Glocal Hatara-Kurasu Gunma
Project
Employment Promotion Program for International Students

• Career Education
• Business Japanese
• Internship Program
• Employment Promotion Seminar for International Students

Internship Program

The internship program is intended to promote post-graduation retention of international students, considering Gunma’s geographical characteristic as a “local area” located near a “metropolitan area.” Two types of internship were implemented; a GLLP [Community-based] Internship and a GLLP [Industry-based] Internship, both developed as part of the “project for international students’ living environment and job search support.” (See the relevant information in the “Glocal Leadership Program,” Living Environment/Employment Support section.) It aims to increase their interest in and love of the area, and their intention to work locally, by providing a richer internship experience in various areas and industries and helping them find an affinity with their individual background and aptitude. These practical internships are called the GHKG [Community-based] Internship and the GHKG [Industry-based] Internship respectively, bearing the abbreviation for Glocal Hatara-Kurasu Gunma in their names.

Seventeen students joined the program: 12 international students and five Japanese students from higher education institutions affiliated with the Glocal Hatara-Kurasu Gunma Consortium (Takasaki City University of Economics, Kyoai Gakuen University, Takasaki University of Commerce, Jobu University, and Gunma University).
The GHKG Internship in Shibukawa and Ikaho presented one common issue and four themed issues, to find a specific approach to the common issue.

　[Common issue]
Present solutions to make the Shibukawa and Ikaho area more attractive to foreign tourists.

The host organizations, Kan-etsu Transportation and Shibukawa Ikaho Onsen Tourism Association, explained the background of the common issue and of the themed issues presented (in terms of history, society, the economy, and culture). After talking about the process of understanding and dealing with the issues, the students formed three groups: the “bus group,” “ARTENADE group,” and “community-based optional tour group,” each consisting of different nationalities, stages of higher education, and specialties.

One idea suggested by the student team during the internship will be commercialized as an “Area Pass,” a hop-on and hop-off service for foreign tourists to come and go, suitable for use on several bus routes in the Shibukara-Ikaho area. Another idea, of a “Hands-Free Trip,” a one-coin delivery service of a suitcase or other heavy items from a station to a hotel or inn, was also chosen for launch. These two services are scheduled to be introduced during the pre-campaign period of the large-scale tourism project, “Gunma Destination Campaign (April 1 – June 30, 2020).”

The presentation of these internship outcomes to the area stakeholders was covered in TV programs in the metropolitan area and on local radio programs, receiving numerous favorable reviews. In February 2019 it was announced that the suggestions would be commercialized in a partnership between Shibukawa City, Shibukawa Ikaho Onsen Tourism Association, and Kan-etsu Transportation, which had all cooperated in the internship program. The Area Pass and Hands-Free Trip, as described above, will be introduced in the pre-campaign period of the Gunma Destination Campaign in 2020, leading to growing expectations in the area. The participating international students also had challenging experiences in planning tourism services.