Masdar Institute Students Successfully Complete Seven-Week Internship Program at Four Different Japanese Corporations
Abu Dhabi-UAE: 05 September, 2012 – When five students from Masdar Institute of Science and Technology completed their internships in Japan, it was a totally different experience. But each of them agreed on one common factor – the Japanese aim to excel in whatever they do.
Lack of internal barriers to facilitate easier communication within the office premises, the presence of several meeting rooms and discussion tables for increased interaction among employees and the focus on teamwork were some of the other factors that captivated the interns from Abu Dhabi.
The four major Japanese corporations proved to be the ideal training ground for the five interns from Masdar Institute. The Japan internship program has further honed the skills of the students and is expected to have considerable impact on the professional lives of the students when they enter the corporate world.
Sultan Al Kaabi, a Master’s student in Electrical Power Engineering, interned at Chiyoda Corporation on ‘Electrical engineering for renewable energy facilities and industrial plants’, while Abdulla AlShamsi worked with JGC Corporation (Nikki) on ‘Energy management systems for development and promotion of business and technology in the fields of CO2 capture, renewable energy and smart communities’. Mozah Al Zeyoudi’s internship at Toray Industries focused on water treatment techniques.
The three were part of the group of five students selected under an internship program that was supported by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Technology and Industry (METI) and coordinated by the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE). The program that commenced from 27 May concluded on 9 August. The two other students – Reem Al Junaibi and Mohamed Al Hadhrami – worked at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).
The depth and diversity of the on-hand experience the interns received in Japan during the program was staggering. Sultan Al Kaabi, for example, was assigned four units during the seven-week internship including the Green Device Project (GDP) Unit, Green Material Project (GMP) Unit, Electrical System Smart Grid and Engineering (ESE) Unit, and Sustainable Business Development (SBD) Unit.
Al Kaabi said: “The internship training was so diversified in terms of the areas and training methods covered and the units assigned. I attended many meetings ranging from the scheduled ones to those planned for introducing certain topics on technical discussions, during which I had raised some questions.”
Some of the areas Sultan Al Kaabi covered include Photovoltaic (PV) power plants, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant, electrical engineering for PV plants, and Low Heat Power Generation (LHPG). He participated in technical presentations, seminars, as well as discussions and meetings, while learning new software such as PVsys, System Advisor Model (SAM), ETAP and 3D-Modeling. The program was an opportunity for him to analyze various case studies, implement designs in a simulator, and finally present the report to Chiyoda staff.
Mozah Zeyoudi’s internship at Toray Industries focused on ‘Water Treatment Techniques’ which she found beneficial to her research work at Masdar Institute.
Zeyoudi said: “It was beneficial because I learned a lot about the Membrane Bioreactor (MBR), Reverse Osmosis, (RO) and Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes that are linked to my studies. This is also relevant to me in the UAE because the Al Ain sewage plant has adopted the MBR membranes technology, while the Fujairah desalination plant uses the RO membrane technology – both from Toray.”
Another intern Abdullah Al Shamsi visited the research and development centers at JGC Corporation’s (Nikki) three main sites. They included a field test site for smart communities, a demonstration plant built by another company with which Nikki is working to assess the heat conductor for developing a new beam down Concentrated Solar Power technology, and an R&D center in Oarai, where Al Shamsi learned the new technologies developed by Nikki’s engineers.
Al Shamsi said: “During my internship, I learnt that R&D is the main source for any company to excel. And this is exactly what we are doing at Masdar Institute, since we are the R&D hub for Masdar companies. Basically, working at the research & development center of Nikki gave me fresh insights in renewable energy technologies, especially those used in the smart communities.”
The Japanese work culture greatly impressed the interns who realized the importance of total dedication. Al Shamsi mentions that the Japanese prefer team work and welcome 10 different ideas than one great idea from a genius. He also points to the special layout of the office that facilitates easier communication, which in turn makes room for creativity and better interaction.
A professional working environment blended with opportunities for cultural interaction and the foray into a new language made the internship program in Japan one of the most rewarding experiences for the interns, who gained exposure to a career life of the future.
Established as an on-going collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.
