Making the remaining study period in Japan as fruitful as possible until graduation: Holding specific programs targeted for international students from Africa.

On February 28th, we held the "JICA Networking Seminar - Africa Individual Program" in Tokyo for African participants who came to Japan in the 2022 fiscal year through the ABE Initiative, SDGs Global Leader Scholarship, other JICA scholars and publicly and privately funded programs.

The seminar aimed to achieve the following four objectives.

200 international students from Africa gathered. They listened to effective advice from three Ex-ABE program graduates about how to spend the rest of their time studying in Japan and how to nurture relationships with Japanese companies in the future.

Then, group discussions were held. Groups were formed by geographically neighboring countries or regions to reflect on their own individual thoughts, and visions after returning to their home countries and building ties with Japan.

Last year, due to COVID-19, the event was held online, so this was the first time that everyone could participate and meet in person. In the event hall where 200 participants gathered, we could see the atmosphere it was filled with excitements about how each participant wished for their future endeavors.

For the duration of one and a half years, these participants have been vigorously studying at universities located in every corner of Japan. The participants were at ease with being accustomed to Japanese life and culture.

For the opening speech, Director General Yanase encouraged the participants’ future success and future endeavors by delivering a message of strengthening the ties with Japanese companies and African countries. Furthermore, he also expresses his expectations for the participants on how to spend their valuable remaining time in Japan.

In the panel discussion, three ABE graduates, who have taken an employment at Japanese companies after completing their program, presented their career paths after completing the program. They also presented how they effectively spent their remaining time until their graduation and personal experiences in the first half of the session.

During the second half of the session, a panel discussion was held. Detailed answers were given to participants for the variety of questions being posed by the participants.
During the Q&A session, one of the questions from the participants was about how to bond with Japanese employees, a concern that arose during their internship experiences. The response emphasized the importance of language acquisition, explaining Japanese business customs and the Japanese decision-making process.

Various valuable advice was provided from the standpoint of a person who has already experienced working in Japan. The participants found their advice valuable and seemed to have absorbed much of the information.

Furthermore, the advice was also given from the viewpoint of Japanese companies who had never hired African individuals, especially understanding the stance in which how small and medium sized Japanese companies would feel when hiring African scholars.

The discussion was held on the theme of what is really required to reach the utmost mutual understanding with these companies. Through deep discussions on cultural exchange between the panelists and participants, it was a highly educational panel discussion for international students.

Following the panel discussion, Ms. Ihuoma Nkechi AGADA, one of the panelists, introduced Kakehashi Africa (KA), an organization formed by ABE graduates wishing to make bridges with Japanese companies. She explained the background of KA's establishment, its objectives, and current activities with Japanese companies. In addition, she explained how to get involved with the organization. Ms. AGADA presented this information in a clear and understandable manner, making it valuable for international students who were not yet aware of the organization but could potentially benefit from it in the future. Additionally, the method of collaboration with KA representatives in various regions of Africa was cited during the afternoon group work session.

In the afternoon's program, the Group Discussion, participants first took time to carefully think about what they could do for the remaining six months and their future goals. They began by reflecting on their individual situations and listing them on worksheets to gather their thoughts.

Afterward, the participants are divided into groups based on their regions or countries. They presented their discussions to neighboring groups. Through this process, students from different African countries, who may not usually encounter, had the opportunity to interact directly. They quickly bonded and engaged in lively and friendly exchanges, creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

Through this program, the participants utilized practical exercises using examples of business collaborations between Japan and various African countries to brainstorm ideas.

By actively participating in this seminar which drew participants from across Japan, we were able to make the most of the opportunity to think about what particular things to focus on before graduation. This experience of discussing together was a valuable networking opportunity for the diverse group of African students studying in Japan, and it will undoubtedly serve as a crucial turning point in their future business and careers.

Conference Name: JICA Networking Seminar 2024, Africa Individual Program
Date: Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Organizer: JICA Africa Department
Location: Ota Ward Industrial Promotion Center Pio

African international students who fall under the following programs:

February 28th (Wednesday)

Remaining Stay and Career/Activities after Returning Home (Panelists):

Note: Kakehashi Africa is an organization established by ABE Initiative participants to 　　promote collaboration between Africa and Japanese companies.