5 Cebu students to get Japanese training

CEBU, Philippines - Four engineering students from the University of San Jose Recoletos and one student from the University of San Carlos  were selected by Saitama Prefectural Government in partnership with the Cebu Provincial Government to visit Japan from November to December this year.

Wada Kimio, Associate Director of Saitama Prefectural Government said that the selected students are the first batch to go to Japan for the Saitama-Cebu Comprehensive Human Resource HR Monozukuri Project funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

"Basically they are going to attend seminars, visit the companies and to undergo a kind of on job trainings," he said.

Furthermore, the Saitama Prefectural Government will choose 10 students for the second batch Intensive Course B.

The Monozukuri Project is a concept of developing things. It is an Asia project funded by JICA worth 60 million yen.

The objectives of the project is for Saitama and Cebu to work together to foster creative human resources for Cebu's further industrial development, as well as to disseminate the concept of Monozokuri in Cebu and strengthen the international networks between Saitama and Cebu to encourage mutually beneficial development.

Kimio said they decided to partner with Cebu because it is the second largest population in the Philippines and Toyo University already had a partnership with USJ-R and USC. He added that "Filipinos are good at making small things, very skillful, using hands and fingers."

Dr. Virgillo Abellana, Dean of College of Engineering in USJ-R was grateful for being the beneficiary of the project. "It's a great opportunity for the students to enhance their skills especially international siya kay sa Japan," he said.

Abellana added that he was tasked by Saitama Prefectural Government to select another school for possible partnership to continue the  project next year.  (FREEMAN)