Date:20/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/20/stories/2008032054490500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Anna University, Chamber sign pact

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Anna University and the Indo-Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday agreed to collaborate to provide Japanese language education to students as a platform for employment there.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed between the institutions envisages Japanese language classes, faculty exchange programmes and joint research in science, technology and management.

The scope of the agreement, which has a three-year timeframe, includes motivational and promotional lectures on Japan, annual language oratorical contests and pooling library and knowledge resources.

Presiding over the ceremony, Consul-General of Japan Kazuo Minagawa said the MoU could act as a springboard to promote closer ties between the two nations in language training, education and business cooperation.

Chennai was becoming an important station for Japanese companies and investors, the Consul General said.

In one year, the number of companies that set up shops in and around the city had gone up from around 60 to 90, and another automobile major was all set to arrive later this year, he said. Land availability, educated manpower and relative safety for a city of its size were among Chennai’s attractive propositions.

“An opportunity”

Anna University Vice-Chancellor D. Viswanathan said the memorandum presented an opportunity for students here to learn Japan and land jobs. Language was the main barrier between students and lucrative jobs in Japanese industries, especially software jobs.