SWISSMEM YPP @ JIMTOF 2024

The program fosters the intercultural exchange of young, well-educated professionals of Switzerland and Japan in technological fields, wants to
encourage a holistic approach for understanding other cultures and instigate
interest to learn Japanese.

Idea

The program brings a mixed group of 20 - 25 top - apprentices and students of mechanical engineering and other machine tool related technologies from October 24 – November 7, 2024 to Japan. The time of the trip coincides with the most important machine tool exhibition in Japan, the Japan International Machine Tool Fair or JIMTOF (November 5 – 10, 2024) but starts before in order to include additional cultural and technical visits. Beside a registration fee of CHF 500.— per accepted applicant the program is offered free of charge by the Swiss Machine Tool Manufacturers and the program sponsors.

Aim

The program helps to make mechanical engineering, especially studies and professions related to machine tool manufacturing and involved processes more interesting and appealing for young people. It addresses young people in the final year of their apprenticeships, their studies for a BSc at Universities of Applied Science or their studies for a MSc at either ETHZ or EPFL. 

«The YPP brings together great minds from industry and academics and offers them a unique learning opportunity. With the alumni association the exchange is maintained and benefits for the participants as well as the sponsors generated.»

«Fritz Studer AG, founded in 1912, is part of the UNITED GRINDING Group and is one of the market and technology leaders in the field of high-precision cylindrical grinding technology. The company supplies both standard machines and customized system solutions of the highest quality and precision to all sectors of industry.
In order to maintain this top position in the future, we need innovative and highly trained specialists who are willing to enthusiastically achieve above-average results and overcome cultural hurdles. These are, among others, the participants of the Swissmem YPP@JIMTOF and the members of the associated Alumni Organization. We support this program with conviction, as it helps us to stay in touch with young potential candidates and to inspire and attract them to our companies and the Swiss engineering industry.»

«The YPP program has given me an interesting insight into very different Japanese companies. The experience of the Toyota Principle, 5S and the Lean movement were crucial for me. Moreover, the experience of Japan has made me more sensitive to other cultures. I am convinced that these experiences will bring me further in my career.»

«I can’t remember having ever learned as much in two weeks as I did during YPP@Jimtof.
Since I have come back to Switzerland I look in a different way at the work I have to do and how things at the company I had been working for are managed. I think it’s great as well to have the chance to visit other companies in Switzerland, being an YPP Alumni.»

«An effort to promote peaceful coexistence might be one of the most prominent topics right now in Europe. But how is that feasible? By discovering foreign cultures and, with an open mind, familiarising, appreciating and learning from them so that one can switch between different perspectives. The Young People Programme (YPP) Japan is exceptionally designed to address this point by giving 21 people from Switzerland a rare insight into the Land of the Rising Sun. One can only wish for more and more projects such as the YPP to all corners of the world.»