IAC News

Visiting Lecture at Kyushu University

Since 2019, the JSCE International Activities Center (IAC), Professional Development and Education Program Group have been using a lecture slot at universities and so forth to provide a visiting lecture to inform young people, the bearers of Japan’s future, about the significance of our overseas projects and how we undertake work abroad.

The visiting lecture introduced international organizations as well as work at consultancy firms and general contractors overseas. Then, through a Q&A session with the lecturer, attendees gained a deeper understanding of project management abroad.

This year, which marked the fifth year since the initiative began, visiting lectures were conducted at Kyoto University, the Shibaura Institute of Technology, and Hokkaido University. In January 19, 2024, Dr. Shu Takahashi (General Manager of the HR Planning Department at Nippon Koei Business Partners Co., Ltd.) gave a visiting lecture to approximately 80 second-year students at the Kyushu University Faculty of Engineering by using a lecture slot generously offered by Associate Professor Yasuyuki Maruya for the Civil Engineering and Society Seminar.

On the theme of young engineers forging a career as construction consultants, this lecture shone the focused on young civil engineering consultants working overseas. The lecture introduced the following topics:

(1)  What makes a promising engineer and forging a career as an engineer: This topic covered the skills and qualities needed as a construction consultant and how to go about establishing a career as one. The VSOP (Vision, Strategy Setting, Objective Sharing, and Passion)  model was also discussed.
(2)  Career as an engineer and Japan’s Professional Engineer certification: This topic covered growing as an engineer and gaining certification as a professional engineer.
(3)  On-the-job (OJT) and Off-the-Job Training (Off-JT): This topic covered the importance of on-the-job training and off-the-job training. A training program aimed to improve the career awareness and skills of young engineers to support their growth was discussed.
(4)  Civil engineering consultant jobs in international cooperation: This topic discussed that construction consultant is a sought after role in overseas projects and international cooperation efforts. This section also covered ODA projects, social infrastructure establishment, the Design-Bid-Build delivery method, and projects of tangible and intangible assets. 
(5)　Anecdotes on leveling up skills and career as a civil engineering consultant: This topic gave examples of success stories and tips on how to climb the ladder as a civil engineering consultant.

There were lots of questions from the students about what one enjoyed most about being involved in overseas projects and what makes being a civil engineering consultant a satisfying job. Meanwhile, there were also questions about what Japan’s Professional Engineer qualification means in the rest of the world, as well as the working environment of a civil engineering consultant. These questions could possibly indicate that although the students understood the efforts and motivation of a civil engineering consultant position overseas, there are concerns over the working environment. Consequently, I feel that in order to make being a civil engineering consultant an appealing occupation and industry for young engineers to pursue as a career path, it is necessary to promote the importance and potential of participation in overseas construction projects and international cooperation projects, as well as take further steps in terms of workstyle reform efforts.

The JSCE International Activities Center plans to expand its reach to work with even more universities and colleges going forward to deliver visiting lectures.

Civil Engineering and Society Seminar at Kyushu University

Visiting Lecture by Dr. Shu Takahashi

【Reported by Professional Development and Education Program Group, IAC】