Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) and Kyoto Institute of Technology jointly organized their first company visit program for international graduate students.

 Currently, there is a growing demand for international students to find employment and settle in Japan. However, the high level of Japanese language proficiency required for job hunting and internships often becomes a barrier, making it difficult for these students to successfully match with domestic companies. In light of this, the two universities collaborated to organize this company visit program in English, ensuring it would be a meaningful opportunity even for international students who struggle with Japanese.

 On Thursday, November 7, eleven international students visited the headquarters of HORIBA Ltd. in Kyoto City. HORIBA founded in 1945 by Masao HORIBA with the motto "Joy and Fun," is an independent manufacturer of analytical and measurement instruments. It has become a leading global company representing Kyoto, boasting an overwhelming world market share in automotive engine exhaust gas measurement equipment. HORIBA is also a key member of the Kyoto Qualia Forum, in which both universities participate, and has been instrumental in providing various career support initiatives for doctoral students, including the Doctoral Career Messe KYOTO.

 The day began with an opening address and company introduction by Sayaka MATSUDA from HORIBA's Global Human Resources Department, providing insights into the company's history, corporate philosophy, and business domains. This was followed by a factory tour of HORIBA Advanced Techno and HORIBA Techno Service, located near the headquarters. Students observed the production sites for water quality and liquid measurement instruments, as well as printed circuit boards. In the contract analysis floor, they received detailed explanations in English about a project analyzing sand and rock samples collected from the asteroid "Ryugu". This was a valuable opportunity to learn about HORIBA's manufacturing processes, which span a wide range of fields including "Energy & Environment," "Bio & Healthcare," and "Advanced Materials & Semiconductors." The day concluded with an interaction session with "Horibarian," where two foreign engineers who obtained their Ph.D. in Japan frankly talked with the students.

 The participants provided highly satisfactory comments such as, "It was my first time observing Japanese manufacturing sites, and I was able to recognize anew the high level of technological prowess of a global company," "I felt a sense of familiarity seeing the measurement instruments I use at my university being made," and "I was impressed by the hospitality of the staffs and their fluent English." We will continue to develop meaningful programs to support highly skilled international students aiming to work in Japanese industries.

Related Resources:

• HORIBA Ltd.
  https://www.horiba.com/int/
• Kyoto Qualia Forum
  https://kyoto-qualia-forum.jp/