On Friday, August 8, 2025, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Ehime Trade Information Center, Shikoku Economic Federation, and Institute for International Relations (IRI) held the “Shikoku’s Future with International Students: Recruitment Seminar for Highly Sophisticated Foreign Talent and Exchange with International Students” at the Johoku Campus. This event was planned to promote the recruitment of high-level foreign human resources for companies in the Shikoku region and exchange with foreign students enrolled in Shikoku universities.
In addition to Ehime University, 16 international students from Imabari Meitoku College, Kagawa University, and Matsuyama University participated on the day, and a total of 36 people from 28 companies participated in both face-to-face and online sessions.
Shoichi Nishiyama, Chairman of the Shikoku Economic Federation Industrial Development Committee, gave opening remarks.
In the first half of the seminar, Junko Yashiro, Sub-Coordinator for Program Promotion, International Student Employment Promotion Program Promotion Office, gave a lecture titled “Steps to Hiring International Students” on specific confirmation items for hiring and understanding of culture and work perspectives essential for accepting foreign personnel.
Next, as examples of how Ehime Prefecture is actively hiring foreign nationals, Kotao Inaba, President and Taman Sikandar from Yui System Kobo, Inc. and Soji Inada, President and Representative Director and Gugu Kansei, Matsuyama Sales Manager from Justin Corporation took the stage for a roundtable discussion. They shared specific examples of recruitment, how to devise communication in the workplace after hiring, and key points for success in promoting cross-cultural coexistence.
The seminar concluded with an introduction of the program by Ms. Tomoko Izuki, Director of the Foreign Student Employment Promotion Program Promotion Office, and an introduction by Ms. Momoko Sugiyama, Director of the Ehime Trade Information Center of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), of its services and support system for companies that hire and utilize highly skilled foreign personnel.
During the exchange meeting in the latter half of the session, participating companies and international students deepened mutual understanding through dialogue. The companies talked about their expectations of their employees, and the international students actively exchanged opinions, asking questions to the companies and sharing their own career plans.
The event was a valuable opportunity for both companies and international students to deepen mutual understanding, and for international students to envision their future working for a Japanese company, and to think about recruitment and job hunting activities.
The International Student Employment Promotion Program Office will continue to actively promote global human resource development, career support, and promotion of foreign nationals to help realize a multicultural society.
＜Institute for International Relations, Office of Job Placement Program for International Students＞