On February 26th 2022, Vietnam Association of Japan Alumni (VAJA) with the sponsorship and cooperation of Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO) organized an reporting session to announce the results of publishing a research works collection by the young doctors, and to present a summary of research contents, results from the reporters. The reporting session was conducted in the online format with a total of nearly 50 attendees including the leaders of TIFO, Executive Committee of VAJA, the young PhDs – reporters and a number of delegates from the Universities where the PhDs are working.
Since 2015, VAJA and TIFO have signed a cooperation agreement in the selection, introduction and supporting of young scientists who received Doctorate degrees in Japan and have returned to their home countries in 5 year to return to Japan to continue short-term post-doctoral research work under TIFO funding. During the period from 2016 to 2019, VAJA has selected and introduced 20 young PhD students to complete this program, with research conducted in Japan. In the two years 2020-2021, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was not possible to return to Japan carrying out the above studies. Thus, this year the program was organized to support 15 young PhD researchers to publish their researches done in Vietnam. The researches were conducted from October 2021.
After the selection rounds of the Professional Council, 15 projects of 15 young doctors who had received doctoral degrees in Japan in different fields were selected. In mid-February 2022, the anthology of research works by young alumni was published at the Hanoi National University Publishing House. This conference was organized to introduce the above anthology, and also for 15 authors of 15 research projects to present and share their research results.
Attending the presentation were Mr. Keisuke Oomori – President of TIFO, Mr. Kazuo Kusakabe, Chief Representative, Toshiba Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (TAPL), Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City Rep Office, Mrs. Ngo Minh Thuy – President of VAJA, Mr. Phan Trung Nghia – Vice President and General Secretary of VAJA, Mr. Tran Xuan Nam – Member of Executive Committee and Head of Science and Technology Department of VAJA and Ms. Nguyen Huyen Trang – Vice General Secretary of VAJA and 15 researchers who have completed the researches under VAJA-TIFO scholarship in 2021.
After the opening speech by Mr. Tran Xuan Nam, Head of Science and Technology Department of VAJA, Mr. Oomori, Mr. Kusakabe and Mrs. Ngo Minh Thuy gave speeches. Thanks to the organization work of VAJA Executive Committee, the Science and Technology Department of VAJA, the executive team of the VAJA- TIFO Research Support Program 2021, and young doctors who overcame difficulties during the co-vid 19 pandemic, the research projects were successfully completed.
In the main part of the conference, 15 young doctors from 9 universities presented their research reports respectively. The projects were carried out entirely in Vietnam, with abundant research objects and practical applications in various fields. The number of participating projects of the PhDs from universities include: Can Tho University – 4 topics; the National Universities of Hanoi, Hue University, and the University of Danang – each University participated in 2 topics; Universities of Hanoi, Thai Nguyen Agriculture and Forestry, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, and Le Quy Don University of Technology – each participated in 1 topic.
Regarding the fields of participation in this course, there are topics in the fields of agriculture, crop and livestock, which account for the most number of 6 topics; in the field of manufacturing engineering and materials: 3 topics; in the field of biology and medicine: 2 topics; in the field of economics: 2 topics; in the field of environmental pollution treatment: 1 topic, and in the academic field: 1 topic.
Although the research time and investment were not comprehensive for raised problem, but with the enthusiasm of the researchers, the agricultural research results of the young doctors from the Universities of Thai Nguyen Agriculture and Forestry, Hue Agriculture and Forestry, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture and Can Tho University, have contributed a number of practical solutions mainly in the problems of production, conservation of plants such as grapes and canary melon, Ba sa fish of Vietnam, treatment of soil quality, improvement of conditions in shrimp farming, treatment of livestock diseases such as American catfish and chicken… which are currently hot topics in Vietnam’s agricultural field.
The topics from the Hanoi University of Science and Technology and the University of Danang in the field of manufacturing engineering such as the use of magnetic materials, the use of interferometry in semiconductor fabrication, and ultra-precise nanotechnology, have been proposed and identified the requirements of continuing research for continuous improvement of technology in the fields of electronics manufacturing, materials in earthquake-damping and vehicle suspension systems. A solution proposed in a topic about increasing efficiency for collecting high-frequency signal energy with high application demand in the environmental management is also a topic worthy of attention under current climate change, which was from Le Quy Don University of Technology.
In the field of biopharmaceutics, both projects are conducted by two young doctors at Can Tho University, focusing on the medicinal plants available in the Mekong Delta. Authors carefully evaluated the use of available medicinal herbs to find a deeper application direction for medicinal herbs used in anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antibacterial drugs.
The field of economic management was studied by a young doctor at the University of Danang with the topic of distinguishing the differences in annual reports of companies under different models in the same purpose. The applicability of applications for investors will be different and suggest a trend of treatment in investment management of Vietnamese. Another topic from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy – Vietnam National University, Hanoi, on the influence of marketing and services on customers’ interest in usage is also a topic. It is not new in commercial business but still a concern in the health sector when the issue of socialization of the health sector is being expanded in Vietnam.
A research project was conducted on a measure to treat environmental pollution caused by wastes from the textile industry, from Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The study focused on a waste treatment mechanism by adsorption on polycation modified α-Al2O3 nanoparticles under different conditions.
Most of the topics were conducted in cooperation and consultation with a number of related Japanese universities as well as professors who have taught the young PhDs. This has contributed to the research and results of the projects to achieve the purposes of the Fellowship program, contributing to enhancing exchanges in the field of science and technology and mutual understanding and connection between training and research institutions of Vietnam and Japan.
Although there is still a need for further steps in terms of procedures or further practical application design research for the projects reported at this session to be able to put into practice of production or business or state management, the reporting and publication of the above research also marked a great success of the cooperation between VAJA and TIFO. There is a proof to believe that in the upcoming time, the cooperation between VAJA-TIFO will be stronger and more effective.
There is something quite special about 2021-2022 program that the a large number of young female researchers (6/15) participated. That shows a great significance in the training interest of VAJA in cooperation with TIFO as well as the pride of female scientists of Vietnamese former students in Japan.
The report on the results of the Toshiba Foundation Research Scholarship in 2021-2022 occurred warmly with sincere sharing from the representatives of two organizations. It is hoped that following the great success of the program this year, the Toshiba International Foundation and the Vietnam Association of Japan Alumni will continue to create chances for more PhD students to have opportunity of returning to Japan, continuing research and contribute to the development of Vietnam as well as the growing friendship between the two countries Vietnam – Japan.