Indian Students Tour Japan Under MIRAI-Setu Programme
Forty students from Indian IITs and IIITs spent one month in Japan's universities and companies under the Foster System MIRAI-Setu programme.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Internships
Forty Indian IIT and IIIT students and graduates spent one month in Japan starting in October under the Foster System MIRAI-Setu programme, studying at universities and corporations mainly in the Kyushu and Kansai areas. The programme is run by the Japanese government, academia and private companies, and its participants proposed solutions for India-Japan bilateral growth.
Why it matters
The visit comes ahead of 2027, the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations, and points to a pipeline in which students gain direct exposure to Japanese industry. Shizuoka University's earlier experience with Indian students shows how such exchanges can lead to employment with Japanese firms.
Shizuoka University has placed 44 Indian students with Japanese companies since its Asia Bridge Program began receiving foreign students in 2015. The number of this year's participants who will follow the same path has not been reported.
The players
Suzuki Motor Corporation
Japanese automaker whose headquarters hosted a group discussion with the visiting Indian students on vehicle issues in India.
Murata Manufacturing
Japanese electronics component maker whose Fukui factory was visited by the students during the programme.
Shizuoka University
National university in Shizuoka Prefecture that has hosted foreign students since 2015 and whose graduates have gone on to Japanese employers.
The details
Students visited Murata Manufacturing's Fukui factory and Suzuki headquarters, where they joined a group discussion with Suzuki staff on the question of how to solve vehicle issues in local India. On October 29 the group visited Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture and Shizuoka University, and students said they hope their ideas will be realised by Maruti Suzuki and Indian society.
Timeline
2015: Shizuoka University's Asia Bridge Program began receiving foreign students.
October 2026: 40 Indian students began a one-month stay in Japan.
October 29, 2026: Students visited Hamamatsu city and Shizuoka University.
2027: 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations.
Market Landscape
The MIRAI-Setu exchange extends Japan's effort to recruit Indian engineering talent through university-corporate pipelines, following the Asia Bridge Program's record of 44 hires at Japanese firms. It positions Japanese automakers and component makers to compete for South Asian technical graduates alongside other global employers.
Students interested in similar exchanges should check university international offices for eligibility and application windows. Those considering Japanese employment can look into the internship and hiring pathways that have placed Indian graduates with Japanese companies.
The takeaway
Exchange programmes that combine university study with direct corporate exposure can turn a short visit into a lasting career pipeline. Students who want that kind of access should look for programmes that include company visits and structured dialogue with industry staff.
Further reading
For related career pathways, see the Internships section.
