President Houkin visited Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

On Tuesday, December 6, President Houkin and four others visited the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, with which Hokkaido University has an inter-university exchange agreement, and met with President Mai Thanh Phong. After brief presentations from both universities, it was agreed to further strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two universities. The delegation then visited the buildings of the Faculty of Applied Chemistry and the Faculty of Civil Engineering, met with faculty members and students, and toured the facilities.

On the same day, President Houkin and four others attended a meeting for the establishment of the Southern Vietnam Alumni Association. Before the meeting, President Houkin handed a letter of appointment to Dr. Bui Huu Phu, who had been appointed Hokkaido University Ambassador as of December 1 (Graduate School of Information Science and Technology graduate). At the meeting, after giving a presentation to about 15 alumni on Hokkaido University and its current status, participants exchanged opinions. There were various comments in anticipation of further progress of the University, such as suggesting efforts to increase the Hokkaido University’s recognition in Vietnam. An alumni association of former international students from Vietnam will be officially established in the near future.

On Wednesday, December 7, the Hokkaido University delegation traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the Symposium for the Promotion of Study in Japan. At the symposium, five Malaysians (including two Hokkaido University alumni), who have returned to their home country after studying in Japan and are now active in academia and industry, took the podium to speak, followed by a panel discussion. In addition to introducing the initiatives of the University, they shared their experiences on the merits of studying in Japan and securing funds for their study abroad. The symposium was attended by the Minister of the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia and was attended by approximately 30 participants in person and 13 participants online.

After the symposium, a social gathering with high tea (light refreshments) was held, at the beginning of which President Houkin handed a letter of appointment to Mr. Shu Suehiro (School of Economics graduate), President of the Hokkaido University Elm Association of Malaysia, who was appointed Hokkaido University Ambassador as of December 1.
After the reception, Dr. Lulie Melling (Graduate School of Agriculture graduate), who is scheduled to become the president of the alumni association, explained to President Houkin that she would take procedures for the establishment of the alumni association following a meeting with former international students from Malaysia.

With the appointments of the two new Hokkaido University Ambassadors and the establishment of alumni associations in the two countries, we can expect more active exchange between Hokkaido University and the Southeast Asian region in the future.

If you are interested in joining these Alumni Association, please contact huap@oia.hokudai.ac.jp.