2026.04.09

Ryukoku MA Student Presenting at a Conference (Online)

An international student from Cuba enrolled in MA program in economics delivered an online presentation at the 2nd “International Student Conference on Economics,” hosted by the School of Economics, Can Tho University in Vietnam on November 21, 2025. Can Tho University is renowned as one of Vietnam’s leading universities in terms of both research and education standards; in recent years, it has gained international attention for its numerous research results delivered in English. For the past decade, the Graduate School of Economics, Ryukoku University, has enjoyed continuous interactions with Can Tho’s School of Economics. At this international conference, approximately 50 high-level graduate students from Vietnam and other countries presented their research.
The Ryukoku MA student was the first presenter in the Plenary Session immediately following the Opening Ceremony, delivering a presentation titled “Small and Medium Enterprises and Shortage Mitigation in Cuba.” In Cuba, where shortages of goods persist under a socialist economic system, after 2021, many private small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been officially permitted to operate. She is conducting research on the role that the SMEs have played in alleviating Cuba’s shortages, as well as the challenges they face. In a part of her paper, she focuses on Vietnam—a socialist country in Asia that has successfully harnessed the vitality of private enterprises—and compares it with Cuba. Consequently, many Vietnamese researchers took a keen interest in the content of her presentation.
The Graduate School of Economics will continue to actively engage in international research exchanges with outstanding universities overseas.

A scene from the opening ceremony

Professor Ohara, the advisor of the MA student, also offered comments at the conference.