Skills to get a job

　　●●　　Doug's Roving Report　　●●

Good morning Eiji and Straight Talk,

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20101022p2a00m0na022000c.html

Here is more proof that the education system
in Japan is failing its students, and students,
teachers and parents need to refocus their
energies.
As parents and educators, the education
system must provide the skills for children to
live and prosper on their own
when they are adults.

The world is getting more integrated, and
interdependent--as the news shows.
To compete in the world and therefore
workplace, skills [English and critical thinking skills]
are more important that what "brand" of school
you went to..........Just ask these world companies
- Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, P&G,
Uniqlo [Fast Retailing], H&M etc.

I particularly like the quote below from the
Chairman of Sharp Corporation and
Mainichi Newspaper:

** Sharp Chairman Katsuhiko Machida said that the talent of workers was a factor in the trend." The reason that employment of students from overseas is increasing and regular employment of Japanese is decreasing is a matter of ability," he said.

Mainichi Communications,: "Companies are cutting back on employment and it's precisely because of this that they are looking at the qualities of the students regardless of their nationalities. Japanese students need a sense of crisis," a company representative said.


Doug


More foreign students seeking work in Japan as companies pursue global talent

OSAKA -- The number of foreign students looking for jobs in Japan is increasing as companies go global and seek more overseas workers -- providing tougher competition for Japanese students amid the ongoing economic downturn.

On Oct. 17 the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) held a job-seeking preparation seminar for overseas students. A total of 517 students from China, South Korea, Bangladesh and other countries took part -- a turnout that surpassed organizers' expectations. Many of the participants were from emerging Asian countries experiencing rapid economic growth, but wanted to work in Japan more than any other country.

"In China, the employment rate is not necessarily better than in Japan," said Ling Yi, a 27-year-old student from Shanghai who is in his first year of study in a postgraduate course at Kobe University. "The economic downturn and competition are harsh, but I want to find work in Japan."

Another 24-year-old participant from Vietnam, a third-year student at Osaka University, was also keen to work in Japan.

"Vietnam is like Japan 30 years ago. I want to pass on Japan's service system to Vietnam," the student said.

According to JASSO figures, there were 132,720 foreign students in Japan as of May 2009 -- a record high. The number of foreign students seeking jobs at Japanese companies has also been rising each year, reaching 11,040 in 2008.

At the same time Japanese companies have a keen eye on overseas students. About half of the approximately 600 new graduates that Fast Retailing Co., the operator of the Uniqlo chain, plans to take on in 2011 are foreigners. Companies such as Panasonic and Rakuten are also actively hiring personnel from overseas.

Sharp Chairman Katsuhiko Machida said that the talent of workers was a factor in the trend.

"The reason that employment of students from overseas is increasing and regular employment of Japanese is decreasing is a matter of ability," he said.

Mainichi Communications, a major employment information provider, said Japanese students needed to realize the gravity of the situation.

"Companies are cutting back on employment and it's precisely because of this that they are looking at the qualities of the students regardless of their nationalities. Japanese students need a sense of crisis," a company representative said.

　　　－　毎日新聞　(Oct 24, 2010)　－

　　　　外国人留学生：日本で就活
　　　　学生支援機構が準備セミナー

　母国に戻らず日本で就職活動をする外国人留学生が増えている。グローバル化で海外人材を求める企業も増えており、長引く景気低迷による超氷河期で就職活動をする日本人学生には、新たなライバル出現で、一層厳しい就活を強いられそうだ。

　日本学生支援機構は１７日、大阪市内で「外国人留学生就活準備セミナー」を初めて開いた。
中国や韓国、バングラデシュなどの留学生５１７人が参加し、予想以上の人数が集まった。
参加者の多くが、急成長を遂げるアジアの新興国出身者だが、日本での就職を第一希望にする留学生が目立った。
上海出身の神戸大大学院１年、凌毅（リョウキ）さん（２７）は「中国は就職率が日本よりいいわけではない。不景気で競争は激しいが日本で就職したい」と話す。
ベトナム出身の大阪大３年生、グェン・ティ・ミン・ゴックさん（２４）も「ベトナムは３０年前の日本と同じ。日本のサービスをベトナムに伝えたい」

　外国人留学生数は０９年５月現在１３万２７２０人で過去最高。
日本企業への就職者数も年々増加し、０８年は１万１０４０人。　
一方、日本企業も外国人留学生に熱い視線を送る。
１１年入社の新卒採用約６００人のうち、半数を外国人にするファーストリテイリングをはじめ、パナソニックや楽天など海外人材の積極採用する企業が増えている。
「海外の採用が増えて、日本人の定期採用数が減っているのは能力の問題」（シャープの町田勝彦会長）など、日本の学生の質の低下を憂慮する経営者は多い。
就職情報大手の毎日コミュニケーションズは「採用を抑制しているからこそ企業は国籍に関係なく学生の質を見る。
日本の学生には危機感が必要」と指摘。【横山三加子】




　　　＝＝　More from Doug　＝＝


Hello Eiji,

I like this line as well from the Mizuho Bank Chairman.
Takashi Tsukamoto, president of Mizuho Financial
Group, said: "What makes 'change' possible is
freeing oneself from the past."
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201010220458.html

So, true but to grow and not fall into the same traps
as the past, you need to understand the past.....ie
history-- My history tests in school did not have
questions about dates -- you can always find those
on the internet the teacher told us, but what was
important she said was to know the order of the
events and understand why the event happened.

She was right wasn't she? Knowing the date
doesn't matter in daily life today does it?
But the historical order, and why is always talked.

Doug