Expanding University Networks between Japan and Vietnam to Further Promote Collaboration in Education and Research

From October 8 to 9, 2026, Saga University President Koichi Node, Vice President for International Affairs Maiko Sakamoto, and Professor Kazunari Tsuji of the Faculty of Agriculture participated in the 4th Japan-Vietnam University Presidents’ Conference, held at the Suita Campus of The University of Osaka. A total of 66 universities from Japan and Vietnam took part in the conference, where participants exchanged views on strengthening future collaboration in education and research.

Throughout the conference, participants discussed future opportunities for educational and research collaboration between universities in Japan and Vietnam during the opening ceremony, keynote speeches, breakout sessions, and plenary sessions. In the breakout sessions, participants exchanged views on expanding student mobility to foster globally minded talent, strengthening inter-university cooperation to address regional and global challenges, and promoting joint education and research initiatives in priority fields of science and technology.

President Node served as facilitator for the breakout session entitled “University-to-University Collaboration for Global Talent Development and Social Impact Creation.” During the session, he introduced Saga University’s Sandwich Program, which promotes the mutual exchange and joint supervision of graduate students with overseas partner universities. He also presented examples of international collaboration in education and research, including joint research initiatives addressing regional challenges shared by the Ariake Sea region and the Mekong Delta region.

The Sandwich Program is a bilateral graduate education program through which Saga University and its overseas partner institutions exchange graduate students. Participating students conduct research under the joint supervision of faculty members from both universities while spending a designated period at the partner institution. Through joint supervision and evaluation with overseas partner universities, Saga University is promoting the internationalization of graduate education while maintaining academic quality.

The program and its achievements were also introduced during the plenary session and shared with conference participants. In addition to the formal sessions, the delegation actively engaged in bilateral meetings and networking receptions with university leaders from Japan and Vietnam, deepening mutual understanding and establishing connections that are expected to lead to new educational and research collaborations.

Building on the outcomes of this conference, Saga University will continue to leverage and expand its international partnerships to promote human resource development, including the joint supervision of graduate students, and to advance international collaborative research. The University remains committed to developing meaningful educational and research collaborations that build on its strengths and contribute to addressing shared societal challenges

【For inquiries】
Office for International Planning, Saga University　
　Yada / Kitajima　
　Tel: +81-952-28-8166　  
　E-mail: kokusai@mail.admin.saga-u.ac.jp