(Left) Mr. YAMANA Kenji, Senior Vice President of JICE - presenting a certificate of completion at the training reporting session in Japan

The Internship Program for the university students from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was carried out from May 29 to August 1, 2023.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), JICE implements various programs in the fields of education and human resource development for the UAE. One such program is the Internship Program. The Internship Program has been a flagship program implemented for the last 12 years in cooperation with Emirati universities and Japanese companies and institutions since FY2012. By providing Emirati students with internship opportunities at Japanese companies, the program aims to contribute to their university education in the UAE, where internship credits are a requirement. The program also aims to foster Emirati students capable of meeting the needs of both the UAE Government and Japanese companies. By providing them with practical knowledge and skills it will also contribute to the Emiratization, a nation-wide initiative of the UAE as well as an understanding of Japanese corporate culture.

This year's program was the first in-person program to be held in four years, and as a new attempt to meet the needs of participating students and host companies, it provided three options for program location: (1) Japan only, (2) UAE only, or (3) both Japan and the UAE. As a result, 13 Emirati students were selected from the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU), and Zayed University (ZU), and a record number of eight companies and institutions offered to host the students.

The 11 Emirati students participating in the Internship Program in Japan arrived in Tokyo on May 28, 2023 and from the following day, they underwent a week of basic training, including Japanese language classes and lectures on Japanese culture and business manners. For the next eight weeks, the students spent time honing their skills in a practical curriculum that included lectures, discussions and site visits to each of the host companies.

The eight Emirati students who had completed the internship program in Japan reported on the results of the program at a reporting session held in Tokyo on August 2 in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Shihab Ahmed Al Faheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to Japan, as well as officials from METI and the host companies. Ambassador Al Faheem addressed the students saying, "It is important you become the bridges between our two countries, deepen your knowledge and increase the number of ambassadors," referring to a similar experience he had in Japan 20 years ago. He also asked questions and gave encouraging comments to each of the presenters.

The five Emirati students who completed the internship program in the UAE gave reports at a reporting session in Abu Dhabi on August 9, which was attended by His Excellency, Mr. ISOMATA Akio, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the UAE, and officials from local universities and the Japanese companies that hosted the students. Ambassador Isomata gave words of encouragement to the students who participated in the internship program, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation between Japan and the UAE in the fields of education and human resource development.

Students speaking with Ambassador Al Faheem (Reception in Japan)

Heartfelt farewells to everyone who had supported the students (Reception in the UAE)

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the host companies, institution, and everyone else involved in this project for their guidance and cooperation. Going forward, JICE will continue to work hard to make sure that next year’s program is even more beneficial to both the UAE and Japan.

＜Host Companies and Organizations (in alphabetical order)＞
・Daikin Middle East and Africa FZE
・HORIBA, Ltd.
・Japan Oil Development Co., Ltd. (INPEX Group)
・JFE Steel Corporation / AL Gharbia Pipe Company LLC
・Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor, LTD. (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group)
・TAKENAKA SEISAKUSHO Co., LTD. / Takenaka Middle East LLC
・Yokogawa UAE Industry – Sole Proprietorship L.L.C