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Application

Table of Contents

Introduction
Applicant Eligibility
Selection Procedures
Download of AG and AD
Research Plan
Supportive videos the application
English & Math Exam

1. Introduction

The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS) has been started in the Philippines since 2002. Up to the year 2021, total of 419 Fellows have been sent to Japan (1st to 20th batch fellows).
JDS is now inviting potential applicants who understand its aims and are interested in 2-year master degree program at Japanese accepting universities for the academic year 2022- 2023 The program will be instructed in English.
The number of dispatches is 20 per year.

2. Applicant Eligibility

Nationality	Citizens of the Republic of the Philippines
Age	Between 22 and 39 as of April 1st, 2023 (Born on/after April 2nd, 1983 and born on/before April 1st, 2001)
Occupation	Must be an employee in the Philippine Governments and not a member of the military
Work Experience	Currently employed in the Philippine Government Have permanent status Have at least 2 (two) years of work experience, particularly in work relevant to the selected Component, at the time of application
Performance Rating	Have a performance rating of at least 'Very Satisfactory' from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 in the organization
Academic Background	Possess a Bachelor Degree relevant to the target fields English Proficiency: TOEFL PBT 550/ iBT 79-80 or IELTS 6.5 or higher 16 years of formal education is required (in principle), however, relevant academic/research career or working experience can be considered as the alternative to meet the requirement.
Degree	Have not been awarded any other foreign scholarships for obtaining a master's degree
Responsibilities of JDS Fellow	When selected as a final successful candidate, he/she is required: To sign and submit the pledge to follow the conditions deemed necessary as a JDS Fellow. (If the Fellow violates any articles of the pledge, the scholarship may be cancelled). To submit a copy of Scholarship Service Contract (referred to the Executive Order 161) to the JDS Operating Committee for record/monitoring purpose To attend the pre-departure orientation in Manila (about 2 weeks in July-August 2023) To fully participate in briefings/orientations in Japan (August-September 2023) To contribute to the socio-economic development of the Philippines with the acquired knowledge upon return to the Philippines To follow the JDS rules and regulations To be in a good condition physically and mentally during the stay in Japan as an ODA scholar. If there is a drastic change in a Fellow's health condition before and during his/her stay in Japan, or/and if the accepting university considers his/her condition is not fit for the pursuit of academic goals, the scholarship is subject to cancellation, based on the decision/guidance of the university and the JDS Operating Committee of the Philippines.

3. Selection Procedures

1) Promotion Seminars

Promotion Seminars are scheduled to provide more detailed information on JDS Project as follows.

Online University Information Session	Time	University	Remarks
	15:00 ~ 16:00 (PH Time) February 9, (Thu) 2023	Meiji University Graduate School of Governance Studies	Registration HERE
	16:00 ~ 17:00 (PH Time) February 9, (Thu) 2023	Hitotsubashi University School of International and Public Policy	Registration HERE
	15:00 ~ 16:00 (PH Time) February 10, (Fri) 2023	International University of Japan Graduate School of International Management (GSIM)	Registration HERE
	16:00 ~ 17:00 (PH Time) February 10, (Fri) 2023	International University of Japan Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR)	Registration HERE
	14:00 ~ 15:30 (PH Time) February 17, (Fri) 2023	Nagoya University Graduate School of Environmental Studies & Yokohama National University Graduate School of Urban Innovation	Registration HERE *The sessions by the current fellows in Japan
	16:00 ~ 17:00 (PH Time) February 17, (Fri) 2023	Kobe University Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies

*NEW*
Open Zoom Q&A

February 20 (Mon), 21 (Tue), 22 (Wed), 23 (Thu), 27 (Mon)
10am to 11am & 2pm to 3pm of each day

Feel free to join the zoom meeting. It is open Q&A session for all and you can ask any question related to JDS application.

Join ZOOM Meeting
HERE

Meeting ID: 985 4794 8587
Passcode: 311427

In person seminar: Sep 16, from 3:00 pm at Druk Hotel
Advance registration is required for attendance:
https://forms.office.com/r/vYX9HNLAyu

Online Seminars:
Online Promotion Seminars are scheduled to provide more detailed information on JDS Project and how to prepare application documents for prospective applicants as follows:

	Data	Time
Master	Sep 22, 29	3:00 pm

Scan to register

Please check JDS Bhutan FB for further information.
Registration is required and you could scan to register from QR code.

→ Once you registered, invitation zoom link will be sent to your email address.

STEP 1

Application to RCSC routed through Parent Agency

By Nov 10, 2022

〇

Shortlist Announcement by RCSC

Nov 16, 2022

STEP 2

Online JDS Application

Nov 16-Dec 12, 2022

Late submission and incomplete application documents shall NOT be accepted.
Those who shortlisted by RCSC only can apply for JDS application.

2) Application Deadline

Deadline for Application: ~~February 27th (Mon), 2023~~

⇒　Extended to March 2 (Thu), 2023

Application documents will not be returned for any reason. Late submission and incomplete application documents shall NO

Online Application System will be automatically closed on March 3 (Fri), and not be able to access anymore. Therefore, please complete your submission of application by March 2. If you CANNOT submit any of required document by March 2, please make a "Reason Letter" to explain WHY you cannot submit by deadline and WHEN you expect to submit. You can upload the "Reason Letter" in the required document section and it will be accepted tentatively.

The submission of the required documents is acceptable until March 9 (Thu), 2023. If the missing document cannot be submitted before March 9, the applicant would not proceed to the selection.

3) Tentative Schedule

Schedule	Steps	Description
Until Feb. 27, 2023	Application	Closing Date: March 2 (Thu), 2023 To the department in charge of JDS Project at each Philippine Government Further details → P7 "Application Documents"
February 25 (Sat) 2023	Academic Aptitude Test	February 24 (Fri) PM for Provincial Applicants February 25 (Sat) for Metro Manila Applicants Venue: Valero Grand Suites Makati TOEFL-ITP and Math tests. The test results will be reviewed by the universities in later selection stages (Test fees are covered by JDS).
Late Feb ~ March, 2023	Health Checkup	Provincial Applicants: February 25 (Sat), 8am to 12noon *INFO UPDATED Manila Applicants: February 27 (Mon) to March 3 (Fri), 2023 The health checkup will be arranged at a designated hospital in Manila Doctor's Hospital. (Check-up fees are covered by JDS)
Mid. of March, 2023~	1st Selection	Document Screening: Application Documents and research plan will be examined by the Japanese universities.
Mid to End of March, 2023	2nd Selection	Technical Interview: Faculty members of the Japanese Universities will conduct their interview exams.
Mid to End of April, 2023	3rd Selection	Comprehensive Interview: The Operating Committee members will conduct their interview exams.
End of Apr to Early May, 2023	Approval by the OC	Successful candidates will be approved and notified.
April - May, 2023	Application Procedure	JICE will support candidates' application for each university.
July - Aug, 2023	Orientations Japanese Training	Provided by NEDA, CSC, DFA, JICA and JICE.
Aug, 2023	Departure for Japan	JICE will arrange air-ticket, visa, and also support JDS Fellows after the arrival in Japan.

All the selection costs will be covered by JDS Project.
Limited transportation and accommodation allowance will be provided to candidates coming from provincial areas for the selections.
Application Documents will not be returned (Please keep a copy of your documents)
Application Documents with false statements or plagiarism will be immediately disqualified
A result of each selection will be announced only to successful candidates by JICE JDS Project Office.
In principle, reasons of the selection-results will not be disclosed.

4. Download of Application Guideline and Application Documents

Please refer to the Application Guideline and submit a full set of application documents by the deadline.

Download

Application Guideline
Application Documents

Submit your application through Online Application System.
For more details, refer to "Apply Now".

5. Research Plan

In the JDS selections, each candidate will be evaluated on her/his academic abilities enough to pursue the master program in Japan as well as the potential of the future contribution to the country. Thus, it is highly recommended to explain that the objective of your research plan be in connection with the development issues under applying Component, and to rationalize how the study will be addressed in accordance with the career path, corresponding to the current position and responsibility in the belonging organization. It is also recommended to study your applying university to make sure if the curriculums of the university and fields of specialization of faculty members are relevant to your research.
Remember that plagiarize from somebody's work or websites are strongly prohibited.
Please refer to 'Tips on Application and Selection (Reference)' and 'Guideline for Writing a Research Plan' in the Application Guideline for more information.

In the JDS selections, each candidate will be evaluated on her/his academic abilities enough to pursue the master program in Japan as well as the potential of the future contribution to the country. Thus, it is highly recommended to explain that the objective of your research plan be in connection with the development issues under applying Component, and to rationalize how the study will be addressed in accordance with the career path, corresponding to the current position and responsibility in the belonging organization.
It is also recommended to study your applying university to make sure if the curriculums of the university and fields of specialization of faculty members are relevant to your research.
Remember that plagiarize from somebody's work or websites are strongly prohibited.
Please refer to 'Tips on Application and Selection' and 'Guidelines for Writing a Research Plan' in the Application Guidelines(P6) for more information.

6. Supportive videos the application

How to write a research plan (27 min)

Tips for the selection (20 min)

7. English & Math Exam

Every qualified applicant will be required to take English proficiency test (ITP-TOEFL) as well as math test in Manila on February 24 (Fri) and 25 (Sat), 2023.

For Metro Manila Applicants:
Date: February 25 (Sat), 2023
Time: 9am to 12noon: English/TOFLE-ITP, 1pm to 2pm: Math Exam

For Provincial Applicants:
Date: February 24 (Fri), 2023
Time: 1:30pm to 4pm: English/TOFLE-ITP, 4:30pm to 5:30pm: Math Exam (there will be a short break)

Venue: Valero Grand Suites Makati (152 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City, Makati)

[IMPORTANT]　If you have valid English Certificate, you will be exempt for English Test, so please submit the copy of your certificate to JICE.

For those who apply to Yokohama National University, you need to take TOEFL IBT instead of TOEFL ITP, so your test schedule and the venue might be different. Please wait for the further announcement from JICE.

TOEFL consists of 3 parts with 'Listening Comprehension (50 questions)' for about 35 minutes, 'Structure and Written Expression (40 questions)' for 25 minutes, and 'Reading Comprehension (50 questions)' for 55 minutes.
- Sample questions from the link
- https://www.ets.org/toefl/itp/prepare.html
Math test of around 60 minutes consists of Arithmetic operations, Solving fractions, Equations, Inequality, Matrix, Basic quadratic functions, Basic operations of exponential and logarithmic functions, Basic Integral and Differentiation, etc.
- Past Math test sample can be also downloaded here.

The scores will be reviewed on the 1st selection by the accepting universities. Universities may require the applicants to have good command of English skill and numeracy skills. Please be well prepared for the exams.

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