Ageing Japan is looking to the youth of India to overcome its talent crunch. And, given that education is the best route to lure them, what better city for Japan to kick off its first-of-a-kind education fair than Pune, the country?s premier education city. Next stops: New Delhi and Bangalore. The fair, held on Thursday, was organised by Japan Student Services Organisation (JSSO), an independent body working with the Japanese education ministry.
According to Takagawa Sadayoshi, executive director, student exchange department, JSSO, Japanese companies employed around 8,000 foreign nationals in Japan in 2006. That number is expected to grow to 10,000 this year. ?These companies need skilled professionals from countries such as China, Korea and India. Many companies need employees having a command over English and Japanese,? he said.
JSSO will also help Japanese universities and private educational institutions tie up with Indian varsities to offer double-degree courses. On offer are courses in engineering, IT, medicine, agriculture and economics. International relations and security-based courses will also be launched soon.
The Pune fair attracted 16 Japanese universities, 11 of them private, most of whom offer courses in Japanese as well as English. Sadayoshi said students with even a basic knowledge of Japanese could study in Japan and complete their education in English. ?They can get jobs with any Japanese company,? he added.
JSSO also offers scholarships of around $2,000 a month to cover most expenses. Japan?s ministry for industry also offers a two-year internship programme for final-year students to convert them into full-time employees.