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Laos

Application

Application for JDS 2021 is already closed.

1. Introduction

The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS) has been started in Lao P.D.R. since 1999. Up to the present, total of 454 Fellows have been sent to Japan.
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.

This is JDS – Outline of JDS Project

2. Applicant　Eligibility

Nationality	Citizens of Lao P.D.R.
Age	Between 22 and 39 as of April 1st, 2022 (Born on/after April 2nd, 1982 and born on/before April 1st, 2000)
Academic Background	Possess a Bachelor Degree from universities authorized by the Government of Lao P.D.R. or other countries.
Work Experience	Currently employed in the Target Organization with permanent status. (Officials who work in Vientiane Capital and Provincial level department can apply) Have at least 2 (two) years of work experience in the Target Organization, particularly in work relevant to the selected Component, at the time of application.
English Proficiency	Have a good command of both written and spoken English. TOEFL score of 500 or higher is preferable (not required). *It is highly recommended for the applicants of the University of Tsukuba to obtain TOEIC 520 (≒TOEFL 500) or higher.
Health Condition	In good mental and physical health
Ineligibility	A person who falls under the following category is NOT eligible to apply Has been awarded or scheduled to receive other scholarship. Has obtained a master’s degree in a foreign country under any kind of scholarship. Has studied abroad for more than 1 year under any scholarship and had returned to Lao P.D.R. within the past 2 years (Applicant must have stayed in Lao P.D.R. from 2019 through present.). Military personnel registered on the active list or person on alternative military service.
Others	Successful Candidates are required to submit a pledge on the conditions deemed necessary as scholarship participants under the JDS Project. JDS Fellows are obliged to return and work and serve in their organization at least 4 years (2 times of the studied period) in order to make a contribution to the development of Lao P.D.R. through their work in the Target Organizations, complying with the Act of Pledge required by the Ministry of Education and Sports.

3. Promotion Seminars

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

◆Online Explanatory Meeting:
•November 12, 2021(Fri) 16:30~17:30

*Please register in advance. Invitation zoom link will be sent to your email. Click here

◆Vientiane Capital:
•September 18, 2021(Sat) 9:00~11:30

*Meeting method (hotel or online) will be announced via our Facebook page.

◆Online Information Seminars by JICE and Accepting Universities:
•September – October, 2021

*Details will be announced via our Facebook page.

Please check our Facebook page for the latest information!

4. Application Deadline

Deadline for Application: ~~November 5 (Fri), 2021~~
→ Practically extended to November 26 (Fri), 2021

Application Deadline is extended for
CP 1-1 Enhancement of Public Administration and Improvement of Legal System (International University of Japan (IUJ) / Kyushu University)
CP 2-1 Improvement of Economic Infrastructure (Hiroshima University)
CP 3-1 Agriculture and Rural Development (Kyushu University)
CP 4 Improvement of Educational Policy (Hiroshima University)
CP 5 Improvement of Health Policy (Nagasaki University)

Application for other CP was closed.

Submit all the documents to the JICE JDS Project Office.
*Application documents will not be returned for any reason. Late submission and incomplete application documents shall NOT be accepted.

5. Selection Process (Tentative)

Schedule	Steps	Description
Sep 1 – Nov 5, 2021	Application	Closing Date: ~~November 5 (Fri), 2021~~ →Partially extended to November 26 (Fri), 2021 To the JICE JDS Project Office

Dec.3, 2021	Academic aptitude test	TOEFL-ITP/TOEIC and Math tests. The test results will be reviewed by the universities in later selection stages *Preparatory Training for English and Math will be conducted for all applicants prior to the test day.

Dec 13 – Jan 5, 2022	1st Selection	Document Screening: Application Documents and research plan will be examined by the Japanese universities.

Jan 17– Jan 22	Health Checkup	The health checkup will be arranged at a hospital in Vientiane. *Applicants from provinces will take health checkup during 2nd selection.

Late Jan – Early Feb	2nd Selection	Technical Interview: Faculty members of the Japanese Universities will conduct their interview exams.

Late of Feb	3rd Selection	Comprehensive Interview: The Operating Committee members will conduct their interview exams.

Early March	Approval by the OC	Successful candidates will be approved and notified

Mar – Apr	Application Procedure	JICE will support application for each university
May – Aug	Orientations	Provided by JICA and JICE (Including Academic English Training)
Aug	Departure for Japan	JICE will arrange air-ticket, visa, and also support after the arrival in Japan

<Important Notice>

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.

6. Download of Application Guideline and Application Documents

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

A. Application Guideline
B. Application Documents

<Note> Password is required to download the documents. If you don’t have the password, click the link below the log-in box. A password request form will appear, fill out necessary information, and click “Submit”. JICE JDS office will send the password to you by e-mail.

7. 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.

8. Supportive videos for the application

How to write a research plan [27 min]

Tips for the selection [20 min]

9. English & Math Test

Every qualified applicant will be required to take English proficiency test (TOEFL-ITP/ TOEIC*) as well as math test in Vientiane on ~~November 27 (Sat), 2021~~ →Changed to December 3 (Fri), 2021

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 http://www.ets.org/toefl_itp/content/sample_questions/
TOEIC consists of 2 parts with “Listening (100 questions)” for 45 minutes, and “Writing (100 questions)” for 75 minutes.
▶Sample questions from the link https://www.ets.org/s/toeic/pdf/toeic-listening-reading-sample-test-updated.pdf
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.
※ Highly recommend you to study past test in advance!

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 (TOEFL score of 500 or higher) and numeracy skills. Please be well prepared for the exams.

*Applicants for Nagasaki University and University of Tsukuba will take TOEIC instead of TOEFL-ITP.
* Applicants for Kyushu Univ. (only GS of Law), Ritsumeikan Univ. and Nagasaki Univ. are exempted from the Math test.

10. Preparatory Training for English and Math test

Preparatory training for English and Math will be provided to all applicants before the test

English Training: November 22nd - 26th, 3 hours per day (tentative)

Practice the format and question types for TOEFL/ TOEIC tests
Practice time management and analysis patterns for correct answers

Math Tutoring: November 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th 15:00-18:00 (tentative)

Review basic math and practice worksheet
Solve past exam