Almost 300 applicants for one place – the competition in international work placement programme Vulcanus in Japan is fierce. Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) nuclear energy masters student Edgaras Šmigeskis was among the lucky ones to win a work placement in a Japanese company.
Edgaras, who already has a career plan, says that everyone should try to use all the possibilities provided by the University.
First Step – to Learn Japanese
The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation aims at promoting all forms of industrial, trade and investment cooperation between the EU and Japan and at improving EU and Japanese companies’ competitiveness and cooperation by facilitating exchanges of experience and know-how between EU and Japanese businesses.
Edgaras, together with other participants of Vulcanus in Japan from Europe will spend a year in Japan. First week will be devoted to getting to know Japanese culture, and four subsequent months – for intensive Japanese course. Only after learning language, the students will start their 8 months work placement at a Japanese company.
“I found out about Vulcanus in Japan during my undergraduate studies, but I didn’t meet the requirements at that time. I am very active, so I had small summer jobs in Lithuania and England. However, my real career started when I was selected for a work placement at an international company Phillip Morris Lietuva”, says Šmigelskis.
Studies and Travelling: A Perfect Match
Upon finishing his undergraduate studies Edgaras already knew that he will start masters in nuclear physics at KTU.
“I gave a word to myself that I will use the advantage of being a student to the full – it’s only me who is responsible for achieving my own goals. During spring semester I went to Barcelona through Erasmus programme, and while being there I applied for summer job in the US”, says Edgaras.
During the summer in the US, Šmigelskis found a work placement opportunity at Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics in Germany, and after coming back from the US, he applied for Vulcanus in Japan. Edgaras, who is still working in Germany, says that he planned his way for achievement in such a way that he’d get to know the world and gain practical experience at the same time. He says that if anything failed, he had more options in stock.
“I said to myself, that every failure will benefit me in the future, as we learn from our mistakes. I had some doubts regarding my success in the Japanese programme as the competition is fierce, but I had to try. After I passed the first stage of the selection, and my chances improved by one third, I was sure I would get it”, says Edgaras.
KTU student who will be leaving for Japan in September, is convinced that crucial thing is to believe in oneself, to plan carefully and to use all the possibilities.
