On September 19, an entrance ceremony was held online for seven students admitted to an Okayama-Hue International Master’s Program offered by Okayama University in collaboration with Hue University (Vietnam). This year marks the fifteenth year since this special course was established. Numerous staff and faculty from both institutions joined the ceremony to welcome incoming students, including President MAKINO Hirofumi and Executive Director for Academic Affairs FUNAHASHI Hiroaki from Okayama University and Vice President for International Co-operation Do Thi Xuan Dung from Hue University.

President Makino thanked Vice President Dung and other representatives for their willingness to co-create a flexible course despite the restrictive conditions imposed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and encouraged incoming students by saying, “I hope that you will all work hard during your time at this well-established program, which has already accepted approximately 100 students since its inception.”

Even though the ceremony was held online as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many alumni joined the event and a friendly atmosphere prevailed throughout.

In the first year of the program, the Vietnamese students study at Hue University, specializing in agricultural and environmental studies for one year and participating in a 6-month Japanese language program offered by Hue University of Foreign Languages. Then, students are expected to transfer to Okayama University as second-year graduate students. Upon successfully completing the course, students are awarded with a master’s degree. The total number of current and past students exceeds 100. Not only is the program supported by local businesses, but it is also recognized for producing graduates who excel in their field.