The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA)

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA) was first introduced in 1993. It is funded by the Government of Japan, which is managed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and conducted in various universities in Japan. The objective is to contribute to institutional capacity building in economic policy of promoting sustainable growth and new economic development in Asia and the Pacific. By training future macroeconomic managers in these countries, which aims to Jispa enable them to formulate sound policies of economic and financial stability necessary for growth and sustainable development.

The Jispa highly motivated target government officials who can serve the future of macroeconomic policy-makers the ability and vision to contribute effectively to economic development of their country. Scholarships are based on
academic record and background of the candidates work in mathematics and statistics, English proficiency, and potential to contribute to macroeconomic and financial management and economic development of their country. The assessment also includes qualities such as commitment of candidates to public service, willingness to learn and openness to new ideas.

The program comprises two tracks: the partnership track and the open track. Because of the strong competition for scholarships, the JISPA is highly selective. In 2011-2012, a total of 35-40 new scholarships are available to candidates for the partnership track. There is no fixed limit on new scholarships for the open track, but generally only a small number of scholarships are awarded.

Study Subject:
Macroeconomic and Financial Management

Eligibility requirements
Under current program guidelines, candidates must be a national of one of the following countries:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao P.D.R., Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific Island Countries, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

Candidates should also currently work for employment from one of the following or related government agencies: central bank, ministry of economy, ministry of finance, ministry of planning/development, ministry of trade/commerce, tax administration, national statistics bureau, or financial regulatory agencies. The program will also consider officials working in other areas of government that have a significant impact on the formulation or implementation of macroeconomic policy.

Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent with at least 16 years of formal education. Names of schools and attending dates beginning from primary school must be listed in the application. In some cases, 15 years of formal education may be accepted if there is an official explanation (a country’s particular educational system or other exceptional circumstances).

Applicants must have an English language proficiency, which needs to be demonstrated as equivalent to or more than an official TOEFL score of 550, CBT213, or iBT79-80. If TOEFL scores are not available, then an overall IELTS score of at least 6.0 can be substituted.
Application Deadline: 10 December 2010

For further information on the application procedure, see this JISPA Brochure and contact address:

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia
IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
21st Floor Fukoku-Seimei Building
2-2-2 Uchisaiwai-cho
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011
Japan
Tel. +81 3 3597-6708
Fax +81 3 3597-6705
Email: jisais[at]imf.org
source : http://www.imf.org/external/oap/jispa.htm