On the afternoon of 6 August, the “OMU – HCMUS Summer Exchange Program 2025” officially commenced at VNUHCM-University of Science (HCMUS), marking the twelfth year of student exchange collaboration between the Faculty of Environment and Osaka Metropolitan University (Japan). The programme seeks to enhance academic understanding, foster cultural exchange, and promote sustainable cooperation between the two institutions.

Running from 6 to 13 August 2025, this year’s programme involves six representatives from Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) and nearly twenty members from HCMUS. The programme offers a platform for students from both countries to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and gain practical insights into environmental issues, thereby broadening perspectives and developing international integration skills.

In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Tô Thị Hiền emphasised that the programme not only strengthens students’ professional competencies and cross-cultural communication skills but also deepens understanding of each other’s culture, people, and environmental context. She highlighted that exchanges of this nature form a solid foundation for long-term and effective collaboration.

Beyond the welcome and orientation, the programme includes visits to HCMUS facilities and participation in specialised lectures delivered by faculty members from both institutions such as Dr Võ Thị Minh Hoàng – Climate Change and Its Consequences, Prof. Wataru Fujita – Food as Culture: What You Eat Is the Way You Perceive the World, and Assoc. Prof. Tô Thị Hiền – Air Pollution and Health: A Silent Threat in Modern Cities.

Students from HCMUS and OMU introducing themselves and expressing enthusiasm about participating in the programme.

Combining academic learning with experiential activities, the OMU – HCMUS Summer Exchange Programme 2025 continues to serve as a bridge for academic and cultural exchange between HCMUS and OMU in particular, and between Viet Nam and Japan in general, contributing to the education of students with comprehensive knowledge, global perspectives, and an international spirit of cooperation.

TMT