For many third-year students at VNU Vietnam Japan University (VJU), summer marks the transition from the classroom to the international workplace. This July, Thu Thảo and Phương Thảo, students from the Bachelor’s Program in Japanese Studies (BJS2023), will welcome their classmate Mai Phương as she joins them for an internship at Kinsei Sangyo Co., Ltd. in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
Every opportunity begins with initiative
Their internship journey did not begin with an acceptance email. It started months earlier in the classroom at VJU.
For Thu Thảo, Phương Thảo, and Mai Phương, the opportunity grew out of the Internship 1 course taught by Negishi sensei, a JICA expert. Through guest lectures, company visits to Japanese enterprises in Vietnam, and career-oriented activities, the course introduces students to Japanese corporate culture, workplace expectations, and recruitment practices. It also serves as a gateway for students to learn about and apply for internship programs in Japan.
With a clear goal of joining Kinsei Sangyo, Mai Phương carefully completed the required coursework, researched the company, and learned from the experiences shared by senior students who had interned there.
“Classroom learning gives me knowledge, but only real-world experience can help me truly understand Japanese corporate culture and working styles”, Mai Phương said. For her, the internship is not only an opportunity to develop professional skills but also an important step toward her long-term goal of building a career in Japan.
For Thu Thảo, the greatest motivation was the chance to apply what she had learned in a real workplace while challenging herself in an entirely new cultural environment. She believes that success during an internship does not come from “knowing everything”, but from staying proactive, asking questions, learning from feedback, and embracing every opportunity to better understand Japanese people and culture.
Lessons beyond the classroom at Kinsei
After more than a month, each student has had a different experience at Kinsei Sangyo, yet they all share one common feeling: the company has become a “special classroom” for the VJU students.
“After nearly a month at Kinsei Sangyo, I realized that what I gained goes far beyond knowledge and professional skills. I learned the value of kindness, teamwork, and a workplace culture where people are always willing to support one another. Those are the memories I will cherish the most”, she shared.
For Thu Thảo, the most memorable lesson has been witnessing how a Japanese company operates. From seemingly small habits – such as punctuality, progress reporting, and maintaining an organized workspace – to the strong sense of responsibility shown in every task, she came to realize that professionalism is built through everyday discipline.
Phương Thảo, meanwhile, has gained hands-on experience across several departments, including Administration, Maintenance, and Procurement. She has contributed to poster design, public relations ideas, and internal communication projects. Beyond her daily assignments, she has attended regular business meetings and visited factories, construction sites, and partner organizations such as JICA, JETRO, and the Gunma Prefectural Government, gaining valuable insight into how Japanese organizations collaborate on projects.
The first few weeks were challenging as she adjusted to a new language environment and different workplace expectations. However, with the guidance and encouragement of her supervisors and colleagues, Phương Thảo gradually became more confident in both her work and communication.
“After nearly a month at Kinsei Sangyo, I realized that what I gained goes far beyond knowledge and professional skills. I learned the value of kindness, teamwork, and a workplace culture where people are always willing to support one another. Those are the memories I will cherish the most”, she shared.
The experiences that await Mai Phương
Those are the very experiences waiting for Mai Phương as she prepares to leave for Japan later this month. Equipped with the knowledge she has gained at VJU, careful preparation, and encouragement from senior students, she hopes the internship will bring her one step closer to her future career aspirations.
Kinsei Sangyo is just one example of the many international opportunities available to VJU students. Each year, VJU connects students with partner universities, research institutes, and enterprises across Japan through exchange, research, and internship programmes. From opportunities introduced in the classroom to continuous support from faculty members and alumni, VJU equips students with the skills, confidence, and global mindset needed to thrive in international workplaces.
