Study in Japan Weeks 2022 in Myanmar was held online
As a part of Study in Japan Global Network Project in ASEAN, Okayama University hosted the “Study in Japan Weeks 2022 in Myanmar”, an online fair for Myanmar people who wish to study in Japan and their supervisors in Myanmar, from 8th August to 9th September 2022. It has been about 2 years since the last fair for Myanmar was held on such a large scale. The fair was organized by the Embassy of Japan in Myanmar, Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA), and Okayama University, with the cooperation of Myanmar-Japan Platform for Human Resource Development (MJPF). The purpose of the fair was to promote Study in Japan from Myanmar and to support the whole process from an entrance to university to employment by providing the relevant information on Study in Japan, university admission, scholarships, job hunting and employment in Japan. The fair provided the following as the main contents: 1) Study in Japan information on the special website, 2) online general information seminars on Study in Japan and universities by organizers and participating universities, 3) online group consultations by participating universities. Throughout the fair, we could provide information on studying and working in Japan to 2,108 participants of this fair. On the special website, IUCHI Foundation, in addition to MAJA as an organizer and MJPF as a cooperator, contributed to providing promotional materials and videos to study and work in Japan. Besides, information on the 15 participating universities from Japan was also made available and accessible on the website. At the beginning of the online general information seminar, H. E. MARUYAMA Ichiro, Ambassador of the Embassy of Japan in Myanmar, Dr. Myo Khin, President of MAJA, and Prof. SUZUKI Takayoshi, Vice President for International Affairs of Okayama University gave opening remarks and expressed their pleasure to be able to hold the fair after an interval of 2 years. Then, 11 universities, including Okayama University, introduced respective universities, and MAJA and Okayama University Japan Educational Information Center (OJEIC) provided basic information on studying in Japan and scholarships. In total, 1,037 Myanmar people participated in the seminar. In the group consultations, 14 universities including Okayama University, and the Embassy of Japan in Myanmar, MAJA hold sessions. A total of 1,474 Myanmar participants received explanations of each institution and had the opportunity to directly ask questions to professors and current international students from Myanmar. At the Okayama University’s session, Associate Professor INAMORI Takao from Institute of Global Human Resource Development introduced the university, and 3 Myanmar students currently studying at Okayama University gave presentations on their study in Japan experiences in Okayama, followed by a lively Q&A session. We, Study in Japan Global Network Project in ASEAN, continue to provide relevant information on Study in Japan for Myanmar people who wish to study in Japan through our fairs, seminars and other activities. ●Outline of the Fair 1.Fair Title: Study in Japan Weeks 2022 in Myanmar 2.Date: Monday 8th August to Friday 9th September 2022 3.Website: http://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/user/myanmar/prepare2022.html 4.Hosts: Okayama University, Embassy of Japan in Myanmar, Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA) 5.Cooperator: Myanmar-Japan Platform for Human Resource Development ●History of Study in Japan Fair in Myanmar and ASEAN The predecessor of Study in Japan Fair was “the Study in Japan Seminar” which was held 11 times from 2003 to 2013 by Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) in Myanmar. In 2014, the event was expanded and held as “Study in Japan Fair” for the first time to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and Japan. In the same year, Okayama University was appointed by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) - Japan to implement the “Coordinator for Study in Japan (Myanmar)”. The fair was co-organized in 2015 then it has been held as host since 2016. The name of the project was changed to “Study in Japan Global Network Project in ASEAN” in 2018. In 2020-2021, Okayama University hosted the fair for Cambodia and Laos for the first time, and 2 fairs for Myanmar. In addition, we have been holding the fairs online since last year. ●What is Study in Japan Global Network Project in ASEAN Okayama University was appointed to implement the “Study in Japan Global Network Project in ASEAN” which is funded by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) - Japan in 2019. Our aim is to increase the number of international students from ASEAN 1.5 times in 5 years. In the previous phase, Okayama University was commissioned by MEXT - Japan to implement the “Coordinator for Study in Japan (Myanmar)” in 2014, aiming to double the number of students from Myanmar over a 5-year period. As a result, we were able to triple the number of students in 4 years, achieving our goal one year ahead. In 2018, the name of the project was changed to “Study in Japan Global Network Project in ASEAN” and the target region was expanded to 10 ASEAN countries. Currently, we have oversea offices in Yangon, Mandalay, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane. From these 5 bases, we will work to recruit excellent international students from ASEAN for study in Japan.