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From Nara National College of Technology to the World

Ikehata Yutaro (Nara National College of Technology)

My dream is to be an engineer who can make full use of my own skills and play the active part of the latest global industry. The manufacturing makers where you will find employment after graduation are trying to find the young talents with international challenging spirit. Technology of this country is supporting these manufacturers, and this is what the Japanese should be proud of to the world. Graduates of Kosen, going abroad with this pride in Japanese technology would also lead to the development of Kosen. For that sake, students in Kosen should work hard not to lose chances, and make challenges aggressively.

I would like to introduce some strong points of this school, which motivated me to consider going abroad. As you may know, this Kosen is a 5-year system school, established on the purpose of raising the engineers that will be able to acquire the latest technologies theoretically and practically, and adapt to the modern international society.

The domestic industrial manufacturers strongly want employees who can be positive about working in a foreign country, especially young engineers. Recently in Japan, the reduction of domestic market by depopulation is getting more and more serious. As a result of this economic downturn, the sales of domestic industrial products are decreasing for last several years. And now, the elements required for the young people, are starting to change. Till then, a person, who could do as he was told without any mistake, was considered as a capable person. Now, however, they are craving for young international talents, because they have to widen their market and sell their products abroad.

What do you think Japan can be proud of to the world? It’s the technologies. The technologies cultivated by diligent scientists, have pushed up this small island country, to be considered by world as a developed nation. The latest example would be the Dr. Yamanaka's study of IPS cells receiving the Novel Prize in physiology. Now, technology is not only a vital support of Japanese industry and economy, but also a pride of this country.

You can start learning the technical subjects very early in Kosen. Normally, students study general education subjects for three years in high school, and then choose their own major in college. In Kosen, you will start learning the basis of each special subject from our first year.

Consequently, you can learn technical knowledge of college level in 5 years. This makes you able to understand the logic of the technologies you'll get to use in the future, and also train you how to put your knowledge to practical use, at your job, or in your study in college.

Secondly, in Kosen, you will have many opportunities to do experiments and training, using the same facilities as the one used in today’s actual spot of manufacturing. By this, you can master the skills the students from normal colleges get to learn after they get work. This is the strongest part of the characteristics of this school, which makes you able to choose a job right after they graduate. As a fact, the amazing employment rate of graduates from the course of electrical engineering was 100% for last several years. This stability is one of the rare appealing points of this school. Isn't it wonderful, that you can make your challenge to the world without worrying about losing your chances in Japan?

Because you have 2 more years compared to the normal high school, you'll have more chances to make a challenge on what you are interested in. Have you heard of "robot contest" from NHK TV program? That's one of the good examples. And this kind of experiences will naturally train you to voluntarily set the goal, make a plan for that sake, and solve those processes all by yourself. And this, outgoing attitude, is the element required to the young engineers today. Also, these challenges you make while a student, will give you the makings of an able technologist, and gives you a big advantages when you try to get job or when you're taking the entrance exam to the university.

Now, with these valuable strong points, don't you think it’s too wasteful (I mean “Mottainai”) to use them for just staying in this country and struggle with many problems such as job shortage and low payment? Don't you want to go outside and have more chance to make more challenges? And most of all, don't you get so excited that you may make your name in the world, from Kosen, with skills you've earned in Japan? Well, I do. I want to be one of the engineers that Japan can be proud of. Some people think that they have no chance because they don't speak English very well, but this is not true. Being able to speak English fluently is not the most important thing when you go abroad. You can make yourself understood with even broken English. Everyone has a chance if you have the aggressive attitude to appeal yourself, and a little bit of courage to put yourself into whole new surroundings. That's your key to the world.

Of course, it’s not easy to be considered as a man of ability in the world. There are more rivals with talents and hungry spirits in the world. You might lose when you fought with them, or maybe you'll win. Right now, the most important thing is to make a challenge first. What you can earn through student life in Kosen is very precious thing, and it’s pitiful not to even take a try. Have a strong will, then even failing is going to make yourself improve. "Don't worry about the failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try." This is a famous quote by Jack Canfield, an author of "Chicken Soup for the Soul." Every success comes from a small first step. All we can do is to keep moving on, and turn one small step into a giant leap in the world.