June 26, 2018

Yamaha Project to Introduce Instrumental Music Education
in Vietnam Receives JETRO Support

Promoting Sustainable Teacher Training Systems for Instrumental Music Education in Vietnam

Hanoi, Vietnam—Yamaha Corporation and Yamaha Music Vietnam Co., Ltd., are implementing a project in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, aimed at introducing instrumental music education into the "Course of Study" for Vietnam's primary and secondary school education which is scheduled to go into effect in 2019. The project has been selected to receive support from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). Going forward, Yamaha working with JETRO will promote teacher training system for instrumental music education in Vietnam to gain a firm foothold for further development.

As a comprehensive manufacturer of musical instruments, Yamaha has worked to spread the merits of learning music through playing instruments to many schools around the world, and expanded these activities to Vietnam beginning in 2016. Activities have included creating model cases through organizing music clubs in 10 Vietnamese cities, providing support for revising music textbooks, and offering active support for training music teachers.

[ Image ] Primary school students performing in music club activities in Vietnam
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Primary school students performing in music club activities in Vietnam
[ Image ] Workshop for training teachers at Hanoi National University of Education
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Workshop for training teachers at Hanoi National University of Education

JETRO (https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/) is a Japanese government-related organization promoting mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. This time, these Yamaha educational initiative in Vietnam was selected to receive support from JETRO, which is given them the name "J-Challenge Program." According to JETRO, "The aims of the support are to create markets where products and services of Japanese corporations can demonstrate superiority based on the strategic introduction of rules, including restrictions and business support measures that are based on Japanese systems and the Japanese sense of values. At the same time, these initiatives should lead to the solution of social issues in these overseas countries." Yamaha’s selection means that its education promotion initiative in Vietnam conforms to the conditions and objectives of the JETRO program. As a result of its selection, Yamaha will be able to move forward with its program in Vietnam with the cooperation of JETRO.

To introduce instrumental music education with a firm foundation, Yamaha will receive JETRO's support in particular for creating sustainable teacher training systems in Vietnam. Yamaha plans to establish a specialized course at Hanoi National University of Education to train teachers who can give courses in instrumental music education at local primary and secondary schools, and will provide specialized instructors from Japan for the teacher training system. Participants in the course will include not only students enrolled in the university but also persons who are currently teaching music in Vietnam. Looking ahead, Yamaha aims to expand these initiatives to other universities of education to develop teacher training systems and schemes which can be operated entirely with Vietnamese resources.

Through promoting the creation of a sustainable teacher training system in Vietnam, Yamaha will contribute to the attainment of the fourth goal among the United Nation's SDGs*2, which is "Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning."

These various Yamaha initiatives are being conducted in collaboration with Yokohama National University, KYOIKU GEIJUTSUSHA CO., LTD., one of Japan's music textbook publishers, and the Japanese School of Hanoi. In fiscal 2016, these activities were selected as an officially certified project of "EDU-Port Japan," that is being conducted by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) with the aim of disseminating Japanese-style education overseas. In October 2017, a memorandum of understanding was concluded between Yamaha and the Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), and Yamaha is developing music club activities in primary schools with the official recognition of MOET.