Arab News Japan

DUBAI: The Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) Abu Dhabi announced that 13 Emirati students have successfully completed its summer internship program.

The students underwent at seven Japanese companies and a university. Coordinated by JICE, these internship programs were exclusively designed to foster the development of promising Emirati talent specializing in the fields of chemical, electrical, mechanical, engineering, petroleum engineering, and renewable energy.

The 8-week internship programs not only provided participants with work experience and research opportunities at Japan’s cutting-edge technological companies but also offered a cultural immersion in both Japanese society and corporate environments. The interns also had the opportunity to undertake Japanese language classes.

Sponsored and entrusted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, JICE has been committed to implementing the Internship Program for Emirati university students since 2012. While the program was conducted online in 2021 and 2022, the 2023 program resumed in-person implementation and aimed to expand its scale by accommodating a greater number of interns and hosting companies while diversifying its contents.

Now in its 12th year of operation, the internship program has hosted over 100 Emirati students to date. This year’s cohort comprised 13 Emirati students, including 7 talented female students, from esteemed institutions such as Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU), Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), and Zayed University (ZU). The program offered three patterns of internship experiences: entirely in Japan, in the UAE, or a combination program with 4 weeks in Japan and 4 weeks in the UAE.

Some of the hosting organizations for the internships included: Daikin Middle East and Africa FZE, HORIBA, Ltd., INPEX CORPORATION/ Japan Oil Development Co., Ltd., JFE Steel Corporation / AL Gharbia Pipe Company (AGPC), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation, Takenaka Seisakusho Co., Ltd. / Takenaka Middle East LLC and Yokogawa UAE Industry – Sole Proprietorship LLC.

The program commenced with introductory courses held online by the JICE headquarter covering basic Japanese language skills, business manners, and etiquette. After the 8-week internship period at the hosting organizations, the students are now preparing for the final reporting session scheduled on August 9 at Bab Al Qasr Hotel in Abu Dhabi where they will deliver presentations about their research and experiences. During this event, the certificate of completion for the internship program will be awarded, with the presence of the representatives of the UAE government, Embassy of Japan in the UAE and the hosting organisations.

Ayesha Abdulnaser Arfan Awadh Alkatheeri, an undergraduate mechanical engineering student from KU, expressed her profound transformation through the internship experience, both on a personal and career level. She shared her insights on her time at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation (MCO):

“This internship has been a life-changing experience that has significantly impacted my perspective, both personally and in terms of my career aspirations. Working alongside and learning from the diverse group of engineers at MCO, I gained a deeper understanding of various engineering roles and topics, allowing me to identify the areas that truly resonate with my interests. Being actively involved in and contributing to different divisions within the company expanded my knowledge and skill set. I had the privilege to contribute my ideas and efforts to meaningful projects, which further fuelled my passion for engineering.”

Ahmed Abdullah Banaeimoon, an undergraduate electrical engineering student from HCT, said he cherished his enriching journey as an intern at JFE Steel Corporation, one of the largest manufacturers in Japan. While he was stationed in Fukuyama city, nestled in the picturesque western region of Japan.

He said: “As I reflect on my internship experience, I am motivated to bridge the gap between Japan and the UAE. Each country has something that the other doesn’t, and working together fills in the gaps and builds opportunities, and that’s the beauty of it. I am extremely passionate about fostering international connections. I believe it can create brighter futures and make a positive impact on the global stage.”

Tokuya Kanamori, Managing Director of JICE Abu Dhabi Office, lauded the success and growth of the JICE Internship Program, affirming that the UAE’s brightest students furthered their technical, educational, and intercultural acumen at some of Japan’s most prestigious corporations. He expressed his hope that the knowledge gained in Japan would be applied for the benefit of the UAE, and he looks forward to further mutually developing human expertise and ties between the two countries.