In a major boost for global job opportunities for Manipur’s youth, NSDC International Limited (NSDCI) and Manipur University’s Department of Vocational Studies and Skill Development (DVSSD) have partnered to establish a dedicated Japanese Language Training Centre on the university campus.
The agreement, signed today by NSDCI CEO Alok Kumar and Manipur University Registrar Prof. M. Premjit Singh, will enable local candidates to train affordably for high-demand jobs in Japan’s healthcare, hospitality, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors under India-Japan government-to-government (G2G) agreements.
The new centre, set to launch its first batch in January 2026, will cut training costs by nearly 50% compared to previous off-campus programs in places like Gurgaon and Noida, which cost around ₹3 lakh for 8–9 months. Fees at the new facility will be ₹1,10,000, supported by skill loans and instalments.
The initiative targets 250 candidates in its first year, with plans for expansion.Japanese companies are scheduled to visit Imphal in February 2026 for on-campus recruitment. Successful trainees, who must achieve at least JLPT N4 proficiency (preferably N3), will be prepared for exams like JLPT, NAT, and JFT-Basic, plus sector-specific skills and cultural orientation under Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Manipur University Vice-Chancellor Prof. N. Lokendra Singh, Secretary of Skill, Labour, Employment and Entrepreneurship Ms. N. Bandana Devi, IAS, and other key officials including Prof. Memcha Loitongbam, Prof. A. Rajmani Singha, NSDCI Deputy General Manager Mr. Anshul Singhal, and DVSSD Head Dr. N. Amulkumar.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. N. Lokendra Singh expressed strong support for the partnership, describing it as a strategic step toward enhancing global employability for Manipuri youth.
During the discussions, Mr. Alok Kumar, Ms. N. Bandana Devi, IAS, Mr. Anshul Singhal, Prof. A. Rajmani Singha, and Prof. Memcha Loitongbam highlighted the new Japanese Language Training Centre’s vital role in boosting the global employability of Manipur’s youth by providing structured language training, cultural orientation, and clear pathways to overseas placements.
A major focus of the discussion was the urgent need to ramp up awareness of the centre to drive higher enrolment and better placement results. Participants agreed that extending outreach beyond the university—through colleges, skill centres, districts, and community platforms—would attract more eligible candidates, and strongly advocated for multi-channel communication strategies alongside systematic career counselling.
They further emphasised that showcasing successful placements would significantly encourage greater participation, recommending the sharing of alumni success stories, placement statistics, and details of employer engagements to build trust among students and parents. Advance publicity of recruitment visits and employment outcomes was also proposed as a key measure to strengthen overall placement success.
The collaboration is expected to improve livelihoods, increase household incomes, and boost foreign remittances. Current Manipuri alumni working in Japan remit around ₹50,000 monthly to their families.
The DVSSD has a proven track record: over the past two years, with NSDCI support, 28 alumni secured jobs in Japan’s hospitality sector with average salaries of ₹12 lakh per annum. Department graduates have also found placements in aviation, teaching, banking, and manufacturing in India and abroad, including the USA and Dubai.
The department additionally supports entrepreneurship, currently incubating 29 startups from Manipur and Meghalaya.Stakeholders agreed that strong awareness efforts, backed by institutional and government support, could create a scalable model for similar international skill programs with other countries in the future.
This on-campus centre marks a significant step in making overseas employment more accessible and affordable for Northeast India’s youth, aligning with national skill development goals.
Signpost News is an Imphal-based media house that focuses on delivering news and views from Northeast India and beyond.
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