Internship Feedback

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Bc. Bára Pinčáková, UCT Prague,

ročník 1

Faculty

FCHI

Field of study

Chemical engineering and bioengineering

Field of internship

Chemistry, Material Science, and Chemical Engineering

Specialization of Internship

Chemical Engineering

Internship period (from - to)

02.06.2025 - 01.08.2025

Internship duration (weeks)

Transport (means, price)

Flights - 1000euro

Insurance/Insurance company

UNIQA - ISIC

Visa/Work permit (yes/no)

Price of Visa

City of Internship

Japan, Sendai

Internship reference number

JP/2025-41THU

About the country

Location of the place

Sendai is located in the Tohoku region of northern Honshu, Japan. It lies on the Pacific coast and is easily accessible by Shinkansen from Tokyo.

City

Sendai is a modern city known for its greenery and comfortable atmosphere. It offers a good balance between urban life and nature.

Surroundings (possible trips, ...)

Around Sendai, you can visit the famous Matsushima Bay, one of Japan’s most scenic spots. There are also hot springs and mountains nearby, perfect for day trips.

Employer

Kaoru Maruta - He is a great professor at Tohoku University, well respected and very busy. Even so, he made time for me, asked about my thesis, and suggested a topic based on it.

Work description

I was modeling flames in Python using cantera and studying soot precursors. Every Friday, there were presentations where each student presented their weekly progress.

Salary (sufficient for local conditions?)

224 000 YEN for 2 months

Language requirements

The professor spoke fluent English, and most of the students did as well. It was easy to communicate with them and work together smoothly.

Accommodation (price, who provided it)

I stayed at Urban Kawauchi Castle and paid around 100,000 yen for two months of accommodation. The place was convenient and comfortable but a bit dirty. I had a private room but shared toilets, showers, and kitchen.

Social life

Meeting IAESTE members (pick-up at the airport, organized events...)

At first, it was a bit chaotic in Sendai. Since IAESTE did not offer airport pickup, I asked the university for support, and they helped me. I also had to arrange the accommodation by myself, and there was no orientation or organized event.

Meeting other foreign students

I met other IAESTE students and friends at the dormitory, and that was great. It made the stay much more enjoyable.

Sport and culture

I went running there every day, as there is a lot of greenery and many parks. The university also even offered some sports courses.

Food, local specialties

Japanese food is amazing — it’s both affordable and high quality. All around the city, you can find plenty of little restaurants where you can eat really well for a good price.

Other information

Possibilites to communicate with the Czech Republic

Normally via WhatsApp and messanger

Recommendations for students who will go to the same place

Normally via WhatsApp and messanger

What not to forget with you

Don’t forget to bring a power plug adapter, a waterproof jacket and shoes, and a hat. It’s also very useful to download offline maps and a Japanese translation app before going.

Benefits of the internship

A main benefit of an internship abroad is gaining international experience and a broader perspective on your field. It also helps you develop language skills, cultural understanding, and valuable professional connections.

Cooperation with IAESTE in the foreign country

I only received one message from IAESTE, and after the local center was closed, there was no further communication. This made the process a bit more difficult.

Overall experience with IAESTE

IAESTE from the Czech side was excellent and helped me with everything. They guided me through the application process, provided all the necessary documents, and explained what to expect. They were always available to answer my questions, which made the whole preparation much easier and less stressful.