On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Gifu University hosted the Aigi Career Development Consortium for International Students: Gifu Region Workshop 2025. The workshop brought together 13 representatives from 8 companies and 22 international students from 12 countries, providing a valuable opportunity to deepen exchanges between international students and local businesses.
Now in its eighth year, this workshop is jointly organized by four consortium members—Gifu University, the Gifu Prefectural Government, the Gifu Employers' Association, and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Gifu—with the aim of creating job-matching opportunities between international students and local companies.
The workshop consisted of two parts. In the past, the first part focused on lectures for companies interested in hiring international students. This year, however, the program was significantly revamped to include interactive group discussions between students and companies. Under the theme "Understanding the Real Perspectives of International Students and Companies," participants engaged in candid conversations in small groups, exchanging opinions and questions from both sides and discussing how to create a society where foreign talent can thrive.
In the second part, "Individual Networking between Companies and International Students," students visited company booths to speak directly with company representatives. In a friendly atmosphere, students actively moved from booth to booth, listening attentively to company presentations.
Feedback from participants was highly positive. International students commented, "I gained useful information for future job hunting in Japan" and "I had so much to share that time wasn't enough." Company representatives said, "Hearing the real concerns and expectations of international students was helpful for recruitment," "We were impressed by their strong motivation and commitment to long-term employment," and "We definitely want to participate again next year."
Gifu University will continue to serve as a bridge between international students and local companies, working tirelessly to create an environment where global talent can play an active role in the region.
Explanation of Group Discussions
Scenes from the Workshop
