Why choose Japan for study & work: A country rich in possibility!
View(s):Through its discerning way of life, groundbreaking advancements in technology and the calculated discipline that governs its citizens, Japan has long been a nation that has won the awe and admiration of many. With over 700+ top ranking universities that facilitate impeccable standards of learning, along with lucrative career paths particularly in the field of ICT, Japan is a country that offers rich possibilities for students and professionals alike.
It was under this key theme that Sri Lanka’s premier higher education IT institute, LNBTI (Lanka Nippon Biz Tech Institute) recently concluded a successful webinar on the opportunities and possibilities for growth in the areas of Career Development and Higher Education in Japan’s burgeoning IT industry. With over 180 participating Administrators and Teachers from prominent schools and educational institutions joining the session, the webinar was both insightful and thought provoking, touching on the ways a country such as Japan would benefit students and professionals of a hard-working caliber. A panel of distinguished speakers from Mr. Sanjiv Gunasekara – H.E. the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan, Mr.Mizukoshi Hideaki – H.E. the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr.Masatomo Itonaga – Resident Representative JETRO – Colombo office, Mr.Keishi Takebe – Senior Executive Director – Japan Embedded System Technology Association (JASA), and several Japanese industry representatives, ensured that all participants could benefit from an interactive and engaging session that provided a deep understanding on the opportunities that present-day Japan could create for Sri Lanka. 
In its Roadmap to 2030 published by McKinsey & Company, Japan’s Digital Agenda propels the nation forward as a force to be reckoned with, particularly in the avenues of technology and productivity. Especially now, where digital transformation has seen monumental growth globally in the wake of an ongoing pandemic, Japan has its sights set on a strategy to accelerate their own position in this area. This comes primarily in the form of government backed initiatives to attract highly skilled foreign professionals to remedy the dearth in what is left of its active workforce.
A 2019 report published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, identified a shortage of over 200,000 IT personnel that year. Forecasts subsequently predicted this gap in personnel to grow between 410,000 – 790,000 by 2030 if an immediate solution fails to be implemented. This worsening situation has forced companies to seek out fresh graduates who display future potential and the curiosity for technology, in addition to hiring experienced work-ready talent. In retrospect however, students and professionals with a background in ICT, stand to command an impressive remuneration even at entry level positions.
Based on a 2018 study of Foreign Workers who hold Technical and Specialised Work Visas, the highest number of employees (16.7%) were from the Information & Communication sector, of which more than 76% of employees in the ICT sector were from the high skilled category . This trend has gained momentum in the wake of government lead initiatives such as the “ Japanese Green Card for Highly Skilled Professionals” which is the world’s fastest level approval process to qualify for permanent residency in Japan with the added benefits of shorter wait times for visa applications. In addition to the relaxation on red-tape for highly skilled professionals, the Japanese government continues to take major steps to improve the standard of living for foreign nationals through the reduction of language barriers, improved international educational opportunities for foreign children and improved working environments that break down cross-cultural barriers.
It is because of these opportunities, that LNBTI encourages its students to go beyond the status quo, through its high quality IT degree programmes which feature an invaluable insight into Japanese working culture, supplemented by mandatory year-long internships. The institute offers two avenues for students to choose to become a highly qualified IT professional. LNBTI’s 4 year full-time degree programme from The University of Greenwich, UK gives them an opportunity to follow-up their 3rd year internship programme with a comprehensive job matching consultation with top HR personnel from Japanese IT companies in the 4th year, in which sets them on a professional career pathway to Japan upon graduation. This model is unique to LNBTI owed in part to the institute’s strong relationships with professional Japanese business counterparts. The second route which is a degree pathway, is where students complete 3 years at LNBTI and graduate in a prestigious Japanese university ranked among 20+ UGC approved universities in Japan. LNBTI’s degree programmes are Sri Lanka’s only successful graduate transfer programmes which lead to a prestigious Japanese University and has allowed the institute to continuously turn out students of an exceptional caliber; well equipped to meet the needs of Japan’s demanding IT industry.
A student of LNBTI, receives a thorough and well-rounded exposure to the ins and outs of navigating a career in Japan’s IT industry not only through the conventional degree programme but also through workshops, seminars and special programmes conducted by prominent Japanese lecturers. Rigorous curriculum mapping with partner universities ensure that students are on par with their Japanese counterparts, with opportunities to conduct joint research projects which encourage knowledge sharing between students of both countries.
LNBTI is the only institute thus positioned to provide access to a comfortable life and a rewarding career opportunity such as the many that Japan is poised to offer for hardworking and talented IT personnel. This in turn benefits our island nation and students with a brighter future as much as it does Japan’s IT industry, and is an opportunity that is certainly worthy of exploration for any individual who dreams of becoming an accomplished IT professional in either Sri Lanka or Japan.
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