ISLAMABAD: Japan Friday awarded MEXT Research Scholarships for masters anddoctorate degrees (2019-2021) to 10 Pakistani students in their respectivefields at prominent Japanese universities.
Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Kuninori Matsuda handed over traveldocuments to the students at annual reception, held here at his residencein honor of the members of MEXT Alumni Association of Pakistan (MAAP) andto bid farewell to the fresh scholarship grantees.
MEXT – Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology ofJapan – awards have been awarded to the students to help them pursue higherstudies.
The Japanese embassy, earlier, organized a pre-departure orientation forthe scholarship grantees who will shortly leave for Japan to undertaketheir studies.
Pakistani alumni of the Japanese universities were also invited at theorientation who shared their knowledge and experience of studying andliving in Japan with the young scholarship grantees.
The ambassador congratulated the fresh scholarship recipients and expressedthe hope that they would return to Pakistan to utilize the knowledge andexpertise gained in Japan and work for the progress and development of thecountry.
He hoped that the students would serve as “bridges of friendship” betweenthe two countries.
Ambassador Matsuda said the fresh scholar grantees might face somedifficulties initially because of the language barrier and the differenceof life style in Japan.
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However, he added, friendship and hospitality of the Japanese people wouldhelp them adjust there.
He also asked the fresh scholarship recipients to join hands with MAAP upontheir return to further promote strong ties between Japanese and Pakistanis.
The Japan’s MEXT Research Scholarships was launched in 1954. The firstPakistani student went to Japan on scholarship in 1963, and up till now alarge number of Pakistani students have successfully returned to home afterobtaining their PhD/Master’s degrees. They are actively working in theacademia, public and private sectors and have made significant contributionin the development of Pakistan in various fields as well as instrengthening friendly relationship between Japan and Pakistan.
Japan awards graduate and post graduate fully funded scholarships toPakistani students every year besides offering several short-termscholarships and training courses round the year.
The alumni members recalled the experience and said the visit to Japanprovided them rich wide-ranging experience that helped them a great deal intheir professional lives.
