On 24 March 2025, the Centre hosted a debriefing session for the Japanese science and engineering students who participated in the Vulcanus in Europe 2024 programme. The newly selected students for the 2025 session also attended this event. The 2024 participants began the programme in April 2024. After completing a four-month intensive language course in their host countries—Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain—they undertook a seven-month industrial traineeship at their respective host companies.
During the session, each student shared their challenges and achievements from both the language course and the industrial traineeship. They provided valuable insights into their experiences of living, studying, and working in Europe. Many students reported gaining a deeper understanding of the history, culture, and customs of their host countries, and how these differ from those in Japan. They emphasized the importance of proactive behavior and effective communication with colleagues to achieve success in their roles. Several participants expressed a sense of accomplishment from their training outcomes. They noted that, prior to joining the programme, their aspirations and career plans to work abroad were vague. However, after completing the programme, they now feel confident in their ability to pursue careers overseas. Some students mentioned specific goals, such as contributing to the international community through their expertise, pursuing a master's or doctoral degree at a European graduate school, or seeking employment opportunities in Europe. Many participants indicated that the programme helped them to formulate concrete career plans focused on studying and working abroad. The Centre expresses deep gratitude to the host companies that provided valuable internship opportunities to the students.
Launched in 1996, the Vulcanus in Europe programme offers Japanese students in engineering and other scientific fields the opportunity to participate in a programme consisting of an intensive language course followed by an industrial placement in EU countries.
