Cooperative Education through Research Internships

About Cooperative Education through Research Internships

Cooperative Education through Research Internships are internships that meet all of the following requirements.

  • Internships are open to doctoral degree program students who have the basic knowledge and ability to perform research work.
  • The employment period is at least two months with remuneration.
  • Internships qualify for credits in the regular education curriculum.
  • A job description (details of job duties, required knowledge, qualifications, etc.) must be drawn up in compliance with guidelines provided by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and made public before student participation in internships.
  • Evaluation documents and certificates are given to students pursuant to feedback interviews with the host companies.
  • Internship outcomes can be properly evaluated and considered by host companies for employment of interns in the future.

Advantages of participating in Cooperative Education through Research Internships

  • Students can widen the range of possible career options
  • Students can view their expertise in an objective way
  • Students can develop execution skills based on their research ability, which will benefit them even if they choose to go into academic fields in the future

Types of Cooperative Education through Research Internships

Direct employment type

Doctoral students may apply for internships after reading through job descriptions by using the matching system for Cooperative Education through Research Internships. If a student is hired, the student will conclude an employment contract with and engage in an internship at the host company. Tokyo Tech will also conclude an internship implementation contract with the host company.

Joint Research Type

This type of internship will be participated in by companies conducting collaborative research with Tokyo Tech. If a student is hired, the student will conclude an employment contract with Tokyo Tech and engage in an internship on campus.

Steps to be followed when taking courses that offer internship opportunities in the Cooperative Education through Research Internships

Direct employment type

1. Review syllabi of Cooperative Education through Research Internships courses offered in each course.

Internships conducted in Cooperative Education through Research Internships courses are to be engaged in for educational purposes, to develop practical skills, and to better understand business organizations. They are not part-time jobs, and job-hunting is not the main purpose. You are expected to engage in pre-employment training orientation and actual internship work as if you were working as a newly hired employee. You are also required to improve literacy in confidentiality, intellectual property and know-how, as well as security issues.

Consult with your academic supervisor in advance
It is recommended to consult with your academic supervisor before you register with the matching system if you wish to take Cooperative Education through Research Internships courses . You need the email address of your academic supervisor when you register with the matching system.

2. Check on the matching system for Cooperative Education through Research Internships

Log in to the matching system. Please use this link to access the matching system.

3. Registration

Provide the necessary information on the matching system, thus allowing you to view job descriptions of companies. In addition to your email address (m-address), you are required to register the addresses of the following three recipients:

a.
Academic supervisor(Please check the box for "このアドレスを応募時の承認者に加える" when you register a. Academic supervisor's e-mail address)
b.
Administrative office for each graduate major (Copy and paste the appropriate email address from the attached list.)
c.
Staff in charge of Cooperative Education through Research Internships (t2-job-i@jim.titech.ac.jp) at the Student Division

Register the addresses after you receive approval from your academic supervisor.
You may not be able to receive appropriate support if you do not register all of the above addresses.

4. Consultation with your academic supervisor

Once you have decided where to apply for an internship, be sure to consult with your academic supervisor in advance, especially regarding the impact on your research activities caused by a long absence from the laboratory.

5. Apply for internship

Apply for an internship by using the matching system provided by ※“Acaric”.
※:An overview of the matching system is shown on page 8 of the document below.
https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20210810-mxt_senmon01-000014929_1.pdf (in Japanese only)

6. Go through the screening process by your intended host company

Join the screening process conducted by your intended host company and follow their instruction.

7. Receipt of application results from the company

Receive application results by email, etc. Make sure not to miss any notifications.

8. Employment contract

You are required to review the draft employment contract. Your academic supervisor, administrative staff of your graduate major, or related offices will assist you in doing so. In case of a direct employment type, Tokyo Tech will conclude an internship implementation contract with the host company.
Interns must enroll in Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research ("GAKKENSAI") and Insurance for Accidents Involving Third Parties or Their Property ("GAKKENBAI") through Tokyo Tech in addition to concluding the employment contract. If you have not enrolled in these insurances, you are required to do so before starting the internship.
Insurance ("GAKKENSAI" and "GAKKENBAI"):

9. Registration for Cooperative Education through Research Internships courses

Upon conclusion of an employment contract between you and your host company, register for the Cooperative Education through Research Internships course designated for your graduate major. Use the Web System for Students and Faculty for registration. You may register additional courses on the Web System for Students and Faculty until the last day of the period in which classes are held in each semester. For exceptional registration made outside the period in which classes are held, please print out the additional course registration form provided on the Web System for Students and Faculty and submit it to the Graduate Services Group.

10. Grading (after internships)

Grading is based on confirmation of students’ progress during internship periods made by the academic supervisor, briefing sessions conducted in graduate majors with which students are affiliated, and evaluation documents and certificates produced by host companies in accordance with the guidelines.

Joint research type

The application process for this type of internship has not been decided. We will upload details on this website as soon as it is decided.

Other important points to note:

1. Taxation

Remuneration paid to interns is treated as income under Japanese tax law and will be subject to taxation. Students must file tax returns and complete other procedures as necessary.

2. Insurance

  • Employment insurance
    Ineligible as interns are deemed “daytime students” (昼間学生) as defined by the Japanese Employment Insurance Act.
  • Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance
    Mandatory. Work-related illness or injuries that occur while on the job or while commuting will be covered.
  • Social insurance
    Mandatory if employment exceeds two months, and the prescribed weekly working hours and the prescribed monthly work days are equivalent to three-quarters or more of those of regular workers. In this case, interns will be covered during the internship period by the health insurance and the welfare pension insurance offered by Tokyo Tech or the host company.
  • Compensation for damages
    Matters involving interns will be handled based on the employment contract.
    Note: If you are a dependent of a relative or other person responsible for supporting you, there may be procedures required by their employer. Please make sure to check with your relative or supporter. In such cases, it may be necessary to apply for enrollment in health insurance and other social insurance at the host company.

3. Permission to Engage in Activities Other than Those Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted

International students with a "student" visa must obtain "permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence previously granted" from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan before participating in an internship. There are two types of permission depending on working hours — "permission to engage in an unspecified activity" (包括許可) if weekly working hours are 28 hours or less, and "permission to engage in a specified activity" (個別許可) if they exceed 28 hours (in this case, a certificate issued under the name of the dean of the School the student is affiliated with).
Please apply for permission at least one month before the internship, as it may take time to review and process your application.

4. Recipients of the JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists

When a recipient of the JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists participates in a paid internship as Cooperative Education through Research Internships, they may still be eligible for the fellowship grant if certain conditions are met and advance procedures are followed. For details, please refer to guidelines and procedures issued by JSPS(in Japanese only) (「日本学術振興会特別研究員遵守事項および諸手続の手引」). Applying students must submit the required documents to JSPS at least one month prior to the scheduled start date of the internship.

Reference

https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/internship/1421136_00002.htm (in Japanese only)

Contact

Staff in charge of Cooperative Education through Research Internships at the Student Division

Email t2-job-i@jim.titech.ac.jp