Six QUT students are gaining first-hand cultural and business insights through an immersive two-week program at the Tokyo headquarters of multinational company Mitsui & Co.
Mitsui is Australia’s fourth largest exporter (on an equity basis) with approximately $8 billion in annual exports from business interests here including mining, energy supply, grains, beef and juice concentrate.
The six QUT students left Brisbane on Monday for their short but intensive program, which will also include visits to other multinationals Toyota and Kimitsu Steel Mill, and the Australian Embassy.
They are:
- Rachel Treasure, Bachelor of Information Technology / Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
- Paul D’Alterio, Bachelor of Business-International
- Hrithik Naryani, Bachelor of Business
- Angus Nobbs, Bachelor of Business / Bachelor of Information Technology
- Hannah-Beth Hannah-Becker, Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Business
- Marcus Poniewierski, Bachelor of Business
QUT Global director Ian McFadden said the students’ trips were funded by a New Colombo Plan mobility grant from the Australian Government.
Before they left, they met the general manager of Mitsui & Co.’s Brisbane office, Hiroshi Shirai, and Greta Nielsen (New Colombo Plan, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), at a farewell event, along with Consul-General of Japan (Brisbane), Keiko Yanai.
“Our students will get a valuable insight into how a leading multinational company operates in Japan, as well as first-hand experience of Japan’s unique culture, society, business and industry,” Mr McFadden said.
“Their project work will be based on real world scenarios and they will have the opportunity to present their findings to senior executives at Mitsui & Co. at the end of the internships.”
Business student Marcus Poniewierski said his first trip to Japan was an opportunity for personal and professional growth, and to gain an “authentic understanding” of Japanese culture.
“I have found that travelling is a great antidote to ignorance, and that the more I travel and experience different cultures, the greater my compassion and sense of humanity grows,” he said.
“My long-term goal is to become a finance expert and a business leader in the Australian economy, doing work that positively impacts Australian citizens. Foreign trade with countries in the Asia-Pacific region such as Japan plays an important role in the performance of our economy, and therefore understanding how business is conducted within these cultures is imperative to strong trade relations.”
Pictured at top: Rachel Treasure, Paul D’Alterio, Hrithik Naryani, Angus Nobbs, Hannah-Beth Hannah-Becker, and Marcus Poniewierski.
QUT Media contacts:
- Mechelle McMahon, media@qut.edu.au
- Rose Trapnell, media@qut.edu.au or 0407 585 901 (including after hours)