During the orientation seminar for the Vulcanus in Europe programme 2023/24 session, held on 20 and 21 April in Brussels, the EU-Japan Centre had the chance to meet the participants of this year’s edition. We asked two of them, Yudai Morita and Keisuke Murota, to share with us how their experience abroad was going, which challenges they were facing and what hopes they had for the future.

Q: What is your background, and how did you get to know about the Vulcanus project?

Yudai: I majored in mechanical engineering last year, and I’m currently a Master student in Management Science and Technology, which consists of learning how to manage technology and use it to design better societies. Through university, I happened to meet a postgraduate student who had been in Germany for one year thanks to Vulcanus, and owing to him I learned about the project and its advantages.

Keisuke: As an undergraduate student my major was Physics, but moving on to the master’s, I specialized in Computational Physics, where most of the work was coding and programming. By the time I had learned something about it, I started thinking that it would be interesting to acquire a more concrete perspective on it, and possibly while working in a company. Then one day a friend sent me a picture of a poster talking about the Vulcanus project, and I immediately thought it would suit my interests.

Q: Why did you decide to apply for this program?

Yudai: I owe it all to that student from my university, who briefly introduced me to the project. I was already looking for an internship in an EU country, where my field of specialization is particularly developed, and knowing him was indeed a lucky fluke. After that, I applied and got selected for the program, which I can’t wait to start.

Keisuke: Even though I’m studying computational physics now, my background is in theoretical physics. I knew that Europe had a very rich tradition in this field, especially Germany since it gave birth to many important physicists, and for that reason, I developed a deep interest in Europe’s history with physics. Therefore, I figured it would be nice to try and visit this place myself.

Q: What are you most excited about when you think of this experience?

Yudai: Having the possibility to spend a whole year in another country is already exciting for me. However, I realize there’s way more to this experience than just staying in a new country and learning the language. I will be an integral part of a foreign company, and that is probably what I’m most thrilled about.

Keisuke: What thrills me the most is probably the fact that I will be working in a worldwide-known and globally operating company. On one side, I think experiencing such a lively environment will give me a huge chance to expand my network of friends and acquaintances. On the other hand, working there will be a very precious opportunity in technical and academic terms. This is why I can’t wait to start and challenge myself in this kind of environment.

Q: Do you have any concerns or worries about the project?

Yudai: Of course, I have concerns! Will I be able to have the residence card issued correctly? Will I be able to fit in with the company? Will I improve my language skills enough? Despite everything, though, I know that I can count on the EU-Japan Centre’s support, and that of the other students as well, so overall I’m sure I will have a great experience here in Europe.

Keisuke: Sure, I do have some concerns about this experience. Whether I will be really prepared for it, whether I will be able to handle the language despite its difficulty, and whether I will be able to communicate with my host family and my colleagues. But to be completely honest, I am not as worried as much as I’m excited about it.

Q: Are you satisfied with the country you were selected for? (i.e., Spain, Germany)

Yudai: Actually, I chose the company first, and since my main focus is the study of renewable energies, and of how a social environment can be redesigned through them - I could only find one option that properly suited my needs. This company was in Spain, so I had no doubts about where to go. However, Spain is widely known for its good cuisine, mild climate, and artistic beauty, so I really cannot complain about where I will be living next year.

Keisuke: Yes, Germany was exactly the country I was hoping to get selected for. Since I was interested in its physics-related tradition and history, all the companies I applied for were from that country. 

Q: Lastly, what are your goals or ambitions once this experience is over?

Yudai: My major ambition is to design a better, more sustainable world, which is why I chose the master that I am currently enrolled in. This is the biggest dream I have for the future, and I am sure that a one-year experience in a company sharing the same objectives will help me reach it. 

Keisuke: For now, as simple as it may seem, my biggest goal is to belong to a community that is in constant expansion and exchange of opinions and passions, from sports to studying and other interests. Hence, should it be in Japan or in a foreign country, I want to take part and to build a network of people like this.