Professor Hitoshi Tanaka – The Japanese Mentor with a Special Bond with Thuyloi University

For over two decades, Professor Tanaka has been a great friend and a respected mentor to many lecturers and students of Thuyloi University in particular and Vietnam in general. He has directly mentored, accompanied, and provided academic support to numerous lecturers from the university in their Master's and Doctoral programs in Japan. Many of the university's current teaching and research staff were once his students – those who were inspired by his academic spirit, rigorous scientific discipline, and passion for the profession. These include Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trung Viet – President of Thuyloi University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trong Tu – Head of the Division of Construction Technology and Management, among others.

List of Thuyloi University’s lecturers and students trained by Prof. Tanaka:

Beyond his role as a mentor, Professor Hitoshi Tanaka has been a vital bridge connecting Thuyloi University with Japanese partners, contributing to the sustainable development of academic, research, and international cooperation programs. He has directly taught several courses in the Advanced Program (which taught in English) at the university, actively supported the organization of numerous international conferences since 2006 at Thuyloi University, facilitated student and faculty exchange programs, and led joint research projects, especially in the fields of water resources, hydrology, river and coastal engineering, and climate change.

MOU Signing Ceremony between Thuyloi University and Tohoku University, Japan

Since 2004, beginning with the supervision of PhD student Nguyen Trung Viet, Prof. Hitoshi Tanaka and his colleagues have conducted in-depth research on natural disaster issues in Vietnam, such as saltwater intrusion, erosion in river mouth and coastal areas in the Mekong Delta and Central Vietnam, and land subsidence in the low-lying Mekong Delta region. He has co-authored hundreds of scholarly articles published in international journals, Japanese and Vietnamese publications, and domestic and international conferences.

Prof. Tanaka and international experts discussing the formation of the “Dinosaur Island” at the mouth of the Cua Dai River, Hoi An, within the framework of joint research with Thuyloi University.

Prof. Tanaka speaking at a PhD dissertation defense at Thuyloi University, where he served as co-supervisor

Professor Tanaka’s remarkable contributions have been recognized through various prestigious awards. In 2019, he was honored with a Certificate of Merit and a souvenir by the Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Nam Province for his contributions in researching and advising on solutions to combat erosion at Cua Dai beach and sedimentation at the Thu Bon river mouth (Decision No. 35/QD-UBND, dated January 4, 2019). The same year, he received the Medal “For the Cause of Agriculture and Rural Development”
(Decision No. 279/QD-BNN-TCCB, dated January 8, 2019) from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) and the Medal “For the Cause of Education” (Decision No. 87/QD-BGDĐT, dated May 3, 2019) from the Ministry of Education and Training recognizing his tremendous contributions to education and rural development in Vietnam.

Thuyloi University awards the honorary title “Distinguished Professor” to international experts who have made significant contributions to water resources, environment, and climate change efforts in Vietnam

Professor Tanaka’s dedication, affection, and long-term cooperation with Thuyloi University are not only evident in academic achievements but also in the professional growth and success of the students and lecturers he has mentored. This stands as the clearest testament to the lasting and profound impact of an international educator on the university’s journey to developing high-quality human resources. In 2019, in recognition of his relentless contributions, Professor Hitoshi Tanaka was conferred the honorary title of “Distinguished Professor” by Thuyloi University.

Generations of his students continue to wish Professor Tanaka good health and happiness, hoping he will always remain a source of encouragement and inspiration, witnessing the achievements of his former students and the success of the research projects he has contributed to in Vietnam.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trung Viet presenting a gift of appreciation to Prof. Hitoshi Tanaka at his “Final Lecture” at Tohoku University, Japan, in 2022

Prof. Tanaka during a field trip with experts at Cua Dai beach, Hoi An