The visit started in Nagoya, where JETRO Chubu Hokuriku organized an industry collaboration session at WINC AICHI. Many Japanese industry leaders attended the session. The discussioncovered topics like industry-ready talent, manufacturing and engineering skills, technology partnerships, internships, employment opportunities, and future skills. Both Pune and Aichi/Nagoya are major manufacturing and industrial centres, so participants felt the two regions could work well together. Dr. Shweta Sharma met Mr. Takashi Suzuki, Director General of JETRO Chubu Hokuriku, Mr. Hisashi Murakami, Director General of JETRO Mumbai, Ms. Neelam Bhatia, Assistant Director of JETRO Mumbai, and Dr. Haruyuki Hiratani, CEO and CCO of Future Creation Company, Takasago Electric, Inc., along with representatives of 13 industries.
Speaking about the visit, Dr. Somnath P. Patil, Pro-Chancellor, Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU), by Dr. D. Y. Patil Group, Pune, said, "Our students should get chances to learn and work anywhere in the world. This visit to Japan is a good beginning for that. We thank JETRO, METI, and all the Japanese industry leaders for their time and support. At Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU), by Dr. D. Y. Patil Group, Pune, we will now work to turn these discussions into real partnerships, so that our students get better skills, better exposure, and better career options."
In Saitama, JETRO Saitama hosted another session at Shibusawa MIX, ekism Saitama-Shintoshin. Led by Ms. Seiko Koizumi, Chief Director, JETRO Saitama, the discussion focused on talent development, industry-oriented skilling, joint research and development, innovation, and international industry exposure. The session showed good scope for linking the strengths of Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU), by Dr. D. Y. Patil Group, Pune, with the needs of Japanese companies.
Dr. Rohini S. Patil, Chief Operating Officer, Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU) by Dr. D. Y. Patil Group, Pune, said:“At DPGU, we believe that education must prepare students for demands and opportunities of a rapidly evolving global workforce. We are working with industry and academic partners in Japan to build important international partnerships that connect learning to the real needs of industry. This initiative reflects our commitment toward creating an education ecosystem that drives innovation, boosts industry-academia collaboration and opens new avenues for our students to build successful global careers.
The Tokyo leg of the visit took place at the Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC), Yotsuya Tower. Here, Dr. Sharma met Mr. Yoshiho Yukita, Principal Deputy Director, Office for Technical Cooperation and Talent Partnership, Trade Policy Bureau, METI. They discussed India–Japan talent partnerships, the movement of skilled talent, employment pathways for Indian graduates, and cooperation between educational institutions and Japanese industry. She also met Ms. Akiko Okumura, Executive Vice President of JETRO, to discuss how Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU), by Dr. D. Y. Patil Group, Pune, and Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Technology can build stronger links with Japanese industry in areas such as skilling, innovation, and technology.
Several promising areas of cooperation came up during these meetings. These include a Japan-focused talent programme that brings together Japanese language learning, technical skills, industry exposure, cultural orientation and career readiness. Other areas are internships, graduate jobs and international projects for students, as well as joint research in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, robotics and automation, automotive and mobility, electronics, Industry 4.0 and sustainability. The visit also provided useful ideas to make the curriculum more industry-linked through expert sessions, industry projects, Centres of Excellence and faculty exposure.
Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU), by Dr. D. Y. Patil Group, Pune, and Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Technology now plan to take these discussions forward. The next steps include setting up a Japan Industry Connect, starting a Japan Talent Development Programme, offering Japanese language and career readiness training, identifying Japanese companies for internships and recruitment, and exploring a Language Facilitation Centre. The university also wants to explore joint research projects, student and faculty exchange, and regular sessions with Japanese industry experts. The long-term goal is a Pune–Japan Industry–Academia Talent Corridor.Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU), Dr. D. Y. Patil Group, Pune, and Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Technology truly thank JETRO, METI, and all Japanese industry representatives who supported the visit. Special thanks go to Ms. Neelam Bhatia of JETRO Mumbai for her continuous coordination and guidance throughout the engagement.
