Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) continues to strengthen its international partnerships by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with two Japanese companies, Atago Co., Ltd. and BESTie Co., Ltd. The signing ceremony took place at the 4th Floor Meeting Room of the UNHAS Rectorate Building on Tuesday (March 10).
The Vice Rector for Partnership, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Business, Prof. Dr. Eng. Adi Maulana, S.T., M.Phil., emphasised that collaboration with international industry partners is a strategic step for UNHAS in enhancing the quality of education while expanding global exposure opportunities for students.
“This collaboration opens wider opportunities for UNHAS students, particularly from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, to gain direct experience in the Japanese industrial environment. Through this program, students will not only learn about the professional world but also understand work culture and global professional ethics, which are essential to face international competition,” said Prof. Adi.
The President Director of Atago Co., Ltd., Kunio Inokuchi, noted that the collaboration provides mutual benefits, not only for students but also for fostering knowledge exchange between industry and academia. “This program offers students the opportunity to learn directly from industrial practices in Japan. We believe this experience will help them develop professional skills while broadening their global perspectives,” explained Kunio Inokuchi.
Meanwhile, the CEO of BESTie Co., Ltd., Yuki Matsumoto, stated that the internship program is designed as a hands-on learning platform for students to understand the dynamics of the industry in Japan. “Through this experience, students will not only improve their language skills but also build an understanding of how to work in cross-cultural teams,” said Yuki Matsumoto.
The program also provides opportunities for internship alumni to secure employment aligned with the needs of partner companies.