Keidanren, universities call for allowing use of info on interns

Jiji Press

17:47 JST, April 18, 2022

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, and Japanese universities on Monday jointly called for allowing companies to utilize in their recruiting activities the performance evaluations and other information on students who worked in internships.

The request was included in a report compiled at the day’s meeting of a council made up of top Keidanren and university officials.

As the government has presented a view that companies should not use information on interns when they decide who to hire, the council will ask the government to change that position.

To open the way for intern information to be utilized, the council plans to establish a certification scheme by creating practical standards regarding internship programs. It aims to have the scheme applied starting with students graduating from universities or graduate schools in the 2024 academic year.

In the report, the council said certified internship programs should only target students who have advanced to at least the third year of university.