by DEVNET JAPAN
Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP), supported by Japanese government, has been built with the aim to help young people from developing countries acquire technological skills, or knowledge about Japan, and to contribute to their development in their home countries after they go back home.
Before visiting Japan, candidates get 3 to 6 months language lessons, written tests and interviews in their home countries. Those who pass the tests will sign an agreement with implementing organizations in order to become their trainees. After the support in immigration process by the sending organization, new trainees will arrive in Japan, and will start to spend 1month taking some lessons about Japanese culture and language, so to accostumate to Japanese life and to avoid any problem with it. After 1 month, their 3 years training programme starts in each implementing organization.
So far, TITP does not include a support system for former trainees. They will choose job’s category by themselves once they’ll be back home.
Supervising-organizations receive supervision fee from implementing organizations, in order to support activities related to TITP, made before trainees go back home. However, so far former trainees can’ t receive any support from supervising-organizations due to a lack of funds not allowing to deal with their follow-up.
“International Cross-Industrial Cooperatives”, in collaboration with Devnet International, tries to build the support plan for former trainees with 3 year intern training experience in their countries.
The following is a report about 3 former trainees
They had trained at AISIN TAKAOKA CO. LTD from 2016 to 2019 in Aichi prefecture. AISIN TAKAOKA CO., LTD provides Iron casting, machining and metal-forming operations, (mainly for automotive products) also manufacture and sale of audio products.
As part of that activity, the organization interviewed former trainees that went back home after completing three years of technical intern training.
1. Mr. NGHIA from THANH HOA in Vietnam, 27 years old.
He started to run online shopping business for mobile phones
“Hard as the training program was, they were unforgettable and meaningful days. What I remember most is the corporate slogan “Safety First”. As a matter of course, all the employees at the implementing organization were engaged, following the work procedure. Also, I learned to focus on my work politely so to not make mistakes as much as possible through the training program in Japan for 3 years.
Now I am totally independent. I have come to take responsibility for my own actions and behaviours and I think properly. That is what I wanted to learn through Technical Intern Training Program. I achieved my goals” .
2. Mr.TAN from Hue in Vietnam, 25 years old.
He started to open the company to sell CAMAU (a name of crabs).
“I learned the diligence and seriousness as well as how important it is to work hard through the training program. I believe that I am able to make good use of the experiences I got in Japan for my current business.”
He came up with the business idea in Japan and started his own business as soon as he went back to his home country.
With the support from his relatives helping out with reasonable and good food suppliers, he started to work on the catering service which is easier to control and expand. He would like to open a restaurant soon as well as expand the catering business.
3. Mr. NHAM from NGHE in Vietnam, 28 years old.
He started working for a construction company as a mechanical and electrical engineer.
“At the beginning, I had been in trouble for language problems. I studied Japanese so hard through the training program in Japan, and I finally got used to it. What I achieved in 3 years in Japan is the responsibility in working. That is still useful for my current job. I am working so hard here.
My goals in Japan were to learn Japanese culture and technology, to experience Japanese life and to earn money for my family. I achieved all of them. I would like to work for Japanese companies in Vietnam as well as to have a family in the future.”
The three above mentioned trainees learned “the attitude to work” in Japan and were able to grow and become independent mentally.
Although this is not specified in Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP), it is an excellent achievement in the growth and independence of young people.
TITP aims to promote international cooperation by transferring skills, technologies, or knowledge in Japanese industries, to developing countries through human resource development, ensuring proper Technical Intern Training and protection of Technical Intern Trainees.
However, actually there are few former trainees that have applied the “technology” they learned directly to their current economic career or to start their own businesses.
It is understandable that there are many points in other countries that are not exactly the same as in Japan, due to a different maturity of society, but we need to improve this fact.
This would be an issue that needs to be addressed in order to ensure that technical training is not just a temporary “send money to home” but also a way to achieve sustainable economic development in developing countries.