Continuing the success of the student exchange program between Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) and University of Miyazaki (UOM) - Japan held in 2017, from August 21 to August 29, 2019, VNUA in collaboration with UOM organized the 2019 Sakura – Lotus student exchange program on “Research on rural development and the education and training system in Vietnam”. The program contained 12 UOM students and 12 VNUA students (including 3 students from Faculty of Agronomy and 9 students from Faculty of Economics and Rural Development). The program aimed at providing students of the two universities with opportunities to study and gain updated knowledge and information in Hanoi, and to make friends and exchange culture with each other.

The program offered field visits to organic rice production areas at Dong Phu commune, Dong Phu primary school in Dong Phu commune, Chuong My district, Hanoi, and Peter Garden Preschool in Dang Xa Urban Area, Gia Lam, Hanoi. The field visits to these places helped the participating students acquire more in-depth professional knowledge about rice production process, planting and caring techniques and better understanding about Vietnam's agriculture, especially the production and consumption of clean and safe food as well as the situation of agricultural development in rural areas in Vietnam. Furthermore, the students had the opportunities to gain insight into different education models in preschool and primary schools at the Dong Phu primary school and Peter Garden Preschool. In addition, they visited Vietnam Women's Union to learn children education in the remote areas in Vietnam.

The Sakura – Lotus International Seminar on rural development in Vietnam organized later was the chance for the students of the two universities to present their gains and research results after these useful field trips.

The 2019 Sakura – Lotus student exchange program ended successfully. Each student participating in the program had a great and rewarding experience, gaining insight into the reality of rural areas in Vietnam as well as issues related to education in their own way. In addition to accumulating professional knowledge and being exposed to the real working environment and international environment, these young students also had good opportunities to train and develop themselves.

Hopefully, the partnership between the two universities will be increasingly enhanced with new cooperation programs in the future, opening up new opportunities for VNUA students to study, exchange, share and connect with international friends.

 

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 Field trip to the organic rice production model at Dong Phu commune

 

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A visit to the organic rice storage house at Dong Phu commune 

 

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 Students conduct an interview with a farmer at Dong Phu commune

 

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Student groups in the class with pupils of the Dong Phu primary school
 

 

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 Sakura-Lotus students with teachers at Dong Phu Primary school