Press Release
35th JAL Scholarship Program for Asia & Oceania Students
Tokyo, June 30, 2008: The JAL Foundation, the cultural arm of the Japan Airlines’ Group, will hold from June 29 - July 15, 2008 the 35th JAL Scholarship program in Japan for university undergraduates from countries and regions across Asia and Oceania.
In total, 24 university students from 11 countries and regions in Asia and Oceania will participate in the 17-day 2008 program. They will have the opportunity to discuss and debate with Japanese student counterparts during their stay this year’s theme, entitled “The world in 20 years - problems and solutions”.
Japan Airlines (JAL) launched the program in 1975 as an introduction to Japan for university students from the Asia & Oceania. Since 1990 the JAL Foundation has organized the event, which has evolved in scope over the years.
The objective of the program is to help develop better international relations in Asia and Oceania. Through the program, participants can gain a better understanding of Japan, as well as each other’s countries and cultures.
Including this year’s participants, a total of 1,356 students will have participated in the program since it started in 1975.
The 24 participants this year include four students from China including Hong Kong, two each from Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Students are selected locally by means of an essay contest, followed by an interview. The program includes roundtrip international airfares on Japan Airlines, tuition, board and lodging and transportation within Japan.
The 17-day 2008 program has several elements.
Seminar for Globally Minded Citizens, Tokyo - Mr. Yasushi Akashi, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Dr. Toshinobu Machida, chief of Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies Office for Atmospheric and Oceanic Monitoring together with other leading figures will provide the program students with a comprehensive introduction to Japan’s culture, economy, environmental issues and society through a series of stimulating lectures.
Field trip to Tochigi Prefecture - Conducted in partnership with the East Japan Railway Culture Foundation, the participants will go on a field trip to Tochigi Prefecture including the popular sightseeing destination of Nikko to learn about Japanese culture.
Student sessions -Students will hold discussions with Japanese students on the theme of the 2008 program.
Home stays (Tokyo area) - Always a popular feature of this program, home stays with Japanese families will give participating students a first hand experience of family life in contemporary Japan.
Asia Forum in Ishikawa Prefecture - A 3-day forum including lectures will be held in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture on the Japan Sea coast. The program participants will join local Japanese students in discussing the 2008 program theme and will present their findings.
For information about JAL’s main social programs, please visit http://www.jal.com/en/society/
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JAL Scholarship Program 2008.pdf