Taking on technical trainees from overseas and dispatching engineers to provide training and seminars
Following the rapid economic development in China and India, environmental problems are becoming more serious every year. Hiyoshi accepts trainees mainly from such developing countries to teach them how to be environmental experts. Launched in 1989, our program has accepted more than 200 trainees from 19 countries. Many of them are now active at the forefront of environmental activities in their home countries.In addition to accepting overseas trainees, we also dispatch our environmental experts to a wide variety of overseas environmental conservation programs, implemented by various Japanese Government organizations in response to requests from foreign countries for environmental technology training and seminars. Our staff have been sent to 10 different countries (including India, Vietnam, Iran and Thailand) on 20 different occasions since 1990, and provided local people with training for analysis and inspection techniques and environmental conservation, as well as giving lectures at environmental seminars.
In addition to contributing to the environmental conservation programs organized by various Japanese Government organizations, we have also planned and implemented practical training programs, seminars and briefing sessions that addressed local and immediate environmental problems in various parts of the world by applying the skills and knowledge that Hiyoshi has developed over many years.
Comments from an international trainee
It was an honor to receive training at Hiyoshi. I learned about environmental analysis, and also a lot about Japanese culture during my stay. While language was the biggest challenge, the training staff taught me the basics and then I started to enjoy studying.The clean and well-organized laboratory was also impressive. I liked the work-style in Japan, which is diligent, efficient and systematized. While working in such a setting, I also learned to be diligent, careful and punctual. Lunchtimes were one of the things I enjoyed as all the trainees got together and talked with the employees, which helped me improve my language skills.
I had an invaluable and unforgettable experience during the two-month training period. I am proud of the experience and really grateful for being chosen.
International internship and collaborative research
We are also involved in collaborative research with technologically advanced overseas universities. A collaborative research and internship agreement was concluded with Tsinghua University of China in 2005, and subsequently similar agreements have been concluded with Indian universities including SRM University, VIT University, Dr. M.G.R. University and Bharath University, as well as Zhejiang University of China.
In addition, we have exchanged memorandums on technical cooperation and collaborative research with the Indian government agencies of the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science & Technology (NIIST) and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).
Speech contest and Hiyoshi Award
In 1995, Hiyoshi organized a speech contest in collaboration with ABK-AOTS Dosokai (the alumni association of Asia Bunka Kaikan (ABK) and the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS)) in India as an event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the alumni association. The contest was aimed at promoting cultural exchanges between Japan and India while also drawing attention to environmental destruction issues in Chennai, India. Since then, Hiyoshi has sponsored and held the contest annually in cooperation with ABK-AOTS. The contest for Indian students has such a good reputation that the Japanese consul in Chennai always attends. Currently categorized into Japanese, English and Tamil sections, every year the contest attracts more than 300 applicants. The first-prize winners can travel to Japan for two weeks to experience environmental conservation training and cultural exchange. A total of 65 students have been invited as past winners, and they are now active in various parts of India and working as a bridge between the two countries.
Official website of HIYOSHI India
World Bank project
This project aims to investigate dioxin pollution in Southeast Asia using Hiyoshi’s CALUX® Assay, a bioassay method, which can promptly and inexpensively measure dioxins (toxic substances including those contained in Agent Orange). As requested by the World Bank, the investigation has been implemented in Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.