On February 23, 2018, PEACE Student Exchange Program of Hiroshima University organized, in cooperation with the University of Münster (Germany), a PEACE-SDGs Ideas Mining Workshop.

The PEACE Student Exchange program has set as one of its primary goals to build students’ “Social Planning Capacity.” To that end, we consider ideas mining workshops as a very effective educational method because they are designed to allow the participants to turn their abstract ideas into concrete action plans while facilitating participants’ creative thinking through a variety of educational techniques. The 8 hour long workshop also served as a great opportunity for some HU faculty members to acquire the knowledge and skills underlying the ideas mining method, which was originally developed by the University of Münster.

The participants consisting of HU Japanese and international students, with the help of moderators (instructors), intensively discussed an aspect of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, namely “Quality Education” (for all) (Goal 4), experiencing a variety of ideas mining activities designed to increase their creativity and capacity to generate ideas.

Since some of our faculty members received through the workshop the intensive train-the-trainer training by idea mining experts from the University of Münster, we are now officially allowed to organize ideas mining workshops on our own. Potential future applications may include but not limited to offering workshops to involved faculty/staff members for capacity development purposes and to local companies or public organizations for finding solutions to their problems.

On Saturday, December 23, 2017, Hiroshima University held the Hiroshima University Study　Abroad Information Session and PEACE Student Exchange Program Information Session 2017 on the campus of Institute of Technology of Cambodia, with which HU concluded an MOU in November 2017, in Phnom Penh.

The event attracted about 450 interested participants including Cambodian local students in university or high school, faculty members of Cambodian local universities, and staff members of governmental organizations in Cambodia.

The information sessions were held against the background that Hiroshima University newly concluded Agreements on Academic and Educational Exchange with 6 royal universities (of which ITC is one) in November 2017 and were specifically intended as an initial approach to promote the exchange between these universities and Hiroshima University through the newly launched “PEACE” Student Exchange Program, which is a project funded by Japanese government.

The event opened with the keynote speeches by Dr. HUL Seingheng, Director of Research and Innovation Center, Institute of Technology of Cambodia and Dr. Rey Sopheak, Deputy Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport.

They were followed by (i) a brief overview of Hiroshima University and PEACE Student Exchange Program in which four Cambodian PEACE exchange students (Ms. Sim Lida & Mr. Kheang Chheangmay, from Royal University of Phnom Penh; Mr. Poch Rothpiseth & Ms. Tuy Dawin, from University of Health Sciences), who studied at HU in the spring semester 2017, shared their study abroad experiences, (ii) three faculty information sessions (Graduate School of Engineering, Graduate School of Biosphere Science Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, all of which are participating Schools in the PEACE Student Exchange Program) led by our faculty members, and (iii) three scholarship information sessions (JDS scholarship, MEXT scholarship, international student supports offered by HU). As for the scholarship information sessions, we invited Mr. Kao Sovansophal, Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport (M.A. from HU in 2013) and Dr. Eam Phyrom, Cambodian Development Resource Institute (Ph.D. from HU in 2017) to share with the participants their study abroad experiences at HU as well as some tips for scholarship applications and interviews.

Although the PEACE Student Exchange Program is, as the name suggests, a student exchange program, we hope for our PEACE exchange students from our partner countries to come back to Hiroshima University, after their study abroad experiences in Hiroshima, for earning their Masters or PhDs. This is exactly why we offered information regarding our Graduate School programs (Graduate School of Engineering, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, all of which are participating Schools in the PEACE program) as well as available scholarship programs (such as JASSO scholarship for the PEACE Student Exchange Program or JDS scholarship and MEXT scholarship for degree-earning programs).

The below are the presentation slides for the information sessions (some of them will be later uploaded):

• Introduction of Hiroshima University and PEACE Student Exchange Program

Overview

• Study Abroad Experiences in Hiroshima and at Hiroshima U

Ms. Sim Lida (Royal University of Phnom Penh)

Mr. Kheang Chheangmay (Royal University of Phnom Penh)

Mr. Poch Rothpiseth (University of Health Sciences)

Ms. Tuy Dawin (University of Health Sciences)

• List of Promotion Videos

Hiroshima University

Department of Integrated Global Studies (IGS)

International Student Life

Video Message from Cambodian HU Alumni (Dr. Nith Bunlay, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport)

• raduate School Information Sessions

Graduate School of Engineering

Graduate School of Biosphere Science

Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation

• Scholarship Information Sessions

JDS Scholarship

MEXTScholarship

International Student Supports by HU

• Related Links

Hiroshima University Website (English)
https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en

Admission Information for International Students
https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/nyugaku/sembatsu

 

There were also individual faculty booths that can provide the interested participants with more detailed information about the education programs as well as application procedures for our Graduate Schools.

HU has been playing a leading role in promoting student mobility especially among CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand) since the project proposal of Hiroshima University for the FY 2016 “Inter-University Exchange Project” (Re-Inventing Japan Project-Type B: Promoting exchanges with ASEAN universities) was adopted by the Japanese government in 2016.

HU is willing to promote collaboration (academic or educational) with our overseas partner universities under or beyond the framework of “PEACE” Student Exchange Program, which we hope would result in attracting more and more talented international students from the CLMV countries.

 

On November 9, 2017, Hiroshima University, welcoming 8 rectors/directors of royal universities in Cambodia to its Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, hosted an international symposium that combined an introduction of the 8 royal universities with a consideration of their current initiatives and future role within the ASEAN community.

The symposium, which was held as part of “PEACE” and titled “New Strategies and Challenges of ASEAN Community: Proposals from 8 Rectors of Royal Universities in Cambodia,” was convened at the Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, Hiroshima University. The event opened with a welcome address by Dr. Yasushi Maruyama, Vice President, Hiroshima University, followed by addresses by Mr. Hiroki Taura, Director for International Analysis, Higher Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan (MEXT) and by Dr. Takuya Baba, Dean, Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University.

The symposium continued with the keynote speeches by 8 rectors of royal universities in Cambodia as follows:

Dr. Bong Sovath, Rector, Royal University of Fine Arts

Dr. Chet Chealy, Rector, Royal University of Phnom Penh

Dr. Hor Peng, Rector, National University of Management

Dr. Luy Channa, Rector, Royal University of Law and Economics

Dr. Ngo Bunthan, Rector, Royal University of Agriculture

Dr. Om Romny, Director, Institute of Technology of Cambodia

Dr. Saphonn Vonthanak, Rector, University of Health Sciences

Dr. Thun Vathana, Director, Prek Leap National College of Agriculture

After the keynote speeches by the rectors, we had an open floor discussion, with Dr. Nith Bulay, Deputy Director General, Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Cambodia, as an invited discussant.

We hope that academic exchange as well as student exchange between HU and universities in Cambodia will continue to develop even more from this point forward.

 

On Wednesday, March 29, we held the Inauguration Ceremony of the “Cambodia MoEYS-Hiroshima University Collaboration Center” at the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), Cambodia.
In 2016, Hiroshima University, for the first time in the nation’s history, signed an agreement on academic and cooperation with the MoEYS, Cambodia. The strong support from it has been the driving force behind the university’s success in Cambodia and led to the establishment of the new center in Phnom Penh.

The ceremony began with an opening address by Dr. Makoto Miyatani, Executive and Vice President of Hiroshima University, followed by an address by H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, Cambodia. We then had a congratulatory speech by H.E. Mr. Hidehisa Horinouchi, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia. After the ceremony, all of the attendees visited the Collaboration Center.
It is our hope that this new collaboration center will allow for a smooth, effective collaboration and academic exchanges with the government and partner institutions of Cambodia. Hiroshima University will make every effort to promote the further development of higher education in Cambodia and Japan with this newly established center.

On Tuesday, March 7, we held the “PEACE” Student Exchange Program Kick-off Meeting Symposium at the Library Hall of the Central Library on the Higashi-Hiroshima Campus (see the program here ).

The event attracted about 100 participants, including several representatives we invited from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Cambodia, the Ministry of Education, Myanmar, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan (MEXT) as well as the faculty/staff and student representatives from our partner universities in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand.

The symposium opened with a welcome and opening address by Dr. Mitsuo Ochi, President of Hiroshima University, followed by an address by Mr. Hideki Iwabuchi, Director, Office for International Planning, MEXT. After Mr. Iwabuchi’s address, we had two keynote speakers for the symposium: H.E. MAK Ngoy, Director General, Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Cambodia and H.E. Soe Win, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Myanmar.

The afternoon session included presentations by Hiroshima University, Hiroshima University of Economics, and our 13 partner universities. The presentations were given under the general theme of “The Roles and Issues of Higher Education for the Attainment of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Asia.” The general theme was then divided into two more specific topics. Half of the universities presented on the topic of “The Roles and Issues of Student Exchanges in Asian Universities” and the other half on “The Roles and Issues of Regional Harmonization among Asian Universities for the Attainment of SDGs.” You can see their presentation slides below:

 

Session I: “The Roles and Issues of Student Exchanges in Asian Universities”

1. Hiroshima University of Economics (Japan)
2. Royal University of Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
3. Vietnam National University, Hanoi, University of Science (Vietnam)
4. University of Yangon (Myanmar)
5. National University of Laos (Laos)
6. Foreign Trade University (Vietnam)
7. University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

 

Session II: “The Roles and Issues of Regional Harmonization among Asian Universities for the Attainment of SDGs”

8. Kasetsart University (Thailand)
9. University of Transport and Communications (Vietnam)
10. University of Health Sciences (Cambodia)
11. Vietnam National University, Hanoi, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam)
12. Myeik University (Myanmar)
13. Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, University of Science (Vietnam)
14. Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam)
15. Hiroshima University (Japan)

 

Thanks to all the participants who were very actively engaged in the discussions before, during, and after the symposium, we believe that we were able to establish a firm basis for our future projects, and intra/international collaboration.