WILLER EXPRESS Co., Ltd. and Indonesia Research Institute Co., Ltd. Collaborate

WILLER EXPRESS Co., Ltd. and Indonesia Research Institute Co., Ltd. Collaborate

— Agreement on collaboration in human resource development — — Aiming to build a training model for transportation service personnel equipped with Japanese language education, safety awareness, and customer service quality —

WILLER EXPRESS Co., Ltd. and Indonesia Research Institute Co., Ltd.

Indonesia Research Institute Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, hereinafter "Indonesia Research Institute") will collaborate with WILLER EXPRESS Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, hereinafter "WILLER EXPRESS") to promote initiatives for developing human resources who will work in Japan's transportation service industry in Indonesia.

This initiative aims to build a training model that combines Japanese language education, safety awareness, customer service quality, and understanding of life and culture for working in Japan, targeting Indonesian transportation service personnel. The institute has reached an agreement with PTDI-STTD (Politeknik Transportasi Darat Indonesia-STTD), an educational institution in Indonesia's land transportation sector, on future collaboration in human resource development. Specific training locations, start dates, target numbers, and implementation formats will be discussed and coordinated among stakeholders in the future.

Background: Growing need for human resource development in Japan's transportation industry

In Japan, securing express bus drivers who support regional and intercity transportation is a critical issue. It is not just about finding people with driving skills; there is a need to develop personnel with safety awareness, customer service, time management, teamwork, and an attitude to provide passengers with safety and comfort.

"Highway Pilot" as conceived by WILLER EXPRESS

WILLER EXPRESS positions express bus drivers not as mere drivers but as "Highway Pilots" who support customers' travel experiences. In 2024, the company rebranded express bus drivers as "Highway Pilots" and has been promoting them as professionals responsible for both safety and service. Just as airline pilots ensure safety and comfort, express bus drivers handling intercity travel require high safety awareness and quality hospitality as a service industry. This program aims to cultivate personnel with a service mindset akin to the hotel industry, capable of providing passengers with a comfortable travel time.

Direction of transportation human resource development through collaboration with PTDI-STTD

Indonesia Research Institute has discussed with PTDI-STTD the possibility of collaboration in transportation human resource development in Indonesia and has reached an agreement on future cooperation in some form in the development field. PTDI-STTD is an educational institution responsible for human resource development in Indonesia's land transportation sector, with expertise in traffic safety, operation management, and road transportation.

This initiative will combine the institution's knowledge of land transportation with Indonesia Research Institute's expertise in Japanese language education and employment support in Japan to examine how to build foundational skills required for transportation service personnel. The training location, start date, target number, and operational structure will be discussed and adjusted among stakeholders in the future.

Specific implementation details to be determined

At this point, this initiative does not confirm that training will be conducted at PTDI-STTD's facilities or specify a start date or target number. Going forward, the recruitment method, training location, training period, Japanese language education, basic learning of safety awareness and traffic safety, and content related to customer service will be examined among stakeholders and gradually concretized within feasible scope.

Indonesia Research Institute, based on WILLER EXPRESS's emphasis on balancing "safety first" and "high-quality hospitality," will connect Japan's human resource needs with Indonesia's educational foundation and support the construction of a sustainable transportation human resource development model.

Examination of a training model centered on Japanese language education

In the training model to be considered in the future, it is envisioned that students will learn Japanese language education, safety awareness, basic traffic safety understanding, customer service quality, and life and cultural understanding necessary for working in Japan's transportation service field in stages.

Regarding coming to Japan and employment, since institutional requirements, residence status screening, obtaining a Japanese driver's license, and completion of related training are necessary, this initiative is positioned as a framework for education and preparatory support assuming these prerequisites.

*This initiative aims to create a framework for education and preparatory support for candidate personnel seeking employment in Japan. Actual arrival and employment require meeting the requirements of the Specified Skilled Worker system, residence status screening, obtaining a Japanese driver's license, and completing related training. It does not determine or guarantee specific training locations, start dates, target numbers, or employment possibilities.

Practical Japanese language education using Indonesia Research Institute's unique "ARBEE Method"

Practical Japanese language education using the ARBEE (Arbee) method

In considering future training models, Indonesia Research Institute also envisions utilizing its proprietary "ARBEE Method (Arbee Method)." The ARBEE Method is not about one-sidedly teaching textbook content. It is a practical Japanese language education program for Indonesian learners aimed at linking Japanese language ability to workplace adaptability, independent living skills, and trust-building ability. It emphasizes helping participants grow into personnel who are trusted by supervisors and colleagues, communicate smoothly on site, and lead independent lives when working in Japan.

Specifically, it combines a "linguistic foundation" that visualizes differences between Japanese and Indonesian, "cognitive linguistics" that fixes words through experience, judgment, and action rather than memorization, and "activity-based learning" through role-plays and practical simulations. For example, the expression "We are departing" used by express bus drivers is not taught simply as a translation but learned in connection with a series of actions: passenger boarding confirmation, door safety check, surroundings check, calling out, and departure. This integrates language with on-site actions, fixing Japanese as usable in actual work.

Additionally, lessons are designed using a cycle of preparation, implementation, evaluation, and improvement, not arbitrarily. Vocabulary is divided into "must-learn vocabulary," "important vocabulary," and "additional vocabulary," and gradually expanded while confirming learners' progress. The basic one-day learning cycle involves solidifying foundations such as grammar, conversation, and reading in the morning, engaging in practice such as self-expression, interview practice, passenger handling, in-vehicle announcements, and safety confirmation in the afternoon, and reviewing and self-studying at night for retention.

Furthermore, in the ARBEE Method, for interview preparation, instead of memorizing a self-introduction template, learners conduct self-analysis in their native language, delve into their experiences, values, strengths, challenges, and reasons for wanting to work in Japan, and then gradually express themselves in Japanese. This allows for natural interview responses based on genuine feelings rather than superficial answers, leading to a proactive attitude toward continuous learning after hiring.

Through such education, Indonesia Research Institute aims to cultivate personnel who are trusted in Japanese workplaces and can thrive long-term, not just those who pass exams. In the training framework to be considered in the future, Japanese language education, workplace adaptation, safety awareness, and independent living will be integrated.