ADB - Japan Scholarship Program

	Table of Contents
p. 2 of 3 BACK | NEXT I. Introduction II. 1999 Program and Activities III. Summary and Conclusions

JSP Annual Report 1999

---

II. 1999 Program and Activities

A. Scholarship Budget

4. In 1999, the Government of Japan contributed $5.4 million to the ADB-JSP, a 4 percent increase from its $5.2 million contribution in 1998. A total of 260 scholarships were programmed as against 253 scholarships budgeted in 1998. The audited financial statements of the ADB-JSP as of 31 December 1999 are attached as Appendix 6.

B. Scholarships

5. In 1999, 122 scholarships were awarded to scholars from 21 member countries.² The scholars were mainly from Indonesia (17); Bangladesh and Myanmar (10 each); Kyrgyz Republic and Nepal (9 each); the People's Republic of China and Mongolia (8 each); Cambodia, Philippines, and Viet Nam (6 each); and Sri Lanka and Thailand (5 each). IUJ received the largest number of new scholars with 18, followed by AIT with 16; AIM with 15; EWC and UOS with 8 each; Saitama University (SU) Graduate School of Policy Science (Policy Science) with 7; NCDS and UOT (Civil Eng) with 6 each; and HKU, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), National University of Singapore (NUS) and SU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Civil Eng) with 5 each. The other 18 new scholars were distributed among the remaining 6 designated institutions.

6. Scholarships awarded to women increased from 10 (20 percent) in 1988 to 43 (35 percent) in 1999. About 95 percent of the scholars pursued master's degrees and the remaining 5 percent doctoral degrees. The distribution supports the main thrust of the ADB-JSP, which is to provide scholarships for master’s degree courses that take 1-2 years to complete. Of the 122 new scholars, 51 were enrolled in science and technology, 39 in economics, and 32 in business and management. The scholarships awarded and completed in 1999 by institution, gender, program, and field of study are summarized in Appendix 6.

7. In 1999, 105 scholarships were completed, including 1 graduate certificate in commerce, 91 master’s degree programs, and 13 doctoral programs. Twenty scholars graduated from AIM; 14 each from AIT and EWC; 8 from NCDS; 7 each from IUJ and UOT (Civil Eng); 6 from UOS; 5 each from LUMS and University of Auckland (UOA), 4 from NUS; 3 each from IRRI, HKU, Thammasat University (TU), and SU (Policy Science); and 1 each from SU (Civil Eng), University of Melbourne (UOM); and UOT (Intl Health). Of the graduates, 38 completed courses in science and technology, 35 in economics, and 32 in business and management. Thirty-three (or 31 percent) of the graduates were women (Appendix 6).

C. New Developments and Program Improvements

8. In 1999, efforts to publicize the ADB-JSP were stepped-up. Advertisement of the ADB-JSP were placed in newspapers and magazines in selected DMCs, particularly in the Central Asian republics,³ Bhutan, Cambodia, Maldives, Philippines, Viet Nam, and the South Pacific DMCs. The designated institutions advertise the ADB-JSP either separately or as part of their overall scholarship programs. The program brochure, a major source of information for potential candidates, was distributed widely in all the designated institutions and ADB’s regional and resident missions. The brochure and the ADB-JSP web page have been effective in attracting potential candidates to apply to the institution and helped diversify the geographic distribution of scholars.

9. During 1999, ADB continued to receive many visitors involved with or interested in the ADB-JSP. Visitors came from AIT, NCDS, Williams College in the United States, and University College London. Most of the visitors requested that the number of scholarships be increased, the fields of study be expanded, or that their institution be included in the Program. The focus of the ADB-JSP will continue to be on (i) supporting study at the master’s level, (ii) improving the nationality and gender distribution among scholars, and (iii) strictly applying the specified procedures in selecting candidates.

10. In December 1999, the ADB-JSP scholarship administrator hosted a gathering of students from the three Japanese ADB-JSP institutions at the Tokai Kouryu-kaikan in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, Japan. This was the first time that such a gathering was held outside of ADB’s Manila headquarters. The aim was to establish personal contact with the scholars and acquaint them with ADB operations. Forty-six scholars and 10 administrators of ADB-JSP attended. Three officers from the Ministry of Finance also attended and four staff from ADB’s Japanese Representative Office assisted. The ADB-JSP scholars expressed their appreciation for the financial assistance accorded to them and indirectly to their home countries, and for the opportunity to pursue higher education and interact with other nationalities. They gave assurances that after completing their studies, they will return to their home countries to help in their economic and social development. Both administrators and scholars suggested that similar meetings be organized regularly.

11. In December 1999, ADB-JSP staff visited the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), formerly the SU (Policy Science). SU (Policy Science) had proposed to the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture (MESSC) of the Japanese Government that the school be established as an independent postgraduate university. Noting its past performance and achievements, MESSC and the Ministry of Finance approved the SU (Policy Science’s) proposal, and GRIPS was established in October 1997 with the first students enrolled in April 2000. The scholars that were awarded ADB-JSP scholarships at SU (Policy Science) will be enrolled at GRIPS starting in October 2000. Although GRIPS is the continuation of SU (Policy Science), the memorandum of agreement between ADB and the institution must be amended. The revision is being prepared.

12. In 1996, the ADB designated two additional universities, UOM in Australia and TU in Thailand, to participate in the Program, bringing the total number of participating institutions to 16. To provide more opportunities to qualified candidates, the Government of Japan has agreed to include another Japanese university. Several universities were considered and evaluated, taking into account the suitability of the institution for selection under the Program in accordance with appropriate criteria. The selection of the 17th designated institution will be finalized in early 2000.⁴