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    As a major corporate organization with operations around the world, Sony encompasses a diverse array of individuals. To respond to the rapid globalization of the business environment, Sony recognizes the need for its Japanese employees to further transform their thinking, acquire globally competitive skills and expand their experience. Further, Sony expects the proportion of non-Japanese employees working in Japan to expand dramatically, and is undertaking various initiatives to make workplaces in Japan more internationalized.

    (Updated on August 9, 2012)

    Improving the global awareness of employees in Japan

    Sony Corporation has various programs that aim to provide employees with overseas experience as they prepare to work on the international stage. Such initiatives include study abroad programs that enable employees to learn about cutting-edge technology at overseas universities and research institutions and opportunities to study for an MBA, thereby expanding participants' level of knowledge as an engineer. Sony is currently expanding its study abroad programs, in terms of host institutions and range of objectives.


    To bolster English-language communication skills, Sony recently established an English training program catering to each level of the organization. Sony also provides diverse learning opportunities to enable employees to study languages based on their individual level and needs. Sony actively supports employees in their individual efforts for personal growth and learning. In fiscal year 2011, approximately 3,500 employees utilized these programs to improve their English-language capabilities. Sony has a growing number of language training programs and participants for languages apart from English, including Chinese.

    Similarly, at Group companies in Japan, employees participate in a variety of programs such as "Self-Improvement," "School Attendance Support" and "In-House TOEIC®."

    Making workplaces in Japan multilingual


    • An everyday scene at the workplace

    In anticipation of increasing interaction with global personnel, Sony Corporation has put measures in place to enable employees whose native language is not Japanese to conduct their work in English. Such measures include converting intranets and human resource and administrative applications to a multilingual format. In April 2012, conversion of the most frequently used applications was completed. Sony plans to continue promoting efforts to make other applications and the Company's intranets available in English. In that such initiatives aim to establish a more conducive environment for foreign employees in Japan, Sony is also working to further enhance career support for such employees, including setting up a specialist unit within the Human Resources Division to provide career support and other assistance.





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