IAC News

9th Joint Company Information Session for International Students (Online)

Ji Dang
(International Student Network Group, IAC)

Since 2013, the International Student Network Group of the International Activities Center has, for the purpose of providing information on the businesses of Japanese civil engineering companies, overseas projects, and recruitment, held a Joint Company Information Session for International Students studying in Japan. The event has been held every year in Tokyo and every other year in the Kansai area. This 9th Joint Company Information Session for International Students was held on Saturday, December 11, 2021, in collaboration with the IAC International Civil Engineer Group and the Global Civil Engineers Subcommittee of Committee on Civil Engineering Consultants. Given the situation of the coronavirus pandemic, the event was held online as it was last year.

Eighty international students from universities all across Japan participated on the day. As the event was held online, it meant that international students living in rural areas of Japan participated this year as well. The number of participating companies increased from last year, with 16 companies involved on this occasion. The companies that took part are as follows.

【Participating Companies】

AOMI CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD., ASANUMA CORPORATION, Eight-Japan Engineering Consultants Inc., HAZAMA ANDO CORPORATION, KAJIMA CORPORATION, Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., OBAYASHI CORPORATION, ONO KOGYOSYO CO., LTD., Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd., PACIFIC CONSULTANTS CO., LTD., PENTA-OCEAN CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD., Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. TODA CORPORATION, TSUCHIYA CORPORATION, Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd., Yonemori Construction Co., LTD.

This Company Information Session was held in two parts: the (1) Opening Session and the (2) Company Sessions & “Senpai” Sessions. In the first part, the Opening Session, the purpose of the Company Information Session was explained during the opening remarks, and then Mr. Jaehong Huang (OBAYASHI CORPORATION) and Mr. Jonathan Gonzalez (NIPPON ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS CO., LTD.), who play a key role at a Japanese general contractor and consultancy company respectively, gave a talk entitled “Senpai’s” Experience in Studying and Working in Japan”, in which they discussed topics such as research activities at Japanese universities, job search, and work after joining a company. This was followed by a “1-minute pitch” segment where the representatives of each participating company gave an outline of their company and the contents of their company session held in Part 2.

In the second part, from 14:00 to 17:15, each participating company held Company Sessions in the form of a web meeting for 20 minutes per session. Information such as what each company does, its overseas projects, and recruitment information were provided in the Company Sessions. The international students collected information in the sessions of the companies they had their eye on and actively asked questions to the company representatives.

At the same time as the Company Sessions, Senpai Sessions were held by former international students who have landed themselves a job at a Japanese company. The Senpai Sessions were held with the help of six former international students including Mr. Huang and Mr. Gonzalez (mentioned earlier), Mr. Zuo Rongzhi (Kawakin Core-Tech Co., Ltd.), Mr. Amirfarkhan Bin Radzali (Nishimatsu Construction Co., Ltd.), Ms. Luisa Santa Spitia (HAZAMA ANDO CORPORATION), and Mr. Lucas Alves (PACIFIC CONSULTANTS CO., LTD.). In the Senpai Sessions, the former international students talked about when and what kind of preparations they took and what necessary skills they acquired in their job-hunting efforts in Japan, challenges faced when working in Japan, and their future goals. In a relaxed atmosphere, enthusiastic conversations took place that went beyond the boundaries of being a senior or junior.

On the day, the entire event went smoothly with no significant problems. The participating companies prepared meticulously beforehand, and I believe that this Company Information Session proved to be a great opportunity for international students, who are highly interested in Japanese companies, to network. The International Student Network Group wishes to continue to provide information on Japanese civil engineering companies and create exciting opportunities by collaborating with former international students employed at such companies to help provide information on employment and different career paths for international students.

To end, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the lecturers, participating companies, and everyone else involved in this Company Information Session who helped to make it a great success.

 

“Senpai’s” Experience in Studying and Working in Japan”
Mr. Jaehong Huang (OBAYASHI CORPORATION)

 

Participants Discuss at the Senpai Session
 

【Reported by Ji Dang, International Student Network Group (Saitama University)】

Projects with Professor Ueda - Our Next President

Tamon Ueda
(President‐Elect)

As I am sure you all know, Professor Tamon Ueda gave his all for many years as the first senior director of the International Activities Center to keep the center’s activities on track and exciting. Even now, as a core member of the center, he continues to offer guidance with a carrot-and-stick approach. Professor Ueda, who will become the president of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers this financial year, is currently preparing his president’s mission.

Professor Ueda outlines “internationalization” as the keyword of this mission, and will continue to pursue activities with the approaches of “Researchers”, “Engineers”, and “Projects”, in order to globalize the people and technologies behind Japanese civil engineering. With the “Researchers” approach, the aim is to measure and revive the globalization of the academic community at a time when researchers tend to be held in less high regard. With the “Engineers” approach, in order to improve the current situation where the international presence of Japanese civil engineering is inevitably declining due to the shrinking of the domestic civil engineering field, the goal is to give first-hand training to young and mid-career engineers to help improve the “capabilities of civil engineers” that can be successful on the global stage. With “Projects”, the aim is to create projects that are recognized by and the preference of other countries all over the world.

Professor Ueda also has one other major mission. The collaboration between civil engineering and architecture (a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in activities was signed between JSCE and the Architectural Institute of Japan in November 2021). To build cities and societies at the center of people’s lives, it is essential that civil engineering and architecture recognize the differences between the two fields and collaborate in a way that makes the best use of their respective strengths. Collaboration between the two fields will also lead to measures against the decline in the status of the Japanese construction field in Japan and overseas.

Going forward, I am sure you will see this mission take shape. Our center will support Professor Ueda in achieving his missions. We thank you for your cooperation and support.