Professional Intern Program

PIP in Detail

PIP is formally integrated with the academic curricula of our Partner Universities in China. They consider PIP a key course offering. In their year-long PIP training, students earn academic credit (from their universities), but also learn important workplace skills not taught in academic settings.

Three proud PIP winners of a Japanese speech contest.
Three proud PIP winners of a Japanese speech contest.

Admission to PIP is highly competitive. Applicants are typically 4th year undergraduates at top Chinese universities.

We've structured PIP into 3 phases that demand successively greater responsibility and knowledge. The first 2 phases run parallel to the students' final academic year. Phase 3 occurs during the subsequent 9 months.

The PIP Testing and Training Timeline

In Phase 1 Knowledge Edge identifies applicants well-suited for future work in large global companies. To qualify candidates must pass two tests, a Benchmark test, followed two months later by a Qualification test. Testing incorporates Knowledge Edge's proprietary online Engineering Assessment Test ("EAT"), which measures how well an individual's knowledge reflects the ABET/IEEE guidelines. (http://www.abet.org). We offer special study materials to those who pass the first test, to help them prepare for the second, more challenging one. Applicants must also certify that they have earned at least a "Level 6" score on the CET, China's national English test. (http://www.cet.edu.cn)

Phase 1 concludes with Knowledge Edge officials interviewing those who pass both tests. We evaluate their interpersonal skills and character, and further assess their technical skills. The best overall performers progress to Phase 2.

Phase 2, the start of practical training, is when students:

  • are exposed to advanced technologies and professional work environments
  • select topics for, and write their graduation theses
  • study intensively Japanese language and business culture
Knowledge Areas of Emphasis
Our training curriculum fully complies with ABET Standards for 4-Year Engineering Programs in the U.S.
Although still enrolled as full-time college students--in their final semester--trainees now spend 40 hours per week at the Knowledge Edge training facility in Chengdu. We coordinate closely with students' academic advisors to ensure that their theses topics, and PIP's curriculum, are complementary.

Students in class
Japanese language/culture instruction is an essential element of our program.

In Phase 3 Knowledge Edge formally hires the trainees. In their next 9 months our trainees continue their preparation for working in Japan. This includes:

  • intensive Japanese language/culture study
  • special technical training relating to their subsequent Japan work assignments
  • application, under Knowledge Edge sponsorship, for Japan work visas

By the end of their program PIP trainees will have:

  • received 1,000 hours of Japanese language/culture instruction
  • earned at least a "Level 1" score in the Japanese Proficiency Exam for Foreigners
  • acquired a basic IT proficiency in key engineering knowledge areas.

PIP grads will apply this expertise at project development sites of leading companies. They're initially posted to Japan for 3 years (under visa sponsorship of Knowledge Edge), where they'll launch lucrative and professionally rewarding careers.

Learning Japanese culture can be fun-and tasty!
Learning Japanese culture can be fun-and tasty!

PIP grads "hit the ground running" when they start work because Knowledge Edge prepares them to contribute significantly--"from day 1." This isn't the case for typical new hires at global companies. These firms lack the knowledge and resources to efficiently train junior staff. Similarly, HR consulting companies have limited capacity to develop the talents of their engineers. Get the PIP edge for your company!

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