12 young people receive scholarships from Japan: Bringing Vietnamese aspirations to the world.

This is the third year the program has been implemented in Vietnam, bringing the total number of scholarship recipients to 27 over the past three years (from 2023 to 2025).

This is one of the highly selective and internationally sponsored scholarship programs by Fast Retailing Group (the parent company of the UNIQLO brand). It's not only an opportunity to study at top-ranked Japanese universities such as Waseda, Keio, Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya, etc., but the scholarship program also aims to nurture future leaders – individuals capable of connecting knowledge and communities and spreading positive values to society.

Why were Vietnamese students selected?

In an interview with a reporter from Thanh Nien Newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City on the afternoon of June 30th, Mr. Yoshido Ishida, Secretary General of Fast Retailing Foundation, shared: “I am very proud that the number of Vietnamese students selected this year has doubled compared to the first year. This is not because we have more budget, but because we clearly see the potential, excellence, and self-effort of these students. That is why we want to invest more and provide more opportunities.”

12 Gương mặt trẻ nhận học bổng toàn phần tại Nhật Bản từ Qũy Fast Retailing - Ảnh 1. — The 12 Vietnamese students who received full scholarships to study in Japan this year are all talented and capable young people.

Mr. Yoshido Ishida also emphasized that what the foundation expects is not only for the children to achieve their personal goals, but also for them to be able to connect, lead, and give back to the community through the knowledge and experiences they accumulate.

Predicting natural disasters and saving lives using artificial intelligence.

Tran Le Khanh Ngoc, a student from Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted (Ho Chi Minh City), is one of 12 outstanding individuals who received scholarships this year. Khanh Ngoc will study political science and economics at Waseda University, one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan.

“I’ve participated in many social activities, especially at shelters for children. Even though the children have the opportunity to go to school, I realized that the educational opportunities they have are still very limited compared to mine. That made me realize how fortunate I am and further motivated me to want to create change,” Khánh Ngọc shared.

12 Gương mặt trẻ nhận học bổng toàn phần tại Nhật Bản từ Qũy Fast Retailing - Ảnh 2. — Tran Le Khanh Ngoc, a student at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted (Ho Chi Minh City), is a confident, proactive, and charming female student.

Khanh Ngoc aims to establish a non-profit educational organization in the future. She believes that studying in Japan will provide her with a foundational understanding of policy, economics , law, and governance—essential for running a sustainable and socially responsible organization.

Unlike Khanh Ngoc, Le Manh Cuong, a former student specializing in computer science at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students, is aiming to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to develop an early warning system for natural disasters. Cuong will study environmental management and information research at Keio University.

Cuong's observations of the historical storms and floods in Central and Northern Vietnam in recent years, as reported in the media, motivated him to pursue this field of study.

“I realized that if even a large school in the capital like mine was affected by the storm, imagine how difficult it must be for places that weren’t well-prepared. AI can’t replace everything, but I believe it will be a useful tool to help people predict, prepare for, and mitigate risks before natural disasters.”

12 Gương mặt trẻ nhận học bổng toàn phần tại Nhật Bản từ Qũy Fast Retailing - Ảnh 3. — Le Manh Cuong regularly follows environmental news in newspapers and on television.

Cuong expects that in the future, countries can build a global disaster data sharing system, connecting millions of sensors from across the sea, mountains, and cities to process data using AI and provide early warnings.

"I want to contribute to building such a system, and I will return to Vietnam when I have accumulated enough experience, perspective, and necessary skills."

"The best quality scholarship available today"

Mr. Nguyen Ha Nguyen, Deputy Chief of the Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said: “In my role as the department's external relations officer, I have had many opportunities to interact with international scholarship programs, as well as schools and organizations that need to accept Vietnamese students for study and research.”

In my opinion, the Fast Retailing Foundation scholarship is one of the best scholarships available today. The universities that students attend in Japan are among the world's top universities, both in terms of academics and personal development environment.”

"We're not looking for perfect people. We're looking for young people who believe in themselves, dare to dream, and are willing to use their knowledge to bring about a better future for the community," Mr. Ishida added.

Both Khanh Ngoc and Manh Cuong are well aware that the scholarship is just the beginning. Ahead of them lies a journey of independent living, cultural adaptation, studying in an international environment, and maintaining their personal aspirations.

"Try as many things as possible, especially things you're passionate about," Cuong said. "Because only by trying will you know what you truly want."

The Fast Retailing Foundation Scholarship is a fully funded undergraduate program for Vietnamese students to study in English at 12 top universities in Japan, including Waseda, Keio, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and others. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses (128,000 – 160,000 yen/month), housing costs, and insurance throughout the duration of study.

Eligibility requirements include: being under 19 years old at the time of enrollment, being a Vietnamese citizen, achieving a TOEFL iBT score of 90 or higher, or an IELTS score of 7.0 or higher, and having an SAT score of 1450 or higher, or equivalent certificates (ACT, IB, EJU). Applicants must enroll in a Bachelor of English program at a university designated by the foundation, not receive any other non-refundable scholarship, and have a desire to learn about Japanese culture.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/12-guong-mat-tre-nhan-hoc-bong-nhat-ban-mang-khat-vong-viet-ra-the-gioi-185250630212415216.htm