In a major step towards enhancing international career opportunities for youth in Manipur, NSDC International Limited (NSDCI) and the Department of Vocational Studies and Skill Development (DVSSD), Manipur University, have signed an agreement to establish a Japanese Language Training Centre at Manipur University.
The collaboration is aimed at preparing young candidates from Manipur for employment in Japan’s high-demand sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, agriculture and manufacturing, under the Government-to-Government (G2G) framework between India and Japan.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Alok Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of NSDC International Limited, and Prof. M. Premjit Singh, Registrar of Manipur University, in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Prof. N. Lokendra Singh. Also present were Ms. N. Bandana Devi, IAS, Secretary, Skill, Labour, Employment and Entrepreneurship (SLEE), Government of Manipur; Prof. Memcha Loitongbam, Dean, School of Social Sciences; Prof. A. Rajmani Singha, Director, IQAC; Mr. Anshul Singhal, Deputy General Manager, NSDCI; Mr. Masotmi Zimik, State Engagement Officer, NSDC; Dr. N. Amulkumar, Head, DVSSD, along with faculty members of the department.
Expressing confidence in the partnership, Vice-Chancellor Prof. N. Lokendra Singh said the centre would play a crucial role in equipping Manipuri youth with globally relevant skills. During the discussions, senior officials and academicians highlighted the strategic importance of structured Japanese language training, cultural orientation and assured overseas placement pathways in enhancing global employability.
The meeting also stressed the need for extensive awareness campaigns to maximise enrolment and placement outcomes. Participants recommended wider outreach beyond the university through colleges, skill centres, districts and community platforms, along with systematic career counselling. Sharing success stories of placed alumni, placement statistics and employer engagement details was identified as key to building confidence among students and parents.
It was unanimously agreed that strong institutional backing, government support and effective awareness generation could make the initiative a scalable model for similar international programmes in the future.
The Department of Vocational Studies and Skill Development has already demonstrated strong placement outcomes, with its students securing employment across aviation, hospitality, teaching, banking and manufacturing sectors in India and abroad, including Japan, the United States and Dubai. Over the past two years, with NSDC International’s support, 28 alumni have been placed in Japan’s hospitality sector, earning an average annual salary of ₹12 lakh. The department has also fostered entrepreneurship, producing several young entrepreneurs and currently incubating 29 startups from Manipur and Meghalaya.
To work in Japan, candidates are required to achieve at least JLPT N4-level Japanese proficiency, preferably N3. Earlier, students had to undergo training in cities like Gurgaon and Noida at a cost of around ₹3 lakh for an 8–9 month programme. With the new centre at Manipur University, training costs are expected to reduce by nearly 50 per cent while maintaining the same quality of preparation. Alumni currently employed in Japan reportedly remit around ₹50,000 per month to support their families.
The centre will have a training capacity of 250 candidates in its first year, with scope for expansion. The programme will span 8–9 months, covering intensive Japanese language training (JLPT N5/N4), sector-specific skills and cultural orientation. Training fees have been fixed at ₹1.10 lakh, supported through skill loans and instalment options. Candidates will also be prepared for Japanese language proficiency exams and skill assessments under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) programme.
The first batch of the Japanese Language Training Centre is scheduled to begin in January 2026, with Japanese companies expected to visit Imphal for recruitment in February 2026.
