国際プロジェクト実習　【日本】
The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan
Nan Wang　[D3]
(Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Technology Management for Innovation)

　
　
This International Project experience has played a very important part in my GSDM curriculum. I was among the first group of students who took part in this scheme, and I admittedly faced a number of difficulties especially in preparing for the internship, and in exploring the availability of positions. I contacted various international organizations, universities and research institutes, and it took time to get responses, while a feeling of uncertainty was growing. I was really frustrated when I received some decline letters. However, I was greatly helped by the GSDM faculty members with their kind advice. Ultimately, I was able to obtain a position at the Institute of Energy Economics of Japan (IEEJ), possibly the best think tank in energy economics worldwide.
　
The internship provided me an excellent chance to communicate with very high quality researchers and opened the door to a broader research field. The institute provided me with access to the excellent work previous done by other researchers, which turned out to be a veritable goldmine for my own research. During the internship I worked very hard, and I found that your own efforts always pay off in the end. I also made several good friends with other students/interns. We exchanged ideas on research, and it turned out that such connections remained valuable even when the internship was over.
　
During my stint at IEEJ, I collaborated in the organisation of several conferences, such as a joint symposium with JX Energy on electricity deregulation, the “LNG Producer and Consumer Conference” by APERC, and several workshops with other research institutes. I was able to communicate directly with policy makers during the conference, a very effective way to advance one’s own policy recommendations rather than the sheer compiling of papers.
I presented my work at a famous international conference and published it in a top rate international journal. I owe this achievement to kind help from many researchers at IEEJ.
　
Finally, here is my message for fellow GSDM students: the International Project is a very good chance and a good training course. Looking for internship position is already like a training for job hunting. This will help you to adapt to the “real world”. And also, take your time when you prepare for your internship, and remain motivated at every step. It will certainly be a very valuable experience.