Attending the meeting, there were Dr. Nguyen Anh Thu - UEB's Vice Rector together with faculties, fellows and interested researchers from the Faculty of Political Economics, Faculty of Business Administration, Center for Economic Development Studies and Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research.

At the meeting, Dr. Nguyen Anh Thu expressed the hope to expand and maintain sustainable relationships with partners in Japan, including Sumitomo Foundation in scientific research activities, conferences and seminars, exchange of faculties and international students. Having received a grant of funds for her research in 2012, Dr. Nguyen Anh Thu said, the fund had given her a good opportunity to conduct research, publish articles on the international publications as well as expand partner network with international scholars.

With majority of faculties educated abroad and especially 15 faculty members being alumni/fellows in Japan, this is a good opportunity for the UEB’s faculties to get to know Sumitomo Foundation and propose research ideas.

Mr. Koichi Ishizuka - Representatives of Sumitomo Foundation

In his presentation, Mr. Koichi Ishizuka gave brief introduction on Sumitomo Foundation, the non-profit organization established on 25^th September 1991 by 20 companies of Sumitomo Group in celebration of 300^th anniversary of Copper Mine in Shikoku Besshi, Japan. The Foundation aims at contributing to the betterment of society by calling for the support of the community. Currently, grants will be awarded to projects in a variety of fields or disciplines whose aims are to determine or help solve those problems which confront humanity such as culture, environment; as well as supporting scientific researches and international exchange.In Vietnam, the Foundation has made significant contribution to strengthen the Vietnam-Japan relationship, particularly in the field of human resources and connecting scholars of the two countries. In recent years, many professors, archaeologists in Vietnam have received funding from the Foundation to implement projects and researches. The statistics showed that 115 scientists of Vietnam have received supports from the foundation since 1991, including many from the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam National University, Hanoi and Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh.

Sumitomo Foundation is currently receiving research proposals and support application for Japan-related research projects. Proposal should be sent during the period from 1^st September to 31^st October 2015.

After the presentation, Mr. Koichi also discussed and answered the questions from faculties and interested researchers on related issues. The meeting has given UEB’s faculties and researcher an overview of the Sumitomo Foundation and chances to propose research ideas to the foundation.

>>> Download the presentation of Mr. Koichi here.