Professor Furuta Motoo has laid the foundation for a higher education model connecting knowledge between Việt Nam and Japan. — Photo vietnamplus.vn

HÀ NỘI — Professor Furuta Motoo, principal of the Việt Nam-Japan University, is the first foreign leader of an educational institution under Việt Nam National University, Hà Nội.

He is known as a pioneer who laid the foundation for a higher education model connecting knowledge between Việt Nam and Japan.

After ten years leading the university, this year, he will officially conclude his tenure, closing a remarkable chapter while opening a new role in his long-standing journey with Việt Nam.

Professor Furuta started his work at the Việt Nam National University, Hà Nội in 2016 when a new university model was just taking shape.

He and his colleagues built its foundations almost from scratch.

Over the past decade, under his leadership, the Việt Nam-Japan University has developed its academic identity, expanded internationally standardised training programmes and promoted research closely linked to real-world issues.

Phạm Bảo Sơn, vice president of the Việt Nam National University, Hà Nội, said the professor’s contributions lie not only in tangible outcomes but also in his dedication and leadership, which have laid the groundwork for future development.

Beyond his administrative role, Professor Furuta is also a prominent scholar who has helped bring Vietnamese studies to the global stage.

At the seventh International Conference on Vietnamese Studies, Party General Secretary Tô Lâm affirmed that international scholars of Vietnamese studies are those who “bring Việt Nam to the world and bring the world to Việt Nam,” with Professor Furuta Motoo as a typical example.

Reflecting on his journey, the professor said: “Việt Nam is my first love. I have remained loyal to it for more than half a century. One could say I am a foreign scientist made in Việt Nam.”

Being fluent in Vietnamese, Furuta uses the language in both teaching and daily life.

These experiences are reflected in many of his works, including Việt Nam – A Perspective from Japan published in 2025, which portrays the country through a lens that is both objective and deeply affectionate.

In his final lecture as a principal, Professor Furuta highlighted a shift in Vietnamese studies in Japan, from research based on indirect sources to approaches grounded in the Vietnamese language, fieldwork and social realities.

He noted that while he initially approached Việt Nam as a 'centre' to understand the world, his long-term experience led him to view the country within both its international context and its unique characteristics.

One of his notable arguments is the idea of 'bottom-up strength' - the flexibility, adaptability and grassroots initiatives that have contributed to the vitality of Vietnamese society, especially during the difficult post-war period and the formation of the Đổi mới (Renewal) policy.

His research on the 1945 famine, using field investigation methods, is also a significant contribution, helping clarify the severity of the disaster and fostering deeper historical understanding between Việt Nam and Japan.

He suggests that area studies in the 21st century should aim to enhance mutual understanding and dialogue among nations.

Lasting values

Professor Furuta bids farewell to Vietnamese scholars and students of the Việt Nam-Japan University at a ceremony on Tuesday. Photo baochinhphu.vn

On Tuesday, the Việt Nam-Japan University held a ceremony to honour Professor Furuta, where he delivered a lecture titled 'My 50-Year Journey in Vietnamese Studies: From Past to Future'.

The lecture recounted Việt Nam through the lens of a Japanese scholar who has devoted deep affection and profound understanding to the country and its people.

Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Vũ Minh Giang, chairman of the Council for Science and Training of Việt Nam National University, Hà Nội highlighted the professor’s quiet yet immensely significant contributions to Vietnamese studies as well as to Việt Nam–Japan bilateral relations.

In addition to his role in fostering East Asian university connections, Giang also recalled a meaningful historical moment in 1995, when Professor Furuta provided important advice to the then Japanese Prime Minister, helping shape ODA policies and laying the groundwork for today’s comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Also at the ceremony, Japanese Ambassador to Việt Nam Ito Naoki expressed deep respect for Professor Furuta’s tireless efforts since the university’s early days.

Ambassador Ito praised his leadership, stating that under the principal’s strong leadership, academic programmes have continuously expanded each year, guiding the university to grow into an institution with nearly 2,000 students.

The ambassador also reaffirmed the Japanese government’s continued commitment to providing comprehensive support to help the university enhance its international competitiveness and further develop.

Accordingly, Japan will continue to offer technical assistance through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and provide ODA loan support to help the university expand to 6,000 students by 2030.

Professor Furuta Motoo’s enduring contributions to education and the friendship between the two countries have been recognised through numerous prestigious honours, including the State Prize for Science and Technology (2012), the Friendship Order (2013), the Bảo Sơn Prize (2024) and a Certificate of Merit from the Japanese Embassy in Việt Nam (2025).

As the professor has ended his final lecture, everyone still believes that he will continue the same path that he has pursued for over half a century: telling Việt Nam’s story to the world and bringing the world closer to Việt Nam

University vice president Bảo Sơn, added: “A lecture may end, a term may conclude, but the values cultivated will continue to spread.” — VNS