Plus W株式会社

Plus W Inc. (based in Shibuya, Tokyo; Founder and CEO: Wakako Sakurai; hereinafter referred to as "Plus W"), a global IT and HR company, has signed MOUs with leading universities in Pakistan namely FAST University, University of Karachi, and the University of Central Punjab, together with an MOI with the NED University of Engineering and Technology. With these agreements, we will further accelerate the promotion of employment opportunities for aspiring IT professionals from each of these universities to work for Japanese companies. Specifically, in accordance with the selection in July 2023 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) for the “Subsidy for New Business Creation Promotion Support Project in Emerging DX Countries (Business Co-Creation Promotion Project for the Indo-Pacific Region)”, we will promote initiatives to help resolve the following five issues in Pakistan in strong cooperation with the above-mentioned universities. we will conduct a training program of IT and Japanese language and culture for Pakistani IT professionals to promote their job matching with Japanese companies.

• Strengthening the development of IT talent and producing skilled professionals.
• Improving the employment rate of graduates in STEM fields.
• Increasing the employment rate of women and promoting their participation in society.
• Addressing educational and wage disparities between rural and urban areas.
• Promoting the export of the Pakistani ICT industry

Collaboration with 6 Universities in Pakistan, Including Previously Signed MOA/MOU

Until now, Plus W has focused on creating job opportunities for current students and graduates, particularly IT professionals, in Japanese companies with the conclusion of its MOA with the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in March 2022, which is one of the top universities in Pakistan and produces a large number of highly skilled IT professionals, as well as with the signing of its MOU with the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) in December of the same year, which is the sole university in Pakistan offering Japanese language classes.

This time, starting with the signing of the MOU on the 13th of September 2023 with FAST University (Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, commonly known as FAST-NUCES, hereinafter referred to as “FAST University”), a science university in Pakistan with strengths in the application of advanced technologies, particularly in the field of computer science; Plus W also signed an MOU on the 15th of September with the University of Karachi, a prominent general university with the highest number of enrolled students, which is located in Karachi, the largest commercial city of the country. In addition to this, Plus W also concluded an MOI on the 18th of September with the Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw University of Engineering and Technology (hereinafter referred to as “NED University”), one of the oldest engineering universities in Pakistan, which is also located in the city of Karachi, before moving on to the signing of an MOU on the 21st of September with the University of Central Punjab (commonly and hereinafter referred to as “UCP”), which has strengths in both technology, such as electronics engineering and computer science, as well as in business administration in Pakistan. With the signing of these agreements, it was agreed to deepen the cooperation in the IT industry, including in human resources and technology exchange between Japan and Pakistan.

The Agreements Aim to Promote Further Expansion of Opportunities for Pakistani IT Professionals to Play Active Roles in Japanese Companies

After the signing ceremony at each university, discussions were held with the senior university leadership as well as with the deans or heads of the IT-related faculties of the participating universities. We agreed on our initiatives primarily to provide the current students or university graduates with specialized Japanese language education tailored towards IT engineers as well as about Japan’s IT development environment and its advanced technologies, in the form of workshops starting from October 2023.

Moreover, Mr. Jamil Qureshi, Secretary of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) of Pakistan, who has Wholeheartedly supported our collaboration with prestigious universities as well as related institutions across Pakistan Since our foundation, he also made positive suggestions for further support, mentioning about the rapid increase in the demand for IT professionals in Japan over the past decade, as well as about the growing interest in Pakistani engineers following the relaxation of the COVID restrictions.

While discussing about the signing of the MOI/MOUs with the above-mentioned different universities, Mr. Shiono, Head of the Pakistan Japan Centre and alliance Manager in this Project, Made a remark about the future of this project: “In order to expand the creation of Job matching opportunities in the future, we are Expanding such initiatives to the universities all across the Pakistan. For example, in this September, I visited the Lahore University of Management and Sciences (LUMS), one of the leading business schools that aims to Produce management professionals, and also the University of Engineering & Technology Lahore (UET Lahore), which Collaborates with US / UK and Chinese Universities and Actively engage in industry-academia collaboration with companies such as Microsoft and Huawei. We had fruitful meetings with the deans of the IT-related faculties there and with the heads of the career placement offices among others, and they expressed their positive interest. Beginning with these discussions, we will further strengthen our relationship with the universities and promote further expansion of opportunities for Pakistani IT professionals and Pakistani IT companies to play active roles in Japanese companies.”

Plus W Inc. Member Who Commented

Hiroyuki Shiono
Manager at Global Business Department and the Head of Pakistan Japan Centre
Alliance Manager in this Project

After graduating from Grinnell College with a major in Computer Science, he joined a DeepTech startup based in Los Angeles, serving as a Computer Vision Research Engineer. His roles included research and development in state-of-the-art image recognition AI and generative AI, as well as collaborative AI research with a Largest Japanese IT Company and involvement in application development. In 2023, he joined Plus W, where he Co-developed AI models with Microsoft. From August 2023, he took on the role of the Head of Pakistan Japan Centre that was established in Pakistan. As well as business development of Europe and US.

Overview of FAST University

A science university in Pakistan with strengths in the application of advanced technologies, particularly in the field of computer science. The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Aftab Ahmed Maroof (Rector) together with Professor Muhammad Asif Naeem and other faculty members from the Department of Computer Science.

University Name: Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, commonly known as FAST-NUCES
Year of Establishment: Established in 2000
Location: A.K Brohi Road, H-11/4, Islamabad
Rector: Dr. Aftab Ahmed Maroof
Number of Students: Approximately 11,000
Number of Faculty and Researchers: Around 500
URL: https://www.nu.edu.pk/

Overview of UCP

A science university which has strengths in both technology, such as electronics engineering and computer science, as well as in business administration in Pakistan. The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Raheel Anjum Bhatti (Registrar) and faculty members from the Faculty of Information Technology and Computer Science.

University Name: University of Central Punjab, commonly known as UCP
Year of Establishment: Established in 2002
Location: 1, Khayaban-e-Jinnah Road, Johar Town, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Pro-Rector: Dr. Hadia Awan
Number of Students: Approximately 16,000
Number of Faculty Members and Researchers: Around 600
URL: https://ucp.edu.pk/

Overview of the University of Karachi

A general university which has the highest number of enrolled students in Karachi. The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Khalid M. Iraqi (Vice Chancellor) together with faculty members from the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Commerce.

University Name: University of Karachi
Year of Establishment: 1951
Location: KU Circular Rd, Karachi, Karachi City, Sindh
Vice Chancellor: Dr. Khalid M. Iraqi
Number of Students: Approximately 41,000
Number of Faculty and Researchers: About 700
URL: https://uok.edu.pk/

Overview of NED University

Established in 1921, it is the oldest engineering university in Karachi. The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Muhammad Tufail (Pro Vice Chancellor) and Mr. Syed Ghazanfar Hussain (Registrar), together with Dr. Muhammad Mubashir Khan (Chairman of the Department of Computer Science and IT) and faculty members from the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Electrical Engineering.

University Name: Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw University of Engineering and Technology, commonly known as NED University
Year of Establishment: 1921
Location: NED University of Engineering & Technology, University Road, Karachi, Pakistan
Vice Chancellor: Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodi
Number of Students: Approximately 12,000
Number of Faculty Members and Researchers: Around 500
URL: https://www.neduet.edu.pk/

Overview of the Subsidy for New Business Creation Promotion Support Project in Emerging DX Countries (Business Co-Creation Promotion Project for the Indo-Pacific Region)

This initiative supports subsidies for demonstration projects, feasibility studies (FS), human resource development, etc. in Southwest Asia, Central and South America, as well as in island countries to facilitate collaboration in order to promote ‘co-creation’ between companies from emerging countries and Japanese companies that aim to solve social issues through innovative means such as DX.
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