[Kansai Gaidai University] Industry-Academia Collaboration Internship in Asia Wins '9th Career Design Program Award Chosen by Students'
Kansai Gaidai University's 'Global Internship in Asia' won the Career Design Program Award. Its university-led, tailor-made industry-academia collaboration was highly evaluated.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 19:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 14:34 (3h 32m after Collected)
Kansai Gaidai University (Hirakata City, Osaka) announces that its overseas work experience program, 'Global Internship in Asia,' has won an award in the 'Internship/Work Experience Course' category at the '9th Career Design Program Award Chosen by Students'. The program was highly evaluated for its quality as a 'tailor-made' industry-academia collaboration program, proactively designed by the university from the planning stage.
▲ Emblem of the winning '9th Career Design Program Award Chosen by Students'
■ '9th Career Design Program Award Chosen by Students'
This award is an initiative to recognize career formation support programs, such as internships, that contribute to the cultivation of students' vocational awareness and their social and professional independence. Backed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Nikkei Inc., and Mynavi Corporation, it aims for higher-quality matching between students and companies.
■ The 'Tailor-Made' Overseas Work Experience Program 'Global Internship in Asia' Received High Praise
The award-winning 'Global Internship in Asia' began in academic year 2025 as a credit-granting overseas dispatch program targeting 1st to 3rd-year undergraduate students and 1st-year junior college students. Internships were conducted at Daiso Industries Co., Ltd. and Konoike Transport Co., Ltd. in Bangkok, Thailand, and at Yuri Co., Ltd. in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Unlike existing work experience programs, its major feature is that it is 'tailor-made', designed from the planning stage based on the interests and needs of both students and companies. The objective is to deepen the understanding of the corporate business environment through practical work and interaction with local employees in the rapidly growing Asian region, and to cultivate the 'earnest and tough mindset' necessary for the next generation of global talent.
After undergoing preliminary training at the university and by the host companies, students engage in practical work at bases in various Asian countries for 1 to 2 weeks during the summer and spring vacations. Upon returning to Japan, an outcome reporting session is held with representatives from the host companies present, where students propose practical solutions to challenges.
[Reason for Selection (from the Executive Committee)]
A global work experience program where students place themselves in real-world settings in Asia and polish their language and professional skills through practical work. The quality of learning is ensured by the university's proactive involvement from the planning stage, consistently designing everything from preliminary training to on-site practical work and final proposals. The student proposals utilizing SWOT analysis were highly specific, and the program was praised for transforming learning into outcomes through appropriate feedback. It is a deeply meaningful practice that links the global expansion of local companies with students' career formation.
■ Case Study in Da Nang, Vietnam
In August 2025, in collaboration with Yuri Co., Ltd. (Toyooka City, Hyogo), an established bag manufacturer, an overseas work experience was conducted at the company's Da Nang factory in Vietnam. During domestic pre-training, students visited the headquarters factory and stores, discussing measures for overseas expansion with employees. Following that, they stayed at the local Da Nang factory for one week.
On-site, they were divided into three departments: sample production, production management, and trade, to experience practical work. They learned the frontlines of global business from manufacturing floors requiring high precision and the sight of expatriate staff collaborating with local employees. On the final day, they gave presentations under the theme 'What would I do if I were the president?'. They made specific proposals from their unique student managerial perspective regarding future business expansion, using a 'SWOT Analysis' to examine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
▲ Students learning real-world manufacturing processes like sample production and production management at the Vietnam factory ▲ Host companies also highly praised it, stating, 'Collaborating with the younger generation holds great significance for future corporate growth.'
Receiving this award, Junichi Oya, Director of the Career Center at the university, said, 'We are honored that this program, created with participating companies, has been highly evaluated from its first year. The real experiences in Asia, which cannot be gained from the internet or videos, will be an important guide in the students' career choices. We will continue to refine the content and strive for further expansion.'
▼ Official Website of 'Career Design Program Award Chosen by Students'
https://internship-award.jp
■ Kansai Gaidai University
Official Website: https://www.kansaigaidai.ac.jp
▲ The Main Building seen from the Main Gate of Kansai Gaidai University Hirakata Nakamiya Campus
'GO FOR it! Beyond language.'
Kansai Gaidai University leverages its overseas network spreading across 427 universities in 55 countries and regions worldwide (as of January 2026), sending out approximately 1,300 students overseas annually.
▲ Emblem of the winning '9th Career Design Program Award Chosen by Students'
■ '9th Career Design Program Award Chosen by Students'
This award is an initiative to recognize career formation support programs, such as internships, that contribute to the cultivation of students' vocational awareness and their social and professional independence. Backed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Nikkei Inc., and Mynavi Corporation, it aims for higher-quality matching between students and companies.
■ The 'Tailor-Made' Overseas Work Experience Program 'Global Internship in Asia' Received High Praise
The award-winning 'Global Internship in Asia' began in academic year 2025 as a credit-granting overseas dispatch program targeting 1st to 3rd-year undergraduate students and 1st-year junior college students. Internships were conducted at Daiso Industries Co., Ltd. and Konoike Transport Co., Ltd. in Bangkok, Thailand, and at Yuri Co., Ltd. in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Unlike existing work experience programs, its major feature is that it is 'tailor-made', designed from the planning stage based on the interests and needs of both students and companies. The objective is to deepen the understanding of the corporate business environment through practical work and interaction with local employees in the rapidly growing Asian region, and to cultivate the 'earnest and tough mindset' necessary for the next generation of global talent.
After undergoing preliminary training at the university and by the host companies, students engage in practical work at bases in various Asian countries for 1 to 2 weeks during the summer and spring vacations. Upon returning to Japan, an outcome reporting session is held with representatives from the host companies present, where students propose practical solutions to challenges.
[Reason for Selection (from the Executive Committee)]
A global work experience program where students place themselves in real-world settings in Asia and polish their language and professional skills through practical work. The quality of learning is ensured by the university's proactive involvement from the planning stage, consistently designing everything from preliminary training to on-site practical work and final proposals. The student proposals utilizing SWOT analysis were highly specific, and the program was praised for transforming learning into outcomes through appropriate feedback. It is a deeply meaningful practice that links the global expansion of local companies with students' career formation.
■ Case Study in Da Nang, Vietnam
In August 2025, in collaboration with Yuri Co., Ltd. (Toyooka City, Hyogo), an established bag manufacturer, an overseas work experience was conducted at the company's Da Nang factory in Vietnam. During domestic pre-training, students visited the headquarters factory and stores, discussing measures for overseas expansion with employees. Following that, they stayed at the local Da Nang factory for one week.
On-site, they were divided into three departments: sample production, production management, and trade, to experience practical work. They learned the frontlines of global business from manufacturing floors requiring high precision and the sight of expatriate staff collaborating with local employees. On the final day, they gave presentations under the theme 'What would I do if I were the president?'. They made specific proposals from their unique student managerial perspective regarding future business expansion, using a 'SWOT Analysis' to examine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
▲ Students learning real-world manufacturing processes like sample production and production management at the Vietnam factory ▲ Host companies also highly praised it, stating, 'Collaborating with the younger generation holds great significance for future corporate growth.'
Receiving this award, Junichi Oya, Director of the Career Center at the university, said, 'We are honored that this program, created with participating companies, has been highly evaluated from its first year. The real experiences in Asia, which cannot be gained from the internet or videos, will be an important guide in the students' career choices. We will continue to refine the content and strive for further expansion.'
▼ Official Website of 'Career Design Program Award Chosen by Students'
https://internship-award.jp
■ Kansai Gaidai University
Official Website: https://www.kansaigaidai.ac.jp
▲ The Main Building seen from the Main Gate of Kansai Gaidai University Hirakata Nakamiya Campus
'GO FOR it! Beyond language.'
Kansai Gaidai University leverages its overseas network spreading across 427 universities in 55 countries and regions worldwide (as of January 2026), sending out approximately 1,300 students overseas annually.