The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is inviting suitable candidates to apply for the SDGs Global Leadership Programme scholarships for 2022 academic year.
The SDGs Global Leader Programme aims to improve the capacities of mid-career public officials, academic researchers, and other people who are expected to contribute to the socioeconomic development of their respective countries.
The programme will provide participants with the opportunity to learn about Japanese development experiences as well as obtaining a Master’s degree/PhD in a Japanese university. This opportunity is exclusively for young to middle level public sector officials and academics.
Degree level
Master’s
PhD
Deadlines
31 October 2021.
Who can apply?
- Young or middle level government officials and academics who have an interest in contributing to policy formulation or implementation in public administration and economics in dealing with political and developmental issues;
- Citizens of South Africa;
- Must be between 22 and 39 years old (as of April 1st, 2022);
- Must have achieved a minimum average of 65% in academic transcripts;
- Must be proficient in English (university may require proof of proficiency);
- Must have prior work experience (6 months or more);
- Master’s in SDGs Global Leader programme applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree (B-Tech included) with honours or equivalent to NQF8 or above;
- PhD in SDGs Global Leader programme applicants must have a Master’s degree or equivalent to NQF9 or above;
- Must be in good health condition, both physically and mentally, to complete the programme;
- Must not receive or plan to receive a scholarship offered by other organizations, and
- Must attend additional activities on the weekends once or twice per year in unavoidable circumstances.
Note: Applicants from the private sector are NOT eligible.
Applicants are completely responsible for obtaining all necessary approvals from their employers.
Refer to the General Information document for comprehensive details on eligibility.
Fields of Study
Candidates studying in following key areas will be prioritised:
- Engineering;
- Science;
- Technology;
- Agriculture;
- Environment;
- Energy;
- Marine Science;
- Health;
- Mining;
- Rural Development;
- Public Policy, and
- Education.
MBA candidates will not be prioritised under the programme.
Duration of programme
The SDGs Global Leader Programme starts in September 2022 and includes 2-year Master’s programme or a 3-year PhD programme.
Participants who wish to participate in “Additional Programmes” are provided with opportunities such as the networking fair with Japanese companies, internship at Japanese companies/organizations and Japanese language seminar, etc.
Participants are required to return to South Africa upon completion of the programme.
What the scholarship offers
- Full tuition fee;
- Monthly allowance between JYP 143 000 – JYP 148 000 (approximately R19 000 – R20 000);
- Air fare for single return from Johannesburg to Tokyo, Japan;
- Orientation: basic Japanese language course and introductory course for Japanese life;
- Outfit allowance of JYP 106 000 (approximately R14 200);
- Moving/preparation allowance up to JYP 224 000 (approximately R30 200);
- Research support fees up to JYP 224 000 (approximately R48 500) on approval from JICA/accepted university.
The participants are not permitted to work while they are in Japan.
Participants should take care of all expenses and necessary procedures in Japan on their own. It is strongly recommended that families be invited only after six months upon arrival in Japan. JICA does not provide any support or additional financial assistance except issuing necessary documents for the process.
Participants will need to make financial provision for excluded expenses including:
(1) Passport fees (for re-issuance and extensions, etc.)
(2) Visa fees of a transit country and transportation expenses to obtain Visa
(3) Transportation expenses to obtain Japanese Visa
(4) Domestic travel expenses in the home country
(5) Departure tax
(6) Airport tax/airport facility charges outside of Japan, including third countries
(7) Customs duty
(8) Excess baggage charges
(9) Compensation for lost and/or damaged baggage
(10) “no show charge” to the transit airport hotel (non-refundable)
(11) Lost - ticket fee
(12) Accommodation fee for day-use hotel in return flight
(13) Transportation expenses other than official programs
(14) Telephone bill or mini-bar tab at accommodation
Application process
Application documents and University List for SDGs Global Leader Programme are available at the following GIGAPOD link, Log-in details - Guest ID : SDGS Password : t2GbUu_5
The documents have also been provided below under ‘documents and links’ for easy reference.
Email marked PDF files of application documents (Less than 10MB) must be submitted to the contact below by 31st October 2021 and the original typewritten applications must be submitted to JICA office as per the address below by 10th November 2021.
Eva Nderumaki (Ms)
Japan International Cooperation Agency
JICA South Africa Office
Lord Charles Office Block, Building B, 1st Floor
337 Brooklyn Street, Brooklyn, Pretoria 0181
Republic of South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)12 346 4493 E-mail:
No late applications will be accepted.
Applicants need to submit the following documents:
- Application form;
- Certified copy/copies of undergraduate/postgraduate degree certificate(s);
- Certified Academic transcript(s);
- A certified copy of valid passport with photo, valid National ID and birth certificate are acceptable if you do not have a passport;
- 2 ID photos (4 cm×3 cm) pasted on application form;
- Health certificate to be submitted after the 4th Selection.
Applicants must specify desired universities, graduate schools, courses, (and supervisors) from the University list.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed from 8 – 9 November 2021.
Contact
For further enquiries, please contact Ms. Eva Nderumaki at JICA South Africa Office
Documents and links
Note
Please note that this opportunity is not offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Applicants are required to undertake their own research into programmes and institutions and are responsible for ensuring that the qualifications will be recognised in South Africa. If there are any discrepancies in the details provided, the information given by the sponsor supersedes the details provided above. No additional financial support will be provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training.
