Vulcanus in Japan
Encyclopedia
The Vulcanus in Japan programme, established in 1997, is an industry-oriented student exchange program for EU
students. It was established by the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, a joint venture between the European Commission
and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Its main objective is to promote industrial cooperation between European and Japanese companies.
A high proficiency in English language is also a sine qua non requirement for the applicants.
Applicants must also obtain an authorisation to participate from their respective universities, whether it is recognized as a part of their course or as a year off. None of the work performed by a participant in a host company, even related to research activities, can be used as thesis material.
First, around 150 preselected students (out of 1000+) are chosen based on the documents they provided (see below).
In the second phase, the final decisions are taken by the host companies.
The first selection is performed by judging the following documents, which are required for the application:
The most critical information contained in the above list of documents is the student's international profile, motivation and technical skills.
After the first selection is performed, the students are given a list of host companies out of which they have to pick two - one being already chosen by the judging board. Then the applicant must write a dedicated motivation letter for each of these host companies, which will be sent directly to the human resource department of the host company. These companies perform the final selection.
Participants who have never learned Japanese are provided the basic knowledge useful for daily life in Japan as well as basic communication in a Japanese company.
During the Japanese language course, students learn not only about the language, but also about Japanese culture, history, living habits, etc.
Participants with some Japanese language skills follow classes adapted to their level.
Activities vary depending on the year of participation, but they are intended for participants to learn more about Japanese culture.
All participants receive information on local Japanese language schools, but the continuation of language studies is voluntary.
. Until 2008/2009, the amount of the scholarship was 15,000 €
for one year, but after the recent economic crisis, from 2009/2010 the scholarship will be given in Yen, and the amount has been set at 2,000,000 ¥.
It covers the round-trip plane ticket to Japan, insurance and living expenses (food, transportation, etc.).
Housing is provided and financed by the hosting company for the whole duration of the programme.
The Japanese language course is also financed by the programme.
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
students. It was established by the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, a joint venture between the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Its main objective is to promote industrial cooperation between European and Japanese companies.
Goals of the programme
The Vulcanus in Japan programme consists of industrial placements for EU students. The participants are selected from among the best applicants (about 40 out of between 800 and more than 1000 applicants each year). To be eligible, students must be in the last year of their undergraduate studies or following a postgraduate course in the fields of Engineering, Sciences or Architecture. The final objective is to train a pool of future executives capable of interacting socially and professionally with Japanese people, by familiarising them with the Japanese corporate culture.Students
The table shows the number of participants for each year by country, as well as the total number of participants, since the beginning of the Vulcanus in Japan programme.| Country | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 AustriaAustria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
 BelgiumBelgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
 BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Czech RepublicCzech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
 DenmarkDenmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
 EstoniaEstonia Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
 FinlandFinland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
 FranceFrance The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 44 |
 GermanyGermany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
 GreeceGreece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
 HungaryHungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
 IrelandIreland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth... |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
 ItalyItaly Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 62 |
 LatviaLatvia Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
 LithuaniaLithuania Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
 MaltaMalta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
 NetherlandsNetherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
 PolandPoland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 42 |
 PortugalPortugal Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
 RomaniaRomania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
 SlovakiaSlovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
 SloveniaSlovenia Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 SpainSpain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... |
1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 72 |
 SwedenSweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
 United KingdomUnited Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 15 |
 Total |
14 | 15 | 10 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 26 | 24 | 31 | 40 | 40 | 35 | 46 | 29 | 30 | 385 |
Requirements
To be eligible, applying students must meet the following requirements:- be an EUEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
citizen; - be in their last year of an undergraduate course or following a postgraduate course;
- be a student in one of the following fields:
- EngineeringEngineeringEngineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
; - Sciences;
- ArchitectureArchitectureArchitecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
.
- Engineering
A high proficiency in English language is also a sine qua non requirement for the applicants.
Applicants must also obtain an authorisation to participate from their respective universities, whether it is recognized as a part of their course or as a year off. None of the work performed by a participant in a host company, even related to research activities, can be used as thesis material.
Application and selection
The selection of participants is performed in two steps:First, around 150 preselected students (out of 1000+) are chosen based on the documents they provided (see below).
In the second phase, the final decisions are taken by the host companies.
The first selection is performed by judging the following documents, which are required for the application:
- application form
- Curriculum Vitae
- motivation letterCover letterA cover letter, covering letter, motivation letter, motivational letter or a letter of motivation is a letter of introduction attached to, or accompanying another document such as a résumé or curriculum vitae.- For employment :...
- recommendation letterRecommendation letterA letter of recommendation is a letter in which the writer assesses the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the person being recommended in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. Recommendation letters are almost always specifically requested to be...
(written by a professor) - all the gradesGrade (education)Grades are standardized measurements of varying levels of comprehension within a subject area. Grades can be assigned in letters , as a range , as a number out of a possible total , as descriptors , in percentages, or, as is common in some post-secondary...
obtained at the university - university grading system
The most critical information contained in the above list of documents is the student's international profile, motivation and technical skills.
After the first selection is performed, the students are given a list of host companies out of which they have to pick two - one being already chosen by the judging board. Then the applicant must write a dedicated motivation letter for each of these host companies, which will be sent directly to the human resource department of the host company. These companies perform the final selection.
Content of the programme
All the participants to the Vulcanus in Japan programme follow:- a four-month intensive Japanese language course, which is supplemented by
- various seminars related to Japan (culture, society, economy, history, etc.)
- company and factory visits
- cultural activities
- an eight-month internship in a Japanese company
The intensive Japanese language course
As Japanese language proficiency is not a requirement for the applicants (even if appreciated), the first part of the Vulcanus in Japan programme consists of a four-month intensive Japanese language course, at the rate of 5–6 hours per day, 5 days a week, taught by the teachers of a private Japanese language school.Participants who have never learned Japanese are provided the basic knowledge useful for daily life in Japan as well as basic communication in a Japanese company.
During the Japanese language course, students learn not only about the language, but also about Japanese culture, history, living habits, etc.
Participants with some Japanese language skills follow classes adapted to their level.
The seminars
During the first four months of the programme, participants follow various seminars of about 3 hours each, led by teachers from renowned universities or companies. These seminars are related to the Japanese culture, society, economy and history, and help the participants to better understand the country.The company and factory visits
Depending on the programme year, visits to leading companies are organised by the programme in order for the participants to study and learn about Japanese industry. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the companies and factories visited in the past:- HitachiHitachiHitachi is a multinational corporation specializing in high-technology.Hitachi may also refer to:*Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan*Hitachi province, former province of Japan*Prince Hitachi and Princess Hitachi, members of the Japanese imperial family...
- PanasonicPanasonicPanasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
- Toppan Printing
- Toyota
- Komatsu Spring
- Nissan
- Yamatake Corporation (:ja:山武 (企業))
The cultural activities
Some of the cultural activities are organised by the EU-Japan Centre, some by the school organizing the language course. They include:- CalligraphyCalligraphyCalligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
- sobaSobais the Japanese name for buckwheat. It is synonymous with a type of thin noodle made from buckwheat flour, and in Japan can refer to any thin noodle . Soba noodles are served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth as a noodle soup...
, tenpura cooking, preparation of sushiSushiis a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients . Neta and forms of sushi presentation vary, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is shari...
, etc. - Wind chimeWind chimeWind chimes are chimes constructed from suspended tubes, rods, bells or other objects and are often made of metal or wood. Wind chimes are usually hung outside of a building or residence, as a visual and aural garden ornament, and are to be played by the wind....
(fūrin) making - Tea ceremonyJapanese tea ceremonyThe Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
- SumoSumois a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
tournament watching - Indigo dyeIndigo dyeIndigo dye is an organic compound with a distinctive blue color . Historically, indigo was a natural dye extracted from plants, and this process was important economically because blue dyes were once rare. Nearly all indigo dye produced today — several thousand tons each year — is synthetic...
- ZazenZazenIn Zen Buddhism, zazen is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind, and be able to concentrate enough to experience insight into the nature of existence and thereby gain enlightenment .- Significance :Zazen is considered the heart of Zen Buddhist practice...
.
Activities vary depending on the year of participation, but they are intended for participants to learn more about Japanese culture.
The Internship
The Internships start in January and last till August. Placement, accommodation, tasks and schedules vary greatly and depend on the hosting company. During the internship students are required to write monthly reports to keep track of their records.All participants receive information on local Japanese language schools, but the continuation of language studies is voluntary.
The Scholarship
Each participant is awarded a scholarshipScholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
. Until 2008/2009, the amount of the scholarship was 15,000 €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
for one year, but after the recent economic crisis, from 2009/2010 the scholarship will be given in Yen, and the amount has been set at 2,000,000 ¥.
It covers the round-trip plane ticket to Japan, insurance and living expenses (food, transportation, etc.).
Housing is provided and financed by the hosting company for the whole duration of the programme.
The Japanese language course is also financed by the programme.
See also
- Student exchangeStudent ExchangeStudent Exchange is a 1987 television film directed by Mollie Miller.-Plot:Carole and Neil, two nerdy teenagers, get only perfect grades but have no social skills. When Carole learns that two foreign exchange students from France and Italy have gone to another school, they grab their chance and...
- European CommissionEuropean CommissionThe European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
- Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry