From June 6 to 13, 2017, the summer school for 14 students from KIT’s Thai partner institution King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) was held.
This summer school took place mainly with the participation of 2nd year undergraduates belonging to the KMUTT Qualified Hands – on Engineer (Monotsukuri Engineer) program. This program is being offered at KMUTT, aiming at nurturing human resources that can contribute as immediate fighting force at Japanese companies. During their 19-day schedule from June 6 to 24, participating students visited various companies in Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Shizuoka, Tokyo and Yamanashi and learned about the technology and basic concepts of manufacturing in Japan. In Kyoto, the students attended special lectures at KIT and visited companies in Ayabe City Industrial Park.

The participants arrived at KIT in the morning of June 9 attending special lectures by faculties of mechanical engineering and paying visits to laboratories. In the afternoon, they listened to students’ presentations about the Robocon and Formula activities and had the chance to interact with Japanese students of their age.
On the 12th and 13th, the group moved to Ayabe city, and after paying a courtesy visit to Ayabe’s mayor Yamazaki Zenya, they visited 7 companies (※) in the Ayabe Industrial Park. During their visit, students enthusiastically asked questions not only of technical nature but also on the special knowledge needed in order to work at a Japanese company or about the differences between working in Japan and Thailand.
During their 2-day stay in Ayabe, the students were able to feel the spirit of Japanese manufacturing, get an idea about future employment and get in touch with the rich environment of Ayabe, making it a very meaningful experience for all of them.

Prior to the summer school, on June 1, KIT had signed a three-party internship agreement with Ayabe Industrial Park Promotion Center and KMUTT, with the Mayor of Ayabe as the witness. Based on this agreement, a two-way corporate internship program for KIT and KMUTT students is planned and further exchange focusing around the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture is anticipated.

※Companies visited：
　NITTO PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD., KATAYAMA CHEMICAL, INC.,
　SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED, HORIUCHI MACHINERY CO., LTD.,
　KOKUSAN PARTS INDUSTRY CO., LTD., NITTO SEIKO CO., LTD. (Yata Plant/Shiroyama Plant),
　NITTO KOSHIN CO., LTD.

• Interacting with Japanese students
• Courtesy visit to the Mayor of Ayabe city
• Visit at Horiuchi Machinery Co., Ltd.
• Group photo at NITTO SEIKO CO., LTD.
• Learning the correct way to tighten a screw
  at Nitto Koshin Co., Ltd.