INTERVIEW
Automation and Robotics
Intern at Advanced Automotive Systems R&D Center
Adam is from Poland, currently studying at the Gdansk University of Technology. He is pursuing a Bachelor degree in Automation and Robotics. Adam interned with us at our Advanced Automotive Systems R&D Center at Osaka Works for 10 weeks.
Why did you want to intern at Sumitomo Electric?
Having the opportunity to work/intern in Japan has always been one of my goals, to experience and learn more about the culture of this country as well as increase my skills for the sake of self-improvement and the development of my future career. Japan is well renowned as the world’s capital of technology and revolutionary research. This internship has allowed me to study these subjects while working on a project with real impacts in society.
What has been the most interesting thing you have learnt from this internship?
Amongst the skills I learnt that were directly related to my area of studies andthose that were more culturally oriented, I would say the one of the highest importance to me was the ability to work together and co-operate with people from completely different cultural and language backgrounds.
This has proven priceless in terms of me being able to learn more about working in a diverse environment, and being able to have an enriching experience of immersing myself in a foreign culture.
What was a typical workday like for an intern at SEI?
My typical workday started with a quick breakfast at the dormitory, followed by the commute to Osaka Works located at Ajikawaguchi. After changing to the Sumitomo Electric uniform and arriving at 8.30am at the office, my morning work routine lasts until 12.00pm, right before lunch break. After a 1-hour long break, the afternoon work schedule ends at 5.15pm. After which, we head back to our dorms or hanged out in Osaka with other interns. The day ended with an evening dinner and some free time to unwind and relax.
How has the internship help shaped your career?
Without a doubt, during my stay here in Japan and being a part of this internship program, I have found a bigger clarity in what I want to pursue in the future as my career. Being able to experience the life here, not only to work itself but also to every other aspect of living, the program has helped me immensely in deciding my future job-related path. That, together with the prestige of such an internship in any CV, has been a priceless experience.
What advice do you have for future students considering to participate in this internship?
For many it may be an encounter with a cultural polar opposite and a life in a country on the other side of the Earth, but it is precisely that which makes this experience so unique and valuable. Breaking our barriers and overcoming weaknesses will always flourish and bring about results that will exceed all of your expectations. The people you will meet, the culture you will experience, the problems that you will solve, it all adds up to something much more valuable than what we initially seem to think. If you want something that will undoubtedly enrich your life then wait no longer, this is the perfect opportunity.
Have courage, and good luck!
