Alumni
"We need to hire the very best young engineers, guide their development, and ultimately reward them with great careers. This is our top priority."
Dr. Hideaki Kobayashi, Chairman
PIP alumni, now members of the Knowledge Edge Global Team, work at project sites of
leading electronics companies in Japan. PIP uniquely prepared them to launch truly global
careers, with levels of job responsibility rarely given to entry-level engineers. Our alumni
share their thoughts about the value of being a PIP trainee. Although it was a very challenging
program throughout, they persevered, gained practical experience, built their confidence,
learned about responsibility and the importance of teamwork. According to one PIP alumnus,
who now works with a design group at Sony LSI Design's Yokohama facility, "Through my
PIP training I developed in many ways. For the rest of my life I will treasure the time I spent
as a PIP trainee."
Sony LSI Design Inc. Yokohama
BS Degree, University of Electronic
Science and Technology of China
Sony LSI Design Inc. Yokohama Office
A typical day at the Sony LSI Design Yokohama office:
Sony LSI Design Inc. Fukuoka
BS Degree, Tongji University
Sony LSI Design Inc. Fukuoka Office
A typical day at the Sony LSI Design Fukuoka office:
Sony LSI Design Inc. Yokohama
BS Degree, Southeast University
Confidence
Before I come to Chengdu, I was a little worried about being able to pass the first level of the Japanese test in only one year. Since I had never studied Japanese before, I arrived in Chengdu to participate in PIP training with a clean slate, so to speak. After seriously studying every day for three months, I managed to score 685 on the JTEST. Then I realized that I really could do it. PIP gave me confidence to pursue my goals. June was the busiest time in my PIP training because I had to do three jobs at the same time. I had to prepare a graduate thesis, take engineering courses, and study Japanese. Doing all three at the same time was difficult. The engineering courses were mainly about the digital circuits and Verilog HDL design. This was my major, so it was not that difficult for me. But I learned that teamwork is one of the most important things for an engineer. Through my PIP training, I developed in many ways. For the rest of my life I will treasure the time I spent as a PIP trainee.
RICOH, Osaka
BS Degree, Southwest Jiaotong University
Japanese Language
My current assignment involves layout design and verification. During my PIP training I learned to solve problems independently and to exchange feedback with a partner. Now I can draw the layout by myself and discuss changes with circuit designers. Having learned Japanese at PIP, starting from the basic rudiments of the language, I can understand instructions from my supervisor and know what circuit designers want me to do. Studying Japanese was the most important part of my PIP training. Persevering and studying hard can be boring at times, but taking a proactive approach to learning Japanese is ultimately very rewarding.
RICOH, Osaka
BS Degree, Southwest Jiaotong University
Career Path
It is extremely difficult for recent graduates to form a clear idea of a career path. It is hard for them to determine what they would like to do in the future, or which career might be most in keeping with their skills and abilities. PIP training provides a solid platform for developing realistic career goals. It provides the opportunity to factor in actual experience before becoming an active member of the workforce, and also to acquire the necessary skills. The demands of working life make it difficult to have the extra time and energy needed for additional study. PIP affords trainees the time to learn about Japanese culture and technology in advance. It is well worth the effort!
Sony LSI Design Inc. Yokohama
BS Degree, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Teamwork
In order to achieve anything one has to make an effort. Without effort, success is impossible.
The method is also important. When you are studying, tailoring your method to suit your interests
helps a lot. For example, I really like history. So I found various books about Japanese
history, and read them while I was studying. This was a very efficient way to learn Japanese.
Test results are important, but being fluent in conversation is equally so. In China "person" is
written as 
. Two branches support the character. If one is taken away, the other will
fall. People can achieve so much more if they work together as a team. This is the message
that the inventor of the written character wanted to convey.
Sony LSI Design Inc. Fukuoka
BS Degree, Sichuan University
Responsibility
Words are theoretical, but it is through actions that one achieves. Through practical training I learned responsibility. When you enter the PIP training program, you are no longer a student. It is not a school, but a company setting, and you learn by doing the job. You develop of a sense of being responsible to yourself and to your team. By having the benefit of the perspective of my colleagues, I was better able to develop my conceptual skills.
Sony LSI Design Inc. Yokohama
BS Degree, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Challenges
One of my most enjoyable memories of PIP was the time we made onigiri and sushi together. It was everybody's first experience, and we were really looking forward to it. With the help of our teachers and by reading a recipe we managed to do it. I think we tried our best, but the taste was still a little strange, and not as good as we had imagined. However, the thing that most impressed me is that we worked as a group and had fun together. Even now I can still remember everyone's smile.The most difficult part for me was my thesis. My topic was a project through my university, and it was often difficult to communicate with my advisor because I was in Chengdu at that time. Looking back now, there were many happy moments, and also some difficulties. But that's life. The more we experience, the faster we develop.
Sony LSI Design Inc. Yokohama
BS Degree, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Global Communication Skills
Japanese class was the most enjoyable. With five or six people, the class was small and every student had a chance to practice conversation. Also, during class we had a variety of interesting conversations with the teachers, and it was a lot of fun. All teachers had lived and worked in Japan, and it was good to hear about their experiences. Listening to them, I developed a strong desire to learn Japanese and to go to Japan. I think that the most difficult part was preparing for interviews. We practiced formal interviews, took notes, and started all over again by introducing ourselves. The teachers explained to us how to better present ourselves and helped me to streamline my own technique. I conducted several mock interviews, and became more confident. After so much practice when it came to the real interview, I was not nervous at all.
Sony LSI Design Inc. Yokohama
BS Degree, Tongji University
Experience
My year as a PIP trainee went by really quickly. There were so many things to learn about technology and Japanese language and culture. Participating in PIP helped me to define and clarify my goals for the future. Now I feel that I am a professional, and not the student I was before I took part in PIP. At PIP I was separated from my home group and had to move forward independently. For example, I studied Japanese for about six months before I started PIP. To pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test with a reasonable score, I had to study and that was all. PIP was much different from just being a university student. During my training I not only studied Japanese language and technical subjects, but also learned about working relationships within top Japanese IT companies. It was that aspect that really enabled me to realize my full potential. At university, one attains qualifications by taking courses and studying for the final exams each semester. But that was just studying, and not the practical experience that one needs in order to become a professional engineer. Practical training is a completely different experience from being a university student. PIP instructors of Japanese emphasize the importance of conversational fluency. They also teach the culture and customs of Japan. I highly recommend the PIP training program. It's a great opportunity!
Professional Intern Program (PIP)
The Knowledge Edge Group develops new engineering talent through the Professional Intern Program (PIP). Now in its fourth year, PIP occurs through a unique partnership between Knowledge Edge and China's leading colleges and universities. Recruiting for the next PIP training cycle starts in September. If you are an outstanding senior majoring in computer engineering or a related field at a participating institution, please Apply
