Event Overview
Shimizu Vietnam Co., Ltd. and Hanoi University of Civil Engineering (HUCE) are proud to co-organize the 6th Shimizu Open Academy (SOA 2026), held on October 15, 2026, at the HUCE campus in Hanoi with over 100 participants.
Shimizu Open Academy has been held in Japan and overseas since 2008 by Shimizu Corporation’s Institute of Technology as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. In Vietnam, Shimizu Vietnam has held the program at universities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City since 2012. This was the 6th time it had been held at the Hanoi University of Civil Engineering.
Theme: ENGINEER THE NEXT — Discover Japan’s Technologies Shaping Tomorrow’s World
Program Highlights
The event opened with a formal ceremony bringing together distinguished representatives from HUCE, Shimizu Vietnam, and Fab-Tec Japan Corporation for opening speeches, a gift exchange, and a commemorative group photo.
Running under the theme "ENGINEER THE NEXT - Discover Japan's Technologies Shaping Tomorrow's World," SOA 2026 featured four technical seminars by senior engineers from Shimizu Corporation and Fab-Tec Japan at the heart of the program:
- ROBOTS THAT BUILD THE FUTURE: Robots, Digital Models and Full-Scale 3D Printing
- BUILDING THE IMPOSSIBLE: Overcoming Construction Challenges to Deliver Complex Projects
- CAN A CITY DRINK THE RAIN? Green Infrastructure for Flood-Resilient Cities
- MOVING GIANTS: The Art of Mega Bridge Installation
A 20-minute Mini Networking session between seminars gave students a rare opportunity to sit down directly with Shimizu Vietnam’s engineers across different specializations - from Design and Construction to QS, MEP, and Procurement - and gain firsthand career insights.
A Voice from the Next Generation
Another highlight of SOA 2026 was “My Journey at Shimizu,” a personal sharing session by a young Shimizu Vietnam engineer with three years of work experience at Shimizu. Speaking candidly about his career beginnings, real-world challenges, and on-the-job lessons, he offered students a genuine and relatable perspective on life as a young engineer at a world-class construction company.
Lasting Partnership: Shimizu and Vietnam's Construction Industry
Shimizu Vietnam General Director, Mr. Kawasaki, highlighted the company's 30-year presence in Vietnam and described the Shimizu Open Academy as a way to give back and strengthen the local construction industry. He expressed hope that the program would spark students' interest in Japan's advanced construction technologies and inspire them to pursue careers in the field. The partnership with Hanoi University of Civil Engineering reflects the company's deep and lasting ties to Vietnam's built environment, as the university is one of Vietnam's top construction institutions and one of the key sources of Shimizu Vietnam's own talent.
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