planned disaster support measures—covering prediction, response, recovery, and prevention—tailored to the needs of their own country. By assuming a specific regional flood scenario, they demonstrated the effectiveness of their team project through multidisciplinary collaboration, including mapping evacuation routes to higher ground, securing evacuation shelters, identifying required personnel and supplies, and organizing hospital and volunteer operations. This led to meaningful presentations and productive discussions.

【Student Exchange & Cultural Experiences】

During their stay in Japan, the participants not only enjoyed daily meals and shopping but also interacted extensively with our students while exploring Kusatsu Hot Springs under the autumn sky and experiencing a foot bath for the first time. Furthermore, during a two-night homestay with local students, they engaged in activities such as making rice balls together, enjoying takoyaki and hot pot parties, and received warm hospitality from each host family, allowing them to experience Japanese lifestyle and cultural practices firsthand.

The participants expressed that their most memorable experience was encountering the kindness of the Japanese people and deepening their friendships with the students and their families—words that were extremely gratifying for us as the host university.

Looking ahead, we will continue to enhance the quality of this program and further strengthen our partnership with the collaborating universities.