A Collaborative Development of National Qualification Program for Foreign Engineers

Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd., headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo and led by CEO Kei Takeuchi, has announced a partnership with Hands Global Inc., based in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo and headed by President Yasunori Tokumura, to develop a national qualification acquisition program specifically designed for foreign engineers in the construction sector. This innovative program, titled "Marugoto National Qualification Pass Global," is set to commence trial operations for its employees this year. By gathering feedback from practical applications on site, the initiative aims to refine its curriculum further, aspiring to produce numerous successful candidates and eventually extend its offering into the broader market.

In recent years, the number of foreign workers in the construction industry has surpassed 180,000, highlighting a booming trend with a five-fold increase over the past eight years. Notably, the number of highly skilled professionals holding the long-term residence permit known as "Technology, Humanities, International Services (Tokutei Ginou)" has reached an unprecedented level. For these individuals, obtaining national qualifications such as construction management engineer licenses is essential for their career development.

According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, around 75% of foreign engineers express a strong desire to obtain qualifications. However, a significant challenge arises from the over 6,000 specialized terms featured in the examination, which presents a considerable barrier. Even those with advanced Japanese language proficiency often struggle to connect theoretical knowledge with practical implementation when relying solely on traditional text-based learning, which has been a longstanding issue.

The newly developed program addresses these challenges with unique learning functionalities. It allows users to study construction-related specialized vocabulary through visual aids, providing images alongside explanations and English translations. This combination enables an intuitive understanding of terms that might otherwise pose difficulties when dealing with text alone. Furthermore, the program includes practical exercises based on past exam questions, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.

Future plans entail the gradual rollout of this initiative via smartphone and PC applications, incorporating multilingual options to accommodate a wider audience.

Daito Trust is committed to addressing the industry's recruitment and retention challenges by simultaneously pursuing active foreign hiring—beginning with five employees from Uzbekistan in April 2025 and an additional three in 2026—while utilizing this program as a tool to nurture and solidify global talent across the sector.

For more information on Hands Global, which was established in April 2022, it specializes in supporting the recruitment of foreign personnel, offering various support services as a registered support organization, and providing professional education and retention support services. Their office is located on the 17th floor of the Sumitomo Realty Akihabara Building, 3-12-8 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. For inquiries related to the program development, you can contact Daito Trust's Career Design Department at 03-6718-9191.

Overall, the advent of the "Marugoto National Qualification Pass Global" program not only represents a significant step forward for foreign engineers in Japan but also showcases a proactive approach by the construction sector in fostering a diverse and skilled workforce to meet growing demands.