On 23 August, the students attending the Vulcanus in Japan 2023/24 session gathered at Europe House in Tokyo for the final presentation of their programme, while the new students of the 2024/25 session joined the celebration. The 16 participants of the 2023/24 session arrived in Japan in September 2023 and after an intensive language course of four months, completed an eight-month internship at their respective Japanese host companies. While working on the specific tasks assigned to them during the internship by the company, the students also conducted their own research on the side in order to complete a report on a topic of their choosing related to the Japanese industry. 

During the final presentation, each student explained the tasks and achievements of their internship sharing their experiences with the audience. The Centre would like to express its congratulations to all the Vulcanus 2023/24 interns and a warm welcome to the new batch of Vulcanus 2024/25 students!

Vulcanus in Japan started in 1997. The 8-month-long programme for European students in engineering and other scientific fields consists of a seminar about Japan, an intensive Japanese language course, and an industrial placement.

Open call: 
European students interested in the Vulcanus programme can apply until 20 January 2025.

Vulcanus in Japan interview – a trampoline to success 

By Maria Maslova – Vulcanus in Japan 2023/2024, Structural design architect-engineer, Nuclear Energy Division, Obayashi Corporation.

When looking back at your Vulcanus experience: did it fulfill your expectations?
My expectations about Vulcanus were exceeded at all levels: the language course is not just about the language, it’s also about culture, manners, and history. The internship, even though very technical, strongly bonds you with the host company and the people.

Please describe your personal evolution.
Vulcanus pushed me out of my comfort zone: I started studying an entirely new language while discovering surprising compatibility with the Japanese society and its rules; I also learned to cherish every social interaction. 

Please describe your professional evolution.
Despite being a licensed architect with an MSc degree from the Polytechnic of Milan, in the EU I wouldn’t be allowed in structural seismic-design engineering in general, let alone when it comes to nuclear power plants. Japan surprisingly proved to be more open-minded, offering me a career path in this field. After the programme concluded in August 2024, I went back home for a couple of months before returning to Japan in October for work. In fact, I was offered a work contract for the same position I had at JGC, my Vulcanus host company. Although JGC could not hire me, they went to great lengths to help me find a job, eventually introducing me to my current employer, Obayashi Corporation, which is a company JGC collaborates with. And it all started with Vulcanus.

What are your current goals and ambitions? 
In the long run, I aspire to take the Japanese license 構造設計一級建築士, First-Class Structural Design Architect, required for special buildings and for those over 60 m tall. On a personal note, to reach a level of Japanese language needed to live comfortably and confidently.

Any advice for other students willing to attend this programme?
Come to Vulcanus with an open mind, don’t take anything for granted, and absorb everything that surrounds you. If unsure about applying, don’t think twice and go for it; if successful, Vulcanus will forever be a time to remember.

Any funny or curious cultural shock anecdotes during your stay?
As an architect, I was surprised to find out how efficient and pragmatic the apartment units are in Japan despite the tiny dimensions, yet seismically isolated and safe.