Vietnam is undergoing rapid urbanization combined with fast-paced economic growth. These changes have raised concerns regarding outdoor air quality and indoor environmental conditions in buildings. Particularly, after a building is completed, there are currently very few measures in place to address indoor air pollution and its impacts on residents’ health. Therefore, it is essential to conduct thorough research during both the design and construction phases of the built environment.
The collaboration between the Faculty of Environment, Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment (HCMUNRE) and the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan began with the SAKURA Science Exchange Program. As part of this initiative, five students and three lecturers from HCMUNRE were invited to Japan for a 10-day academic exchange from November 22 to December 1, 2017.
During the program, Professor Kazuhide Ito’s research team (15 members) and the Vietnamese delegation from HCMUNRE gave joint presentations introducing research from both universities. The participating HCMUNRE students were in their final year of Environmental Studies and demonstrated high motivation and strong academic engagement. Lively academic discussions often extended late into the evening, well beyond the scheduled time.
On Saturday, November 25, 2017, Dr. Nguyen Lu Phuong, a JSPS postdoctoral fellow and HCMUNRE faculty member, guided the delegation through Kyushu University’s Hakozaki and Ito campuses. The Vietnamese students expressed great interest in the large-scale experimental laboratories located at the Ito campus. On weekdays, they actively participated in intensive studies and research on indoor airflow dynamics.
Alongside academic activities, cultural exchange events were organized, where Vietnamese and Japanese students and faculty shared traditional foods. Vietnamese dishes such as spring rolls, steamed rice rolls, and pho were introduced, while the Japanese side prepared sushi and traditional nabe (hot pot). At the conclusion of the program, HCMUNRE students and faculty were awarded certificates of completion for the SAKURA Science Exchange Program.
Despite the short 10-day visit, Nguyen Dang Khoa, a senior student from HCMUNRE’s Faculty of Environment, successfully conducted computational simulations as part of the collaboration with Prof. Ito’s group. His research was submitted to RoomVent 2018, one of the world’s leading international conferences on indoor environmental engineering. Following the program, Khoa was awarded a Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT) and is now pursuing his Master’s degree in Energy and Environmental Engineering at Kyushu University.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Van Ha, Dean of the Faculty of Environment at HCMUNRE, also participated in the exchange. She engaged in discussions with Prof. Akira Harata, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Prof. Ito, Head of the Department of Advanced Environmental Science and Engineering, regarding future student and faculty exchange mechanisms.
The next SAKURA Science Exchange Program, originally scheduled for 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to resume in 2021.
Some photos from Fukuoka, Japan:
Sinh viên HCMUNRE và Kyushu trình bày báo cáo tại hội thảo tại khu học xá Chikushi
Tham quan khu học xá Ito thuộc Đại học Kyushu
Sinh viên HCMUNRE và Kyushu trình bày báo cáo tại hội thảo tại khu học xá Chikushi
PGS.TS. Nguyễn Thị Vân Hà đang thảo luận với GS Ito trước giờ trưa
Đoàn đại biểu Việt Nam nhận chứng chỉ chương trình trao đổi khoa học Sakura
Đoàn đại biểu Việt Nam nhận tham quan thư viện của Đại học Kyushu
Đoàn đại biểu Việt Nam nhận tham quan hệ thống phòng thí nghiệm của Đại học Kyushu