SME – NISSEI: CLOSING THE JOINT LAB COHORT 2 JOURNEY, CONTINUING WITH COHORT 3

Two Years of Partnership: Building a “Living Laboratory”

   The event was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Hoanh Son, Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering; Assoc. Prof. Bui Tuan Anh, Head of the Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; and MSc. Nguyen Trong Thanh, Director of the Mechanical Engineering Technology Center, together with lecturers responsible for Joint Lab and staff members of the School.

   Representing Nissei Technology Vietnam Co., Ltd. were Mr. Katayama Akinobu, General Director; Mr. Ajikawa Kazunori, Head of Operations; and Mr. Nguyen Hong Duong, Production Director in charge of the Mold and Precision Casting Divisions, together with representatives of the company.

   The event also welcomed representatives from partner companies, including Nagase Vietnam Co., Ltd., Accretech Vietnam Co., Ltd., Makino Vietnam Co., Ltd., and Kanto Bussan Vietnam Co., Ltd., as well as students from Joint Lab Cohorts 2 and 3.

   In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Hoanh Son, Rector of the School of Mechanical Engineering, emphasized the significance of the partnership between SME and Nissei Technology Vietnam Co., Ltd. On October 18, 2024, the two sides inaugurated the Mold and Injection Molding Technology Laboratory – SME HUST – NISSEI TECHNOLOGY JOINT LAB. To date, SME has put three modern laboratories into operation, including the CAD/CAM/CAE – Design and Simulation Laboratory; Mold and Injection Molding Technology Laboratory; and Industrial CNC Machining Laboratory equipped with modern inspection and measurement systems.

   According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Hoanh Son, the greatest value of Joint Lab lies not only in its modern equipment, but also in the company’s sustained commitment to training, internships, and scholarships. Over the past two years, experts from Nissei and its partner companies have directly participated in teaching and mentoring students, while providing equipment, software, technical expertise, and employment opportunities. This close connection has helped transform Joint Lab into a “living laboratory”, where students can learn and gain hands-on experience in an environment closely aligned with real-world manufacturing.

Joint Lab Cohort 2: 40 Training Sessions, 160 Hours, and Outstanding Achievements

   Looking back on the journey of Cohort 2, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Duc Phuc presented a summary report highlighting the program’s notable achievements.

   Throughout the course, students participated in 40 training sessions, equivalent to 160 hours of instruction, delivered by 20 lecturers from the School of Mechanical Engineering together with experts from Nissei and partner companies, for a total of 64 students. The training focused not only on theoretical knowledge but also on enabling students to work with actual equipment and software and address practical problems arising from manufacturing environments.

   In addition, students participated in 22 hands-on practical sessions, covering activities such as mold assembly and disassembly, operation of plastic injection molding machines, and practical training with CMM equipment. Field trips and internships at Nissei’s factories and partner companies also gave students opportunities to observe manufacturing processes, working environments, and the practical requirements of mechanical engineers.

    A notable achievement of Cohort 2 was its performance in mold-making competitions. According to the report presented at the ceremony, in the previous season, the Joint Lab team won Second Prize at the Mold Competition organized by the Japan–Vietnam Mold Association. More recently, at the final round of the Vietnam Mold Grand Prix 2026, held on September 17, 2026, the Joint Lab team won First Prize, competing against 12 teams from universities and technical colleges across the country.

    These achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of combining academic knowledge, specialized training at Joint Lab, and hands-on experience with industry partners.

    More importantly, the success of Joint Lab is reflected in the students’ personal and professional growth. From initially being unfamiliar with the field, many students have developed the ability to read engineering drawings, design mold structures, conduct simulations, and present their solutions to Japanese experts. Some students are currently working or have worked at Nissei Vietnam and companies within its industrial ecosystem, gradually contributing to the development of a high-quality workforce for Vietnam’s mechanical manufacturing sector.

Nissei Scholarships: Recognizing Efforts and Supporting Students

   With the aim of accompanying and encouraging students in their academic and research endeavors, Nissei Technology Vietnam Co., Ltd. continued to award the Nissei Scholarship – Round 2, 2026, across three categories.

Support Scholarships

• Nguyen Duy Duc

• Mai Khanh Tu

• Pham Quoc Anh

Talent & Prospects Scholarships

• Nguyen Van Phat

• Ngo Duc Viet

• Nguyen Ngoc Hai Dung

• Tran Thi Minh Nguyet

• Dang Van Hanh

• Nguyen Duc Anh

• Vu Minh Tien

• Duong Quang Minh

Excellence Scholarship

• Nguyen Trong Tuan

Nissei scholarships for 12 students of the second cohort.

   A total of 12 students received scholarships and awards in this round. These awards recognize the students’ efforts throughout their Joint Lab journey while providing further motivation for them to strengthen their professional capabilities and pursue their career goals.

   Alongside the scholarship ceremony, representatives of SME and Nissei presented Joint Lab completion certificates to 32 students of Cohort 2. Mr. Katayama Akinobu, General Director of Nissei Technology Vietnam, congratulated the students on completing the program while balancing their university studies. He emphasized that mold-making and forming technologies are the foundation of manufacturing and among the core technologies of the manufacturing industry.

Joint Lab completion certificates to 32 students of Cohort 2

   Drawing on his own experience of approximately ten years working in mold design at Panasonic, Mr. Katayama encouraged students not only to acquire technical knowledge but also to pay attention to manufacturing costs, production lead times, and other factors related to production and management.

“The Five Changes”: A Message to Joint Lab Students

   A notable part of Mr. Katayama Akinobu’s speech was his message of “The Five Changes”, addressed to both Cohort 2 and Cohort 3 students.

The message follows a chain of transformation:

Change your awareness → Change your actions → Change your habits → Change your character → Change your destiny → Change your life.

   According to Mr. Katayama, students can begin by changing their awareness and cultivating a strong desire to “learn” and “grow.” When awareness changes, actions change; when actions are sustained, they become habits, gradually shaping new qualities and opening up new opportunities for the future.

   He also reminded Cohort 2 students that completing Joint Lab is not the end, but the beginning of a new journey, expressing his hope that graduates will continue to develop their capabilities and achieve success in the future.

Reflections from a Cohort 2 Student

     Representing Cohort 2, student Nguyen Trong Tuan shared that Joint Lab had provided students with a distinctive learning and experiential environment.

    Before joining the program, students mainly approached mold-making through classroom knowledge and laboratory exercises. At Joint Lab, however, they had opportunities to directly participate in mold design, machining, assembly, mold testing, and product completion. Through these experiences, knowledge acquired in the classroom became closely connected with the specific requirements of real-world manufacturing.

   According to Nguyen Trong Tuan, what students gained was not only professional knowledge but also the mindset and working practices of an engineer: working accurately and responsibly, collaborating with teammates, and proactively finding solutions when real-world situations differ from theoretical expectations.

   He also emphasized that Joint Lab had created a “special bridge between the university and industry”: the university provides the academic foundation, companies provide the real-world environment, and students have the opportunity to turn knowledge into their own capabilities.

Joint Lab Cohort 3: Continuing and Developing the Journey

   As one journey came to an end, another began. Joint Lab Cohort 3 was officially launched with 48 students, continuing the values and experience built by previous cohorts.

   In his welcoming remarks to Cohort 3, Mr. Katayama Akinobu emphasized that Joint Lab is a learning environment developed through cooperation among Nissei, partner companies, and university lecturers. Here, students have the opportunity to gain knowledge and practical experience that cannot be fully acquired within the university alone, as well as experience real manufacturing environments at Nissei’s factories.

   He encouraged Cohort 3 students to make every effort to complete the program, pursue awards and scholarships, and create new opportunities for themselves after completing Joint Lab.

  In particular, he sent the students a message: “Begin your Joint Lab journey with the spirit of ‘The Five Changes,’” remain persistent until the end, and actively create positive changes for themselves.

  As part of the opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Duc Phuc introduced the training content, schedule, internship plan at Nissei Technology Vietnam Co., Ltd., and the list of students selected for Cohort 3.

Passing the Torch Between Joint Lab Cohorts

   One of the most meaningful moments of the ceremony was the Passing-the-Torch Ceremony, symbolizing continuity and succession between generations of Joint Lab students.

   Student Nguyen Trong Tuan, representing Cohort 2, and student Ngo Duc Viet, representing Cohort 3, jointly performed the ceremony to pass on the Joint Lab symbol.

   From one generation receiving and passing on the torch to another, from the experiences of Cohort 2 to the aspirations of Cohort 3, the ceremony represented the spirit of continuity within the program – where each generation not only learns for itself but also contributes to laying the foundation for those who follow.

   Representing Cohort 3, student Ngo Duc Viet delivered a commitment speech, officially beginning his learning and experiential journey at Joint Lab.

Continuing the University–Industry Partnership Model

   Building on the achievements of the two cohorts, Joint Lab between the School of Mechanical Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, and Nissei Technology Vietnam Co., Ltd. is gradually demonstrating its role as an effective model of close university–industry collaboration in education and training.

   According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Hoanh Son, SME is committed to further strengthening its partnership with Nissei Technology Corporation, Nissei Technology Vietnam Co., Ltd., and partner companies, with the goal of developing Joint Lab into a model of effective university–industry collaboration.

   For students, Joint Lab is more than an additional training program. It provides opportunities to learn on modern equipment, work with industry experts, experience real manufacturing environments, and gradually shape their professional career paths.

    Congratulations to the 32 Joint Lab Cohort 2 students on successfully completing the program!

   Congratulations to the 12 students receiving the Nissei Scholarship – Round 2, 2026!

    Welcome to the 48 students of Joint Lab Cohort 3 as they embark on a new journey!

    The School of Mechanical Engineering – Hanoi University of Science and Technology sincerely thanks Nissei Technology Corporation, Nissei Technology Vietnam Co., Ltd., and partner companies including Nagase Vietnam, Accretech Vietnam, Makino Vietnam, and Kanto Bussan Vietnam for their continued partnership and support in training, practical education, research, and the development of high-quality mechanical engineering talent.