National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) conducted a Three-Month Training and Research Program for Young Executives of Vietnamese Government from September to December 2025. On the recommendation of the Central Committee of Organization and Personnel, Communist Party of Vietnam (CCOP), three participants from Can Tho University (under the Ministry of Education and Training), the Voice of Vietnam (directly under the Government), and the Institute of Management for Agricultural and Rural Development (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) participated in the program.

The purpose of this training program is for each participant to choose a specific research topic related to administrative management and economic reform, conduct research activities, and use the results to contribute to policy recommendations in Vietnam. In addition to attending regular GRIPS courses, the participants also attended special lectures related to their research topic and visited relevant public institutions and organizations. Based on these activities, they conducted comparative research on Japanese systems and policies with those of Vietnam, and prepared policy papers.

Research topic of each participant is “Developing institutional strategies for STI partnerships and regional innovation: Lessons from Japanese universities for Can Tho University”, “Improving public sector HR management skills and policies: Toward a motivated and high-performing workforce at Voice of Vietnam”, “Innovating employee performance management systems in public organizations in the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment: Insights and lessons from Japan”. Each participant chose a topic related to their work in Vietnam.

<First day of the program: Research plan presentation>

Professors at GRIPS were appointed as advisors for each participant. The advisors provided guidance on writing policy papers as needed and accompanied the participants on visits to related institutions and organizations to support the training program. Vice President, Professor Hirofumi Takada, who was the Program Director, as well as Professor Tsuyoshi Yoshimuta and Professor Patarapong Intarakumnerd, served as advisors for three months.

In addition, special lectures by GRIPS professors were held. “Guidance on Academic Writing" was held in October by Professor Katerina Petchko of the Center for Professional Communication (CPC), who provided guidance on key points for writing policy papers. In November, Professor Tadashi Yokoyama gave a lecture on "Evidence Based Policy Making (EBPM)" in which he discussed the policymaking process, a topic shared by all participants, with reference to examples from Japan.

In terms of the site visits, the participants visited Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK), National Personnel Authority, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, etc. Additionally, they took a joint field trip to Gunma Prefecture in October with the short-term training program participants from Vietnam. In Gunma Prefecture, the participants visited local governments, companies, historical buildings, etc., and had lively exchanges of opinions with on-site staff. It was a great opportunity for them to learn about Japan's local government and local businesses.

<At Tomioka Silk Mill in Gunma Pref. with short-term program participants>

 
On the last day of the program, December 18, 2025, all the participants gave final presentations of their policy paper and were awarded certificates of completion, making successful completion of the Three-Month Training and Research Program. They commented that the program was a valuable experience for them, not only for the research activities in their specialized fields, but also for the participation in various lectures, events, and site visits.

<Last day of the program: Final presentation>

The three-month stay in Japan was a fruitful opportunity for the participants in terms of both the training program and cultural experiences. It is expected that after returning to Vietnam, they will utilize their research results and experiences during the stay to make policy recommendations and play an active role in their respective fields.

<Final day group photo at GRIPS main entrance>

* This program was organized with support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the joint statement of deepening the Japan-Vietnam extensive strategic partnership.