Applications are now open to young South Africans to study towards a post-graduate degree in Japan. Participants will be accepted in any field of study. However, given the developmental needs of the continent, a special focus has been placed on engineering, agriculture, economics and business administration. The programme is open to all government officials as well as those working in the private sector and academics that hold a relevant bachelor's degree and are between the ages of 22 and 39. The deadline for applications for the third batch of the programme closes at the end of October 2015.
"Building emerging economies and enhancing infrastructure development and industrialisation can only be unlocked through education and human resource development," says the Japanese Ambassador to South Africa, Shigeyuki Hiroki.
The scholarship programme also enables successful applicants to intern at a Japanese company for six months upon completion of the two-year course. Thus far, 500 young Africans, including 49 South Africans, have been placed at various Japanese universities of their choice.
"I am of the firm belief that socio-economic development and growth are not achievable without education. I believe education upholds the values, interests and cultures of communities and is the foundation of nation-building.
"The Japanese government realises that there is a need in Africa to turn its commodity-based economies into multifaceted, industrialised economies. Moreover, as Japanese enterprises are showing a strong recognition of and interest in a prosperous Africa, we feel it necessary to boost its human resource development on its path to sustainable economic prosperity."
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), one of the government's organisations, runs the ABE Initiative. South Africa is one of nine countries in which JICA has offices and from where necessary information and support will be provided.
"Young graduates armed with the necessary skills, particularly in countries like South Africa which is going through a massive infrastructure build programme, must be at the epicentre of its industrialisation programme," concludes Hiroki.
The Government of Japan is keen on the contribution to human resource development, job creation and skill transfer in South Africa and it hopes the ABE initiative will help to address these challenges in this country and also generate young and ambitious South African leaders who will play big roles in strengthening the bilateral relationship between Japan and South Africa.
For more information, go to www.jica.go.jp/southafrica/english/office/others/abe.html.
