JICA Group Training

JICA Group Training aims to foster human resources in developing countries. JICA invites promising administrators, engineers, and researchers as "trainees." JICA provides necessary knowledge and skills to the trainees. There are several JICA training courses, and JICA Group Training is categorized as to help trainees to learn how to solve subjects common in developing countries.

Program Introduction

Toyohashi University of Technology (Toyohashi Tech) is located in the area where automobile industries have been developed and the related companies form the cluster. Taking advantage of this location, we have designed and implemented the JICA group training course "Coordinator Training for Tertiary Education-Industry- Government Linkage to Develop Automobile Supporting Industry" for three years since fiscal year 2007.

On the basis of the experience and the achievements in the antecedent training program, we started a new JICA group training course called "Coordinator Training for Tertiary Education-Industry-Government (T-I-G) Link to Develop Local Industry Sector" in fiscal year 2010. This new training program is designed to complete in three years, aimed to foster human resources who engage in the development of local industry sectors, not only automobile industries.

Program Objective

This training course aims to foster human resources as T-I-G linkage coordinators effectively and efficiently so that T-I-G linkage in developing countries will be promoted based upon basic knowledge and abilities concerned. To achieve the program objective, participants are expected to:

• Understand basic knowledge of T-I-G linkage
• Acquire basic knowledge of technology management
• Understand the intellectual property law with its application
• Understand industrial needs and improve problem identification abilities
• Improve the Needs-Seeds matching ability
• Be able to foster other young T-I-G linkage coordinators in their own universities or institutions

Period for Training

• FY2011: From September 25 (Sun) to November 5 (Sat).
• FY2010: From October 3 (Sun) to November 13 (Sat).

The numbers of trainees in countries

• FY2011: 1 (Algeria), 2 (Indonesia), 1 (Kenya), 3 (Laos), 1 (Mexico), 2 (Philippines).
• FY2010: 1 (Fiji), 1 (Kenya), 2 (Laos), 1 (Mexico), 2 (Philippines), 2 (Thailand).

Course Contents in FY2011

Main Activities

• Presentation of T-I-G activities in trainees' countries and institutions
• Lectures on University-Industry-Government (U-I-G) Linkage
• Lectures on Technology Management
• Lectures on Intellectual Property Right (IPR)
• Lectures for Industrial Needs Analysis Method and Industrial Needs and University Seeds Matching Method
• Practice of NEEDS-SEEDS Matching
• T-I-G Linkage Success Story in the Developing Countries -Report from University of Moratuwa, using the experience of this course-
• Action Plan Presentation, Closing Ceremony

Presentation of T-I-G activities in trainees' countries and institutions

Before coming to Japan, trainees identified current conditions of T-I-G cooperation at his/her organization and summarized this information into reports referred to as "Inception report."

On the first day of the training, each trainee made a presentation of Inception report in order to explain current conditions and problems concerning T-I-G linkage to lecturers of this course.

Lectures on University-Industry-Government (U-I-G) Linkage

To acquire and understand the basic knowledge of U-I-G linkage, the following lectures were conducted by experts in the field.

• Introduction to U-I-G Cooperation
  • Mr. Hidekatsu Kashiwara, Chiyoda U-Tech Co., Ltd.
• Introduction to U-I cooperation in Toyohashi University of Technology
  • Mr. Yoshihiko Ishida, TUT
• University-Industry-Government Linkages -Companies, Universities, and Societies-
  • Ms. Chie Sato, Biztech Inc.
• U-I-G Cooperation -Case of Toyohashi City-
  • Mr. Hideo Tsuzuki, Science Create Co. Ltd. and Ms. Chie Sato, Biztech Inc.

As part of the lecture "U-I-G Cooperation -Case of Toyohashi City-," trainees visited Science Create Co. Ltd. for further understanding of U-I-G activities in Toyohashi-city.

Lectures on Technology Management

The lectures encompass important areas in U-I-G linkage related to Technology Management, commencing from introduction to U-I-G linkage with specific examples of Japan.

The lectures were conducted by Ms. Chie Sato, Biztech Inc.

Lectures on Intellectual Property Right (IPR)

The lectures encompass historical background of IPR, current status of IPR matters worldwide, typical IPR framework in legal aspects, institutional and national benefits of a robust IPR scheme and issues and challenges in implementing IPR scheme.

The lectures were delivered by Prof. Hiroshi Kato, Nihon University.

Lectures for Industrial Needs Analysis Method and Industrial Needs and University Seeds Matching Method

The lectures are focused on abilities to identify industrial needs and match university seeds. Case studies and exercises based on practical examples are designed in the lectures for further understanding of aforementioned abilities.

The lectures were conducted by Mr. Hidekatsu Kashiwara, Chiyoda U-Tech Co, Ltd.

Practice of NEEDS-SEEDS Matching

Preparation for Company Visits

The trainees collected the data of companies (sales, profit, research budget, products) through internet and companies' brochures. They used the toolkit for University-Industry Linkage which was developed by TUT during this whole exercise.

NEEDS Survey at Companies

The trainees visited two companies (SINTOKOGIO, LTD. and Honda Electronics Co., Ltd. in FY2011). The trainees had discussed technical challenges of these two companies as well as visiting production lines in their plants.

NEEDS-SEEDS Matching

After the companies visit, the trainees tried to find the most appropriate professors at TUT who had expertise and research experiences for companies' needs by using TUT academic staff database.

Then, the trainees had a consultation with professors of TUT in order to find the best solution to suit issues and challenges of companies. Through the consultation, the trainees had ideas to solve companies' issues and formulated proposals for two companies.

Research Proposal to Companies

The trainees made presentation to companies highlighting the solutions to their technical challenges. The companies highly appreciated the proposals made by trainees.

Through these activities, the trainees were able to understand systematic method of University-Industry cooperation that could be applicable to universities in their countries.

U-I Linkage Success Story in Developing Countries -Report from University of Moratuwa using experience of this course-

In this session, Prof. Rahula Anura Attalage from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, introduced the project "Functional Enhancement of Faculty of Engineering in Developing Countries through University-Industry Cooperation" in MEXT International Cooperation Initiative Program which was conducted by ICCEED from 2007 till 2009.

He explained about the framework for U-I-G linkage activities. After the explanation by Prof. Attalage, the discussion was made among the trainees, Prof. Attalage and the lecturers. This session was very useful for the trainees to formulate action plans.

Action Plan Presentation and Closing Ceremony

At the end of the training, the trainees formulated and presented action plans for strengthening T-I-G Linkage in their respective countries and institutions. After the action plan presentation, the trainees received certificates at the closing ceremony.