1.

Introduction

We would like to accept as many foreign students as possible from foreign countries. In order to deepen the mutual understanding between Japan and Myanmar, and also to have more Myanmar people to understand Japan, we wish to have as many Myanmar people to study in Japan. However, we hear that many of them do not know where to acquire information regarding study in Japan. Therefore, we would like to provide you with information related to studying in Japan such as various scholarships, entrance examination and application procedure. For more detailed information, please refer to the following contact points that will provide you with more information about studying in Japan.
2. Before going to Japan to study

When considering studying in Japan, it is necessary to think thoroughly what to study, and how long you intend to study. Please form a study plan in Japan by referring to the following information, visualize your own future image, decide what kind of job you would like to take up for the future, and keep to your goal from now on. (1) Purpose of study in Japan Purposes of studying in Japan can roughly be divided into the following; Linguistic Study To learn Japanese language at a Japanese language school or a university aimed at Japanese language acquisition. (From summer course up to university entrance preparation courses. Duration varies from one month up to two years.) To pursue an academic degree, such as university graduate, master or doctor degree, or to gain technical knowledge and skill. Regular course of graduate school and university (4 - 6 years) Junior college (usually 2 years), specialty, or vocational school, etc. (1 year for college/faculty, and for the specialized courses, it will take several years)

Long-term Study

(2) Financing your study in Japan It is necessary to prepare appropriate funding to cover tuition and living expenses when considering to study in Japan. There are various ways and means of funding as follows. Japanese Government Scholarship The Government of Japan (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) offers scholarships to foreign students who wish to study in Japan. For detail information, please see the Home Page of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Undergraduate Student (1 year of Japanese language training, 4 years at a university. In cases of medicine, dentistry or veterinary, the length of study is 6 years) Research Student (the length of study is 2 years including a half year of Japanese Language training. Entrance into the regular Master degree course or Doctoral course is also possible after examination.) Special Training College Student (After one year of Japanese language training, 3 years of study in the specialize field) Technical College Student (After one year Japanese language training, 4 years of study in the technical field. In case of marine engineering, the length is for 4.5 years.) Japanese Studies Student (The length of study is 1 year. It is available for undergraduate Japanese language or Japanese studies students at the 3 rd or 4 th year.) AYF (Japanese language training at the Kansai Japan Foundation JapaneseLearning Institute for 7 months. Afterwards, study as a Research Student Japan for 2 years as a Research Student.* * The new program is starting from August 2006. Applications are accepted at the Embassy of Japan from the 8th of August till the 30th of September, 2005. For more information, please call the Cuture and Information Section of the Embassy) Private Scholarships/Self-Financed Students A student finances a whole expense by him/herself or tries to obtain a scholarship from Japanese private institutions. The Japanese government, local self-governing body, and private scholarship organization are providing scholarships/aid for foreign students in various ways. There are several organizations supporting students from Myanmar. So, please refer to contact points shown in this HP.

(3) Differences between the Education System of Japan and Myanmar For those who consider studying at a university or graduate school in Japan, firstly, you need to find out whether you are qualified for admission to the university in Japan. Since there are some differences in the education system between Japan and Myanmar, you have to pay full attention to your academic background and your qualification. In order to be admitted to university in Japan, you must have at least 12 years of basic education, or to have a University Entrance Qualification Examination or pass other tests equivalent to e.g., International Baccalaureate. In Japan, the elementary school is for six years, and it is from 6 years old. After the elementary school, there is a compulsory education of three years junior high school. A non-compulsory high school education lasts three years. After receiving a total 12 years of education, you can matriculate into a university. However, education system of Myanmar is different from that of Japan. Since only 11 years of education is completed when you graduate from a Myanmar high school, it is still under the 12 years requirement for admission into Japanese universities. Therefore, those who wish to enter a Japanese university, or already being enrolled in a university in Myanmar or in another country, it is necessary to finish the preparatory course for one or two years (University Entrance Preparatory Course) in Japan in order to reach the requirements for admission. (4) Student Life in Japan The entrance examination to the Japanese schools/universities and the living environment are in many cases as follows. Entrance Examination In order to enter to a Japanese school/university, it is necessary to take an entrance examination. There are written examination, oral examination, documents screening etc. As for subjects of the examination, they are Japanese, English, mathematics, science, etc. But they differ from school to school; also required subjects depend on your specialization. Please check with the examination section of the school where you wish to study. Although an entrance examination is usually to be taken in Japan, today,

many universities are using the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) (please go to clause ) instead of their own examinations in Japan. Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) "The Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) started in 2004 for Myanmar students as an examination for those who wish to study in Japan. The subjects are Japanese as a Foreign Language, Science, Mathematics, and Japan and the World. By taking EJU, those who wish to take the university entrance examination can do it without having to go to Japan. Today, there are more than 50 public and private universities which use this system. The list of universities using EJU and other detailed information can be found at the home page of Japan Student Services Association (JASSO). The next examination in 2005 will be held in Yangon on Sunday, 13 November. Those who wish to apply EJU should contact MAJA directly, which is the organization conducting EJU in Myanmar. Residence Although there are comparatively cheap accommodations available such as General Students Dormitories and International Students Dormitories, they are often fully occupied. Compared with a student dormitory, a house rent of a private apartment or condominium is usually very costly. It is recommended that you consult with your university or JASSO. Part-time Job After obtaining prior permission from a school/university and the immigration office, a foreign student can take up a part-time job within a fixed amount of time in order to cover his/her living expenses. Although your school can provide you with information on some part-time job, it is not easy to manage both your study and part-time job. It is also difficult to cover the living expenses only from a part-time job. So, before studying abroad, it is important to prepare your living funds without sacrificing your study that is your original purpose. (5) How to gather information on Study in Japan

There are over 700 national, public, and private universities in Japan. They offer many subjects to choose from, such as Japanese, Japanese culture, natural science, law, economy, trade, commerce and so on. Moreover, besides Japanese government scholarships, a large number of private institutions or local governments also support foreign students with various scholarship programs. It is also important to get to know the living environment in Japan besides information on the university or scholarship. The Ryugaku (=Study Abroad) adviser consultation meeting for prospective students is held in the Embassy of Japan. You can consult with an advisor about any academic matters from selection of university, scholarship, etc or private concerns related to Study in Japan. In addition, information on study in Japan and scholarships are available for you in the Embassy reference room. The Japan Educational Mini Fair can also give you the newest information on Study in Japan. It is held in co-operation with JASSO, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and MAJA. It has been held since 2004. The next Mini Fair will be held in Yangon in autumn 2005.
[Embassy Ryugaku Advisor System]

Those who are considering to study in Japan often wonder what the requirements for admission are, how to take an entrance examination, and how life in Japan is like etc. For these reasons, the Ryugaku advisor consultation is held twice a month in the Japanese Embassy by Myanmar. (The Ryugaku advisors have previously studied in Japan). Consultation is conducted in your native Myanmar language. You can receive various advises on a wide range of agendas such as how to prepare for your study in Japan, student life in general, how to select a school, how to find or apply for a scholarship, or how to take an examination, etc. (The consultation is FREE OF CHARGE ) Please refer to the event guide for the detailed schedule for the next consultation session.
[Material available in the Embassy Reference Room]

In the Reference Room of the Japanese Embassy, guidebooks on Japanese universities, graduate schools, vocational schools, Japanese language schools, scholarship guides and other helpful information are available for those who wish to study in Japan. In addition, general information on Japan, magazine, etc. are available for your reference within the reference room. However, those who wish to use the reference room must inform your purpose of visit beforehand at the gate of the Embassy.
[What you can find in the Reference Room; for example...]

University Entrance Guide for Foreign Students Graduate School Entrance Guide for Foreign Students Special Training School Guide for Foreign Students Japanese Language Institutions in Japan Student Guide to Japan Scholarships for International Students in Japan Questions of EJU (The Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) from previous years Japanese Language Proficiency Test Questions and Answers (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4) Boarding/Lodgings Guide for Foreign Students Japanese Yellow Pages Please visit us. There are a large number of useful materials such as individual university pamphlets, dictionaries, etc.
3. Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA)

In 2001, Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA) was established in Myanmar. Now, more than 300 former students have become members. Myanmar citizens who have studied in Japan may apply for a membership. MAJA is cooperating with the Japanese Embassy, universities within Myanmar, etc. It is also conducting EJU (in cooperation with JASSO) and consultation on Study in Japan for those who wish to study in Japan. For further questions about MAJA, or membership inquiry on MAJA, please contact MAJA directly. Address Room 707 Pearl Condominium, Building C, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Yangon

Phone number E-mail

+95-1-534348 maja@mptmail.net.mm

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With Fulbright Grant, Native New Yorker Will Study Carnivores in Mongolia
by Sue Angell | Cover photo by Eva Green
May 24, 2006

When New York City native Daniel Jackson 06 volunteered to spend winter term in southwest Montana trapping, tagging, and following wolverines, he had no idea that the experience would change the course of his college career. But it did. The former philosophy major switched gears and began studying biology. Now, with the help of a Fulbright grant, Jackson will spend a year in Mongolia studying the corsac fox and snow leopard, two carnivores that are in danger of becoming extinct. Mongolia is one of the last wild places on earth, says Jackson. But since its release from Soviet control in the early 90s, Mongolias natural resources have been under global scrutiny. Conservationists are fighting to protect both the land and the animals that inhabit it from development. Mongolias mineral reserves include copper, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, tungsten, and gold. Once his plane lands, Jackson will start his research at the Mongolia Carnivore Projects (MCP) headquarters in the Ikh Nartiin Chuluun Nature Reserve. The reserve is located in the province of Dorngov on the border of the Gobi Desert. There, Jackson will study meso-carnivores, or mid-sized carnivores, and their surrounding

Photo courtesy of Daniel Jackson. Daniel Jackson '06 shown holding a wolverine. Jackson spent winter term 2004 in Montana, tagging and tracking animals. His work in Mongolia will involve studying the corsac fox and snow leopard and developing workable wildlife

habitat to see if systems other than government protection can be put into place as conservation measures. As long as the animals stay inside the nature preserve, they are protected, Jackson says. But once they go outside the preserves boundaries, they are subject to substantial hunting pressure. My ultimate goal is to help the MCP set up a community-based protection program that provides hunters with incentive not to kill these carnivores, effectively bridging protected areas with carnivore friendly corridors. According to Jackson, protecting the animals also means protecting the environment. Carnivores are predators that preserve the biodiversity of a region by way of top-down processes that keep the herbivore population under control. In addition, since carnivores require huge home ranges, large tracts of land must be set aside as nature preserves, effectively protecting the land from industrial development. Daniels proposal addresses a multidimensional animal conservation issue that is at best vexing, says Professor of Biology Yolanda Cruz, who sponsored Jacksons senior honors project. Daniels genuine interest in wildlife biology is patently clear in his Fulbright proposal, as is his awareness of the complex nature of wildlife management. The project he describes capitalizes on his intellectual strengths and applies his resourcefulness and imagination toward finding solutions for this problem. After spending six months in Dorngov, Jackson will travel to Western Mongolia to study snow leopards with members of the International Snow Leopard Trust. Snow leopards are high on the international list of endangered species, so Jackson will conduct telemetry-based habitat-use studies similar to the ones he conducted at the Ikh Nartiin Chuluun Nature Reserve. From there, he plans to spend at least two months in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, where he will interview government officials and study how current conservation policy is made. Jackson also hopes to survey people who live alongside these predators to gain an understanding of their reaction to governmental protection . For me, carnivores are a charismatic symbol of the natural world, Jackson says. I hope that my research will culminate in recommendations through the MCP that will preserve the habitats of these animals for years to come. An international educational program sponsored by the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Program is designed to increase the mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those from other countries. The program has provided more than 250,000 participants the opportunity to study and teach in other countries,

conservation measures for the nearly extinct carnivores.

exchange ideas, and develop joint solutions to shared concerns. Related link: Mongolia Carnivore Project