In the summer of 2024, five students from The University of Texas at Austin participated in an internship in Japan. This was made possible through a partnership between The University of Texas at Austin and Hiroshima University. Here are some testimonials from the interns.

I have experience in marketing at a start-up company in Tokyo!

The University of Texas at Austin | Department of Global Policy and Information Science
Internship Period: June 3 – July 30, 2024

My supervisor developed an internship plan that was beneficial to both parties. I learned how to develop a market entry strategy, how to research regulations and provide that information to the company in an understandable manner, and how to work in a multicultural and multilingual environment. Meanwhile, the host company was looking to grow their organization, which included developing global talent and promoting international business.

My three main accomplishments were the preparation of a slide presentation and report on the U.S. market entry strategies of the host company, the preparation of a document summarizing the regulations in each region as requested, and the acquisition of marketing opportunities in the consumer electronics showroom.

During my internship, my supervisor and I emphasized “the ability to take initiative to achieve goals and personal growth,” “honest exchange of ideas,” and “respect for time and work. In fact, I worked six to seven hours a day in the office and endeavored to actively interact with my colleagues. I spent most of my mornings researching regulations and my afternoons working on marketing strategies. I learned a lot about marketing and other business processes on my own, with the help of my colleagues. Feedback from my colleagues was accurate and constructive. They encouraged me when my work was going in the right direction and appropriately corrected me when I was going wrong. I feel that I have grown a lot as a person and as a professional through this internship.

Through this internship, I was able to gain experience in marketing that I had not been able to gain in my previous majors. It also greatly increased my confidence in myself, including my initiative. Through this summer experience, I realized that a willingness to learn and an attitude of working with others are important skills that are useful in any environment. The supervisor’s attitude taught me how much of an impact a good supervisor can have on an employee and helped me to choose a mentor in the future. I also gained a deeper understanding of the struggles of small companies trying to achieve lofty goals and the cultural nuances unique to Japanese startups. Through this internship, I not only made connections in Japan, but also gained a deeper understanding of what it is like to live abroad. Every moment was invaluable.

The host company aims to develop international talent and global business. During my internship, I was told that my work and my presence contribute to the company. I strongly feel that other students should have the opportunity to work not only with Japanese startups, but especially with companies that are trying to make the world a better place with their caring attitude and technological innovation, like the host company.

Valuable internship experience at the International Office of Hiroshima University!

The University of Texas at Austin | Department of Economics
Internship Period: July-August 2024

In the summer of 2024, I worked at Hiroshima University as an intern in International Exchange Program Management. I took on the new challenge of helping to plan and implement a short-term exchange program involving four U.S. and Japanese universities.

This experience, which took the form of a plunge to the other side of the globe, was initially unsettling, but thanks to the warm support of Hiroshima University, my worries soon disappeared. I realized that human nature is common across cultures in that everyone prefers to work with kind colleagues and wants an environment where their opinions are respected. I will keep this realization in mind in my future career.

I am also sincerely grateful to the staff of the Study Abroad Exchange Group at Hiroshima University. They took great care to make me feel comfortable in the workplace and warmly welcomed me as an intern from the outside. I think this kind of welcoming system is one of the major attractions of Hiroshima University.。

Through this internship, I have gained a valuable opportunity to experience a work environment in a different culture, as well as learn and grow a lot. I intend to make the most of this experience and continue to work in the international field.

Research Internship in Smart Robotics Laboratory

The University of Texas at Austin | Department of Computer Science
Internship Period: June – August 2024

Intern Experience

During my internship, I had the opportunity to work on some very valuable and transformative goals. The first was to learn OpenCV, an open source video processing library that runs in C++. Learning a new programming language and technology stack seemed daunting at first, but my advisor was supportive throughout. Through lecture notes and projects, my advisor helped me become familiar with the development environment and underlying technologies.

During the first few weeks of the internship, we also worked on initial architectural mockups to understand the lab’s track record and to introduce machine learning into the lab products. During this process, I realized that researchers need to be flexible as their goals and outcomes are shaped by the priorities of the sponsors who fund their research.

In addition to my technical skills, I gained valuable insight into venture and entrepreneurship in Japan. As someone who is usually distant from the business world, the experience of participating in business meetings and examining competing products was fresh and exciting.

成果

My experience at Hiroshima University was excellent. Due to nondisclosure agreements, I cannot discuss the details of the development or its details, but I feel that I have acquired valuable skills in C++, audio and video processing, and architectural design. Also, in July, my advisor arranged for me to attend a tech startup conference in Kyoto. At this conference, I was able to make valuable business connections and friends through the support of my professor who helped me find resources and promising startups.

Expectations for the future

I sincerely hope that Hiroshima University will continue to accept international interns for its projects. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and has inspired me to want to return to Japan many times. I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity.

*UT Global Career Launch

This comprehensive internship framework for undergraduates and graduate students spurs deeper institutional connections with partners worldwide. The program’s adaptable design allows for both in-person and virtual learning, thereby providing maximum flexibility and access to international learning experiences.