Workshop Held to Explore Support Systems for International Students’ Employment and Retention in Fukui
To explore effective ways to support international students studying in Fukui in securing employment and settling in the region after graduation, the first workshop in a new initiative was held on August 1 at the Fukui International Activities Plaza. The event brought together stakeholders from local industries, communities, government bodies, organizations, and universities with the aim of establishing a comprehensive and collaborative support system.
The workshop opened with welcoming remarks from Vice President for International Affairs and Global Strategy, Prof. NAGAI Takahiro, followed by a guest speech by Mr. URYU, Director of the Industrial Human Resources Division, Labor Policy Section, Department of Industry and Labor, Fukui Prefectural Government. He expressed strong expectations for efforts to support the employment and retention of highly skilled international students in the region.
Mr. KANEKO Kazuhiro, Secretary General of the Hamamatsu Association of Corporate Executives, then delivered a keynote presentation titled “The Hamamatsu Model: Supporting International Students’ Career Paths through Collaboration with Local Companies.” He shared practical examples from Hamamatsu City, including the background of the eCommons establishment, initiatives for student-company exchanges, internships, job matching efforts, and the challenges and solutions related to hiring international graduates.
Three international students currently enrolled at the University of Fukui also shared their personal perspectives under two themes: “Why did you choose to study at the University of Fukui?” and “What are your concerns about your future career after graduation?” Their diverse language proficiency and backgrounds enriched the discussion. Participants from the audience also engaged actively, raising issues such as difficulties in daily life and job-hunting in Fukui.
Furthermore, based on the example from Hamamatsu, an active discussion was held on differences in corporate awareness and challenges faced by global companies such as Suzuki and Yamaha compared to their local subcontractors. Topics included differing perceptions toward hiring international talent and the need for targeted corporate outreach.
Based on the outcomes of this first workshop and the feedback collected through pre- and post-event surveys, a second workshop will be held in October. A commemorative symposium is also planned for January 2026, during which a formal declaration to establish a regional support framework for international students will be announced.
This series of workshops is being conducted with the support of the Fukui Future Collaborative Platform Project under the Fukui Prefecture’s University Promotion Program.
