International Internships
Nagisa Naota:
A Doshisha Student Reaching Out to the World:
Nakabayashi, interviewer
By Sayaka Nakabayashi (3rd year, Faculty of Letters)
Naota will be going to Hong Kong from March to September for the AIESEC internship. I (Nakabayashi, 3rd year, Doshisha University Faculty of Letters, Study of Japanese language, educational program leader of AIESEC) got to directly interview her about why she decided to take time off of school just to go on this internship.
- Naota:
- Even if you can speak English, I think it would be pointless if you couldn't use it for something. During the AIESEC training, I wanted to know what I could do with English; I wanted to test myself. With members of AIESEC involved, exchanges with students appealed to me. I personally want local members to feel and understand Japan and to learn more about it. With small things like that, we can promote mutual understanding.
- Nakabayashi:
- Why did you choose Hong Kong? Also, what are some things that you want to learn from the internship?
- Naota:
- Hong Kong just happened to fit best with the conditions I wanted. I simply liked Asia and always thought it was fascinating how fast China developed. I wanted to see the transition myself. Another reason is because I’ve been studying about finance in Asia in my seminar. During the internship, I want to see if there is a difference between working with the Japanese and working with foreigners. If there is, I want to learn a way to work smoothly with foreigners.
- Nakabayashi:
- I see. What about the internship are you most excited about?
- Naota:
- Hanging out with the locals. I want to be active as an AIESEC member.
- Nakabayashi:
- I bet! There are already members who are actively working for AIESEC overseas.
- Naota:
- I know! When I go on the internship, I want to see how I can improve the world. I want to make this a reality in the future.
- Nakabayashi:
- AIESEC’s goal is peace and the fulfillment of humankind’s potential! What are your goals in the future, Nagisa?
- Naota:
- In the field of accounting, I want to start a system that will contribute to the business world.
- Nakabayashi:
- Thank you very much, Naota. Good luck with your training!
- Naota:
- Good luck to you too.
Naota, left, student with the flag of Doshisha University,
with the international students at the internship in Hong Kong
While on overseas exchange as a college student, Naota stated that Japanese people lack the power of changing dreams into goals. Many people have goals for the future. But I wonder how many people actually work at it. Naota has thought a lot on how to achieve her goals. Right now, she’s on her way of making her dream into reality. Even to an underclassman like myself, I can see that there is a powerful aura to her.
I felt motivated to work towards my goals and to change the discipline of Japan by interviewing Naota. Maybe everyone should take a step to make a change like Naota.
According to the 2007 Doshisha University Internship Program, internship programs have been held in each school faculty ever since 2001 in order to foster talented people who are capable of coming up with original ideas and realize and solve problems in our changing society. In 2003, a regular curriculum, “Career formation and internship” was formed and included the internship program as part of its possible credits.
In 2001, due to the Career Center holdings business information , students applied to about 2000 companies and 53 students were dispatched to 34 companies. As it became a regular curriculum in 2003, 134 students were dispatched to 81 companies, and as of 2006, 198 students were dispatched to 123 companies.
According to research from the Ministry of Education, the current internship condition (Ministry of Education 2006 study: published on December 27, 2007; issue 97) is as follows: Number of participating universities: 482 (65.8%), number of participating students: 50, 430 people (first time there have been more than fifty thousand people), Year level, juniors (3rd year): 71.1%, time period: mostly during summer break, generally between one and two weeks.
The future of internships:
The number of universities that have internships has increased since the data from 1996. But basedon the current scale numbers, it is hard to state the internship courses that are included as a normal curriculum will be firmly established. Moreover, in recent years, due to industry cooperation to bring in talented people, internships and industry-university relations will become important later on. The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are planning to cooperate to promote internships.
I also happened to ask the Stanford-Japan Center,AKP (Associated Kyoto Program), and the Japanese Center for University of Tu¨bingen how the internships went last year. Stanford included the program, with twenty-five out of thirty students taking part in an internship in the summer. AKP and Tubingen have not formally included the program but students have the choice of participating after finishing the training.
Once again, I interviewed Naota about AIESEC.
- Nakabayashi:
- Can you introduce yourself and give me a brief introduction of activities in AIESEC?
- Naota:
- I am a Doshisha University student majoring in Policy Studies, with a focuse on international finance. In the first year I was in charge of a trainee (a student from overseas) and a company which accepts AIESEC internship. The next year I was a leader of one program which focused on sightseeing and published 3,500 booklets about Japanese culture for foreigners.It was a collaboration with Kyoto City offcials.
- Nakabayashi:
- It seems like you’ve been very energetically involved! Why did you decide to join AIESEC anyhow?
- Naota:
- At the time, my friend Takuya Matsumoto told me how great AIESEC was, and I’ve always been interested in “foreign countries.” Before entering school, I vaguely wanted to learn about international relations and to meet with international students. I thought I could make this happen by joining AIESEC. During my freshman year, there was one event that had an international meeting where I first became friends with a international student. I was touched.
- Nakabayashi:
- I’m excited to attend the international meeting in the spring too. When do you experience the most international exchange?
- Naota:
- Definitely when trainees visit from foreign countries. It is impressive. I think what’s fascinating about AIESEC is that you get to become friends with people your age that are from foreign countries.
- Nakabayashi:
- OMRON Corporation and HORIBA, LTD. are currently cooperating to accepting trainees dispatched from AIESEC. There are many trainees visiting in the spring and fall, so this is the moment for me to experience international exchange.
- Naota:
- Yes, I am very thankful for all the corporations that have been cooperative.
Nakabayashi: I wonder if people know about this group. AIESEC has programs in twenty-four universities in Japan and allows internships in more than one hundred foreign countries. Not only do you go for an internship, but you also get to experience the international stage and become aware of problems of the world. It’ll give you more opportunities to think about problems in the society and motivate you to change the world! There are some undertaking projects, internships, and interesting activities at Doshisha University. This time I chose to put the spotlight on one of the most active and driven members of AIESEC.
