KANSAI GAIDAI UNIVERSITY

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KANSAI GAIDAI INTERNSHIP PROGRAMKansai Gaidai Internship Program Working in Japan: KGIP helped me to achieve my goalAbraham LaremontInternational Sales Manager / Star Pharma JapanWorking in Japan has been one of my career goals, and I have achieved it! Among many factors which have contributed to this success, the Kansai Gaidai Internship Program played an impor-tant role. By the time I had an interview for my current position, I had acquired not only knowledge about international business, but also deep understanding about Japanese business culture based on my actual experience of working in a Japanese logistics company. Everything I learned through lectures in the U.S. and Japan were verified in a real life context. Filled with new findings, the internship opportunity provided an excellent pathway to be able to function effectively in a Japanese work environment.Japanese customers are said to be most difficult to please. They expect efficient and thorough attention and services. I am acquir-ing knowledge and skills to best serve our customers, which will become a big asset for me. I have also learned to be flexible and cooperative to effectively function in a Japanese organization.If you wish to accept a new challenge of testing yourself in a real work environment, I would strongly recommend that you take part in the KGIP. It will surely open a new pathway to your future international career. The Kansai Gaidai Internship Program (KGIP) is offered as part of the curriculum of the Asian Studies Program, making possible real life experience in Japanese business firms and local schools. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to extend their stud-ies and knowledge about Japan beyond the classroom to the work-place itself. In many cases, internships offered in Japan are more focused on visiting companies and listening to explanations about their activi-ties. The KGIP is different. It involves actual tasks and assign-ments, and thus interns are fully integrated into the daily opera-tions of the firms. This is similar to how internships are promoted and managed in the USA and Europe. The KGIP therefore provides our students with a rare opportuni-ty to experience and learn firsthand about the Japanese work environment. For those students planning to work in Japan or in an international setting, the KGIP will show prospective employ-ers that you have already worked in a Japanese work setting. For students who plan to apply for the Japan Exchange and Teaching(JET) program, the KGIP will provide work experience that is similar to the JET program activities in a school. Read more stories14