The year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and Japan establishing cooperative relations. Vietnamese Government considers Japan as a friend and a reliable partner of ASEAN. The ASEAN-Japan strategic partnership is one of the most meaningful and comprehensive relationships between ASEAN and its partners, spanning the fields of peace, prosperity, quality of life and heart-to-heart connection.
The Project for Human Resources Development in Food-related Areas through Partnership with Universities in ASEAN Region (HRD Project) was one of the cooperation projects between Japan and ASEAN in the field of food-related short training, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan through the coordination of the Secretariat, ASEAN Economic Community. Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) was the only educational institution assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam to organize training courses within the framework of the project.
In 2023, the operation of the HRD project was officially launched with the training course "2023 Food Safety Management ". This was a course chaired by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, with the lecturers being experts in the Food Safety Department of Ecore Co., Ltd. The course was organized into two phases, with two main themes, including: (i) Phase 1: training on Food safety from June 7 to June 9, 2023; and (ii) Phase 2: Training on System Assessment (Audit) from July 27 to July 28, 2023. After the course, students would have to complete the exam, and would then receive a certificate issued by the Japan Food Safety Management Association once fully completing the conditions of the course.
On the morning of June 7, 2023, the opening ceremony of the course was held online. The Faculty of Food Technology, VNUA, connected with Japanese bridgeheads as well as students in different provinces via Zoom platform. Representing the Japanese side was Ms. Kazuko Takabatake, Director, Food Business Conduct Office, New Business and Food Industry Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan; Mr. Shouichi Sakai, Food Safety Department, Ecore Co., Ltd; Mr. Junpei Saito, Food Safety Committee, Ecore Co., Ltd., a trainer on Food Safety with the participation of representatives of the ASEAN Coordinating Board, Ms. Megumi Tarui, representative of the ASEAN Secretariat. From VNUA, there were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Anh, Dean of the Faculty of Food Technology; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, Head of the Post-Harvest Technology Department, HRD project coordinator, and lecturers from Faculty of Food Technology. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the course, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, HRD project coordinator, introduced about the project's activities, especially emphasizing the value and meaning of this special course. On the Japanese side, Ms. Kazuko Takabatake, Director, Food Business Conduct Office, New Business and Food Industry Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, also emphasized the importance of food safety management not only in Japan but also in global scale, as well as why this course was included in the training curriculum for ASEAN universities.
Ms. Kazuko Takabatake, Director, Food Business Conduct Office, New Business and Food Industry Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, gives the opening speech.
After the opening ceremony, the course took place continuously for 3 days from June 7 to June 9, 2023. This year, the organizers received 69 applications from many regions and provinces. Through screening and selection, there were only 20 participants selected, of which 7 were lecturers and researchers, 2 were from the cooperative management authorities, 2 were from the food safety management agency, and 9 from the food business sector. The course content focused on 3 main topics, including Food Safety Management (FSM); Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP); and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP). Along with theoretical lessons, course participants were also given guidance to perform individual and group assignments. At the end of the first study session, the participants completed the exam according to the course’s requirement.
Mr. Junpei Saito, Food Safety Department, Ecore Co., Ltd., training instructor on Food Safety
After the course, through experience lessons and access to new Japanese innovations, course participants acquired more knowledge and skills on Food Safety Management to apply in food production in Vietnam.
Organizers and participants of the course
Course participants do group exercises