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 Human resource development
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Recruiting methods in English
ICYS’ recruiting methods in English were adopted throughout NIMS. This recruiting system contributed to an increase in applicants to NIMS.
Screening system
Some young researchers were officially hired at NIMS after ICYS. We built a career path from ICYS to the rest of NIMS. This pre-tenure track system contributes to NIMS’ ensuring and fostering of prominent talent.
Training system for NIMS new hires
Young researchers hired at NIMS, who obtain a PhD within 10 years, belong to ICYS for a year. They are expected to experience the diversity of ICYS, broaden their views and also improve their communication skills. This training system at ICYS helps new hires to develop networks with others at ICYS/NIMS, which will lead to future collaboration.
Appointment of foreign group leaders
Eight foreign researchers have been promoted to Group Leaders of NIMS since ICYS started. We are striving to ensure that talented foreign researchers, as well as Japanese researchers, are appointed as Group Leaders or Management Directors. |
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Developing an international research environment
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Establishment of International Affairs Office and Human Resource Development Office
An International Affairs Office was set as the base of internationalization of NIMS in September 2005 in order to effectively disseminate ICYS’ international support system to NIMS. NIMS also established the Human Resource Development Office to perform tasks associated with the recruitment of researchers from inside and outside Japan, selection and appointment, using the method carried out by ICYS. An international support team was established in FY2006 to manage the internationalization of the NIMS research environment based on ICYS’ experience. |
Introducing bilingualism
ICYS’ bilingual research environment was used as a model for the rest of NIMS. Throughout NIMS today, both English and Japanese are used when any information, for example, related to Intranet, e-mail, BBS, regulations and intrabroadcasts, is sent to all NIMS staff including foreign researchers. In addition, NIMS set up [Information for Foreign Researchers] on the Intranet and in January 2006, started citing information related to the Administration Committee, budget, grants, facilities/equipment, treatment and regulations.
For promoting the bilingual administrative environment of NIMS, ICYS together with the International Affairs Office and Human Resource Development Office is developing a short-term English training program for overseas administrative staff and an English language e-learning program that can be used at home. |
Support system in research and daily life
Both the guidebook and “Life in NIMS” are sent to foreign researchers throughout NIMS and are widely read. Starting from January 2006, ICYS’ new-hire orientation in English is open to new hires of NIMS. We welcome feedback from the attendees and we will reflect their suggestions in future orientations. |
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Further efforts
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Establishment of [ New International Center for Young Scientist ]
NIMS has established two new ICYS both at Sengen-site and Namiki-site in NIMS (ICYS-MANA and ICYS-IMAT). ICYS has already started recruiting young researchers from overseas who will engage in researches at the new ICYS. |
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Dissemination of experiences from ICYS
1. At the close of the ICYS Project, the ICYS Administrative Office decided to compile some of our experience gained through supporting foreign national researchers into a book. In Japan, opportunities in which multinational researchers work together are likely to increase. We hope this book describing the first stage of NIMS’ efforts for internationalization will be of interest to many readers.
Book title: “This is ICYS!—from the Administrative Office of the International Center for Young Scientists” (in Japanese)
2. ICYS has published “New Challenges for Internationalization and Fostering of Talented Young Scientists” (main body: 60 pages and appendix: 180 pages) as a final report of the ICYS project.
3. In closing the five-year term of the ICYS Project, we decided to publish a book to record how this challenging experiment of globalization, symbolically called the “melting pot,” has progressed to achieve the objectives such as fostering young researchers. Although judgment as to whether the experiment has been successful or not will be entrusted to the readers of this book, we take pride in the good outcomes achieved by the ICYS Project.
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