The 5th Conference of Japan Alumni of Vietnam (JAV)

THE 5^TH CONFERENCE OF JAPAN ALUMNI OF VIETNAM (2013 – 2016)

As proposed by the JAV Executive Committee on 11th November, 2013 under the direction and consent of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association at the meeting on 12^th, November, 2013, the 5th conference of JAV was held on Saturday, 14th December, 2013 at the Grand Hall, 2nd floor, Friendship House, 105A Quan Thanh, Hanoi.

This Conference has attracted more than 70 official delegates, representing localities, schools, training courses in Japan to register to participate, and many representatives of the organizations and agencies of Japan and Vietnam. JAV Office hereby summarizes the main points of the Conference as follows:

1. The Conference attendees:

For the Vietnamese Party:

–          The leader of Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association

–          Leaders of the Asia-Africa Committee, Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations

–          Representatives of Northeast Asia Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

–          Members of Japan Alumni of Vietnam

For the Japanese Party:

–          Mr. Saita Yukio, Counselor of the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam

–          Mr. Tetsuya Sato, the Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam

1. The Congress’ contents

The reports and following contents are discussed in the Conference:

1. SUMMARY OF THE PERFORMED DUTIES IN TERM IV (2010-2013)
2. Advantages and disadvantages

1.1. Advantages

1. The advantages from the Vietnam – Japan cooperation

– Term IV (2010-2013) of JAV took place in the context that the Vietnam – Japan cooperation developed very strongly.

– The year of 2013 was the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam – Japan with so many celebrating activities.

1. The advantages from the ASCOJA và ASJA

– After the 19th Conference in Bangkok (Thailand), JAV was elected as the President of ASCOJA in term of 2012-2013

– The Japanese Party is very interested and highly appreciates the activities of JAV. In particular, the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam has frequently cooperated, exchanged the works and supported for JAV’s activities.

– JAV has received the guidance, help and great support from the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association and Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, Northeast Asia Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

– The Executive Committee is active, enthusiastic, working for the general development so it has received supports from the members.

– After 12 years of operation, JAV Club has a certain experience in the operation, confirms its role and prestige.

– JAV Club performed its President duties in the 20th Conference of ASCOJA on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Vietnam – Japan diplomatic relations so it is more convenient to carry out preparatory works of the Conference and related events.

1.2. Disadvantages

1. Objective disadvantages

              –  The Japanese government has changed some policies so JAV’s activities are affected (Junior Program had suspended for a year and then continued with other forms, ASJA was in the risk of dispersion, change in MEXT scholarship management for former Oversea Students).

–    Members of JAV Executive Committee are mostly the staff involved in the management at the State agencies or different enterprises, so it is difficult to coordinate the suitable time for the JAV’s activities and every people.

–     The operational cost is still tight

1. Subjective disadvantages

–         The sense of participation into collective activities of some club members is still weak

–         The former students in Japan participating into the Club are limited

2. The results achieved in the term IV (6th November, 2010 – 14th December, 2013)

+ The past term IV was associated with JAV Club’s activities, including two major events:  fund raising campaign to support victims of the tsunami and holding the Conference of JAV. In addition to the said two activities, JAV has continued to implement and expand, enhance the quality of other activities.

+ In overall, the term IV is a successful period. JAV Executive Committee has overcome difficulties in human resources and operational expenditure, by the efforts of the enthusiastic club members, especially those in the Executive Committee, maintained good foreign operations, built its reputation in Southeast Asia and Japan. We have an additional important step forward for the organization and the position of JAV

+ The above achievements are gained thanks to the enthusiastic support of the club members and high effort of members of JAV Executive Committee. In particular, the direct and effective help of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association, the support of the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, the local associations’ positive activities in the country.

+ However, the following shortcomings are seen:

–        The number of members are small, not enthusiastic to attract all former oversea students.

–         The activities attracting a large numbers of participants are insignificant.

–         The activities among the members of the JAV Executive Committee are unequal. The JAV Executive Committee has 17 members but actually only about 6-8 members are regularly active.

1. DIRECTION OF THE TERM V(2013-2016)

In the next term, the club shall focus on the following major contents:

1. To maintain and further improve the annual activities of JAV. To enhance the activities effectively, practical to attract more participants. In particular,
2. To actively participate into the activities of Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association; to strengthen exchanges and activities of the Vietnam- Japan Business Club, Vietnam – Japan Cultural Exchange Club and the member clubs.
3. To coordinate with JASSO, the Embassy to organize the annual conference on oversea study in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh cities.
4. To strengthen relations and cooperation with the Embassy of Japan and Japanese institutions, organizations of Vietnam on the activities of the Club.
5. To remain and improve the Club’s website.
6. To continue to well fulfill the operations of sending and receiving the students in JUNIOR exchange programs, ASCOJA – MEXT scholarship selection and other activities
7. To meet and regularly cooperate with the Embassy of Japan and ASJA in recruitment of alumni and new students to study in Japan or to return to their former schools. To contribute as the bridge between the Japan Alumni and their former schools and to introduce new oversea students to the schools where the club members studied, etc
8. The expected operations to be improved and accelerated in the next term
9. To increase new member admitting. It is targeted to have 2,500 members throughout the nation by the end of the term.  To establish the region-level, school-level groups of alumni.
10. To stabilize and improve the administration work
11. To hold specialized seminars, scientific and technical activities and exchanges in different forms. To promote the activities for close cohesion between teachers and students and between the alumni and their old schools.
12. To add some exchange activities for some groups of Japan Alumni or those  involved in alumni (activities for the children, those for the Ladies, etc)
13. To intensity activities of alumni who are currently learning.
14. To expand the relations and exchanges with organizations, associations, Japanese companies in Vietnam.
15. THE MAIN ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED

Surrounding the issues enhancing connectivity among the members, the delegates addressed their ebullient opinions on some main aspects as follows:

– To establish the groups of alumni of each region and each school, especially the working area.

– To develop the relationships between the alumni and new oversea students and and with their former schools.

– To encourage JAV members to address the ideas to promote JAV’s activities, to identify the strengths of the members and of JAV.

– To further promote the application of information technology in linking to more club members.

– To establish the Club’s activities more closely and systematically by adding some amendments in the operation principles of the club.

III. Speech made by Mr. Saita Yukio, Counselor of the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam

           The Counselor, Mr. Saita expressed deep recognition of the Embassy of Japan for a series of activities of the Club to promote the friendly relationship between Vietnam and Japan. In particular, in the context that it was only 2 weeks left before the end of the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations and also on 14th December, at Tokyo, the summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) took place, confirming the role of indispensable partner of ASEAN members in Japan’s external relations.

The Counselor highly appreciated the activities of the Club in order to develop commercial, economic investments but also to focus on the field of cultural exchange, human. In that sense, the Embassy of Vietnam will further efforts in supporting the activities of the Club.