Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) organized an internship program in Japan for 22 undergraduate and graduate students from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between June and August 2026.

This internship program has been conducted annually since FY2012 with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and in cooperation with Japanese host organizations. It aims to develop human resources with practical knowledge and skills through hands-on work and research experiences at selected Japanese organizations.

In the program's 15th year, JICE welcomed students from the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU), as well as, for the first time, graduate students from Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).

Practical Learning at Japanese Host Organizations Across Japan

From June 1 to 5, the students attended pre-internship training at JICE Headquarters, where they learned basic Japanese, Japanese culture, business etiquette, and other relevant topics.　Following the training, the students traveled to host organizations across Japan and began their internships on June 8.

This year, JICE worked with nine host organizations to provide practical training in a wide range of fields related to the students' areas of study, including AI, robotics, environmental research, media, food, engineering, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Their activities ranged from evaluating the performance of solar panel cleaning robots, measuring environmental radioactivity, and collecting and analyzing samples, to conducting security assessments of AI chatbots for corporate use. They also gained practical knowledge and technical skills through a wide range of activities, including developing and proposing systems utilizing edge AI and producing video content.

Beyond acquiring specialized knowledge and technical skills, the students gained firsthand experience of workplace practices in Japanese organizations, including team communication and approaches to problem-solving.

Based on the post-program survey and subsequent follow-up, all nine host organizations rated their experience of hosting the students as either "very satisfied" or "satisfied." They also cited benefits such as greater international awareness among employees and researchers, new perspectives and specialized knowledge, and contributions to research and development.

Learning and Engagement in Host Communities

The program also offered valuable opportunities for engagement with local universities, schools, and government officials, allowing participants to build connections beyond their host organizations.

In Hokkaido, five students visited Fuji Women’s University, where they participated in group discussions in English with Japanese students. They also experienced aspects of Japanese culture through origami and a tea ceremony, while deepening connections with their Japanese peers.

In Fukushima, two students visited a local school, where they introduced UAE culture to the local students and joined a school lunch and classroom cleaning.

In Kagawa, two students paid courtesy visits to the Governor of Kagawa Prefecture and the Mayor of Takamatsu City. They also appeared live on a local radio program, where they spoke about their internships, UAE culture, and their lives in Japan.

These activities provided opportunities for the students to deepen their understanding of Japanese society and culture, while also promoting greater understanding of the UAE and expanding people-to-people exchanges in local communities.

Final Presentation and Future Cooperation

On August 5, JICE hosted a final presentation session in Tokyo, attended by Mr. Marwan Ahmed Alnaqbi, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the UAE in Japan.

The students presented the projects and challenges they had undertaken, the results or progress of their internships, and how they hoped to apply their experiences in Japan in their future careers.

Mr. Alnaqbi encouraged the students, saying, “Make the most of this experience as you move forward in your future endeavors.” The students also shared their achievements and experiences with representatives from the host organizations who attended the session. By August 21, all 22 students completed their internships in Japan.

Looking forward, JICE will spare no effort to refine the program based on feedback from the participating students, while further strengthening people-to-people exchanges and industry-academia collaboration between the UAE and Japan. JICE will also seek to develop new partnerships with government agencies, universities, and other institutions in the UAE and the wider Middle East.

Host Organizations

• AWL, Inc.
• Institute of Environmental Radioactivity (IER), Fukushima University
• Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences (IGSES), Kyushu University
• Japan AI Consulting Corporation
• KIDS HOLDINGS Co., Ltd.
• Local Dive, Inc.
• MiraiKikai, Inc.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
• NHK Enterprises, Inc.

International Cooperation Division International Training Department