The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), a network of 147 universities in 38 countries across the African continent won the bid from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to facilitate the Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Programme a capacity building project which was initiated in 2017. The programme aims to provide two-year scholarship awards to highly achieving African graduate students to enable them undergo post-graduate studies (i.e., a two-year Master’s degree Programme) in selected priority development areas on the continent and Japan. The JADS Programme will be implemented in several universities in Africa and Japan.
The Japanese Universities participating in the Programme include: The University of Tokyo, Sophia University, Kyoto University, Hiroshima University, Kyushu University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and Kogakuin University. The African universities to participate in the JADS Scholarship programme for 2022-23 are the RUFORUM member universities that have the courses being offered under the JADS focus areas and have the capacity to mentor other universities.
The programme further seeks to promote inter-university collaboration and university-industry partnerships between Japan and Africa. Upon completion of their studies, JADS scholars are expected to return to their home countries to apply and disseminate their newly acquired knowledge and skills in the public and private sectors, and contribute to national and continental socio-economic development. The list of selected programs, the application guidelines, and list of eligibility criteria is available on https://www.afdb.org/en/about-us/careers/japan-africa-dream-scholarship-jads-programme. The JADS Programme is open to applicants from AfDB member countries with relevant professional experience and a history of contributing to their countries’ development efforts. The eligible candidates are those applying to a graduate degree programme in include energy, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, and engineering and related disciplines. The scholarship programme provides tuition, a monthly stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance. Upon completion of their studies, the beneficiaries of the programme are expected to return home to serve their countries.
JADS is awarded to 35 years old or younger applicants who have gained admission to an approved Master’s degree course at a JADS partner university. Candidates should be; in good health; with a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the focus area; and have a superior academic record. Female applicants are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity.
The JADS Programme will add to the current RUFORUM engagements with AfDB, specifically through the implementation of Sharing Innovations and Experiences from Korea for Higher Education Transformation in Africa (SIKET) Project which supported by the Republic of Korea.
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