Japan Internationl Cooperation Agency (JICA) s Long-Term Training African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative)

Transcription

1 Japan Internationl Cooperation Agency (JICA) s Long-Term Training African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative) Master s Degree and Internship Program in Japan

2 What is ABE Initiative? The ABE initiative was introduced at the 5 th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) in 2013 as for supporting ongoing dynamic growth in the countries in the African continent with stronger publicprivate partnership. Tunisia start participating in this Initiative from the 2 nd batch (enrollment in Japanese universities in September 2015) whose selection process begins in August At this moment, Tunisia is also invited to participate in the 3 rd batch (enrollment in September 2016) and in the 4 th batch (enrollment in September 2017).

3 Image of ABE Initiative

4 Particularity of ABE Initiative The ABE initiative aims at strengthening the Human Resources in African countries as a future business partners with Japan. For achieving this objective, the following programs are arranged along with the Master s Program in the Universities in Japan: 1. OBSERVATION TOURS AT JAPANESE PRIVATE COMPANIES: At the time of arrival in Japan, JICA organizes several observation tours of Japanese private companies who are interested in the business with African countries and are cooperating with JICA for the successful implementation of ABE Initiative. The participants have an opportunity to observe how Japanese companies manage and execute their business in what kind of environment. 2. INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AT JAPANESE PRIVATE COMPANIES: During their stay in Japan, the participants have to join the Japanese private companies as internship from two weeks up to six months. The timing of internship can be selected during the vacation period of universities or after the graduation, depending upon their progress of study and/or availability of Japanese companies. 4

5 For Whom Exactly? 1. Person from Private Sector: Young individuals who are or will be involved in economic activities in the Tunisian private sector, maintaining and developing strong ties with Japanese enterprises, or trying to create the business relationship with Japanese companies. 2. Government Officials: Young government officials or civil servants who take in part in formulation and/or implementation of policies related to industry, business environment, infrastructure development, and human resource development especially in industrial sector. 3. Educators: Young lecturers or instructors in higher education and technical and vocational training centers who are in charge of training human resources for national economic development. 4. Young Researchers: Young researchers in higher education or research institutes who are engaging/ willing to engage in promoting the valorization of their scientific research activities for the industrial innovation.

6 Qualifications/ Requirements Nationality: Tunisian Age: 22 and 39 years old Education: Bachelor s degree (or equivalent to at least 16 years of academic background) Working /practical experiences: - For the government officials and educators, at least 6 months of working experiences at their current organizations. to obtain the permission for application and securing reinstatement from their current organizations. - For person from private sector and young researchers It is preferable that candidates have some practical experiences at the working places as interne or trainee. English language proficiency: All the program of ABE Initiative will be conducted in English. Thus, the competency in oral communication as well as in reading and in writing to complete the master s course is required. Clear understanding of the objective of ABE Initiative/ This program is for contributing to the economic and industrial development of Tunisia as well as to strengthen the linkage between Tunisia and Japan. Others: -Both physically and mentally fit for the program -Not receiving or planning to receive a scholarship offered by other foreign organizations -not serving in the military, weapon, and nucleus handling. 6

7 Fields of Study for Tunisian Candidates For Tunisia, the core fields of study for ABE Initiative are as below in accordance with priority area of bilateral cooperation: 1. Engineering: Especially those related to economic infrastructure 2. Agriculture: Including fisheries, biotechnologies, environmental sciences, natural resources 3. Economics/ Business Administration: Especially those related to business management, administration, policies for business environment 7

8 Duration of Program Research Students 6 months* Master s program 1 to 2 years Internship 6 months** Total period : 1 year in minimum up to 3 years in maximum *Upon the decision on the side of University ** 2 weeks up to 6 months at maximum after the Master s program. Participant takes his/her internship period during the academic vacation seasons if permitted. 8

9 Expenses to be covered Items Tuition Living Allowance Air Fee Outfit allowance Preparation Allowance Moving Allowance (lump-sum payment for rental contract) Books Interior Research Example of the 2 nd batch Frequency Each Semester Every Month Twice (arrival and return) Once Once Once Once a year Once a year 9

10 How to Prepare for the application? 1. Application period : August 1 to October 20, 2015, at 16h30 in JICA Tunisia office both by postal services or by direct submission. All the application forms arriving after this time and date cannot be accepted by any reasons. 2. Application Documents: Application Form Undergraduate Degree Graduation Certificate (and if applicable, Master s Degree Graduation Certificate) Academic Transcript for all the academic years during the undergraduate programme (if applicable, those during the Master s degree Program) Letter of Recommendation by your Government, Embassy of Japan, JETRO, JICA, or Japanese enterprises. Copy of ID with Photo (Passport is the most preferable) 8 ID photos (4cm x 3cm) 10

11 Important Reminder 1: How to select the universities? For the selection of university, go to as well as the internet site of university you selected. The link to universities database for ABE Initiative 11

12 Important Reminder 1 (continue): Choose the field of your study or write the keyword for search The list of universities. Please go to each link for the details. This is the very important step in order to select the universities who provides the course of your research theme. Some professors accept the inquiry via mail. Thus, we strongly recommend the potential applicants to click the link of univeisity to search for the detailed information. 12

13 Important Reminder 2: Try to fill in the application form by typing directly in word document. It is strongly recommended to avod writing by hand. Remember, professors should read a number of application forms from all the countries in Africa despite their tight schedulle. Accordingly, if it is very difficult to read, they might avod reading such an application form. A letter of recommendation is not an obligation. However, in terms of objective of ABE Initiative, an applicant with a letter of recommendation may be treated preferably. Try to give the information/explication as specific as possible. Especially, your research plan is one of the essential part of examinig your candidature to ABE Initiative. Application which lacks necessary document at the preli;inqry process of bqsic screening of the documents submitted may not be considered as the valid application. Therefore, an applicant who missed necessary documents at the time of application may be disqualified before the 1st selection. All the documents written in Fench/Arabic should be translated in English attached with notarized copies of the original document. The translated version should be certified as original by the authority. 13

14 Selection Procedure Basic Screening Checking the application documents 1st selection Written exam: English (TOEFL) and Mathelatics (see the example question available ) 2 nd selection Interview by Representatives of JICA Tunisia Office 3 rd selection Documents screening by Professors of Japanese Universities 4 th selection Interview by Professors of Japanese Universities via Web Conference System 14

15 During the selection process The application documents that miss the necessary documents may be disqualified at the basic screening. The translation cost for application documents (graduate certificate and transcripts) shall be in charge of each applicant. The reasons for disqualification on each selection procedure shall NOT BE DISCLOSED by any reason. The result for the each selection step will be delivered only to those who have successfully passed. The transportation costs for taking the 1 st, 2 nd and 4 th selections in Tunis be borne by the applicants. At the each selection step, the candidates who do not come to the designated time are not allowed to take a selection step (written exam, interviews), and thus, automatically disqualified by any reason. 15

16 Information for the 3rd batch Information and application forms are available in from August 1, Also, the information particular to the Tunisian candidates will be available in our website The application period: August 1 st to October 20 th 2015 (those documents arrive at JICA Tunisia Office by 16h30) In case that you have any inquiries for the preparation of application documents or the way to fill in the application form, contact JICA Tunisia Office or send JICA Tunisia Office : Telephone : (+216) , (+216) , Fax : (+216) ts-abe-mip@jica.go.jp Staffs in Charge: Mr. Karim CHABIR, Ms. Saori KONAN 16