Message from Alumni: Admissions -- Prospective Students

Admissions

Message from Alumni

Shen Hua

Program	Young Leaders Program (Class of 2002)
Country	China
Agency and Position	Assistant Director General, Bureau of Science and Technology Policy, Chinese Academy of Sciences

In October 2002, after fierce competition, I was fortunate to have been given an opportunity to study in the Young Leaders Program (YLP) at GRIPS. After completing the one-year program, I obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. The GRIPS experience has changed my whole life. I am very grateful to GRIPS for the opportunity to study in Japan.

GRIPS is an academic and educational institution that has traditional Japanese features and a strong international influence. The YLP is a program integrating the collectivism of oriental culture with the individualism of western culture. The program integrates theoretical study, case analysis, and practical issues. Over the years, it has produced many young leaders from countries all over the world.

During the one-year study, the Japanese nation’s tradition of refinement, seriousness, strong sense of responsibility, and practice-oriented learning attitude impressed me deeply. Living in Japan was easy and comfortable for me because Japanese people are warm-hearted and friendly. The YLP provided me with an opportunity to interact with people from Japan and other countries for cultural exchange and friendship.

The marvelous teaching facilities and the perfect study atmosphere at GRIPS enabled me to concentrate on my studies. Under the care and guidance of my professors, I was able to increase my knowledge, strengthen my will power, become a more rational thinker, and develop leadership ability. The one-year study in the YLP was very important to me.

Since returning to China, I have been able to improve my work performance by applying what I have learned at GRIPS, for which I have been promoted to more responsible positions. I feel that the training I received through the YLP has been crucial to my career. I think many people who have received the same training will share my feelings about the program.

Chowdhury Hayat

Program	International Development Studies Program (Class of 2007)
Country	Bangladesh
Agency	Ministry of Establishment

When I applied for the FASID-GRIPS IDS program, I considered it an opportunity to deepen and widen my knowledge on development issues. Particularly as my job involves policy formulation and implementation, I was excited at the prospect of gaining fresh perspectives on development problems, with a view to applying them to the challenges facing my home country. Now, after successful completion of the IDS program, I feel that it surpassed my expectations.

The IDS program incorporates several remarkable features. The program is designed in such a way as to place equal importance on development theories and practical experience. It starts by educating students, including those having no background in economics or business studies, in the foundations of economic science in the IME program. ‘Strategies and Conditions for Development’ and ‘Government and Market’, two core courses taught by world-renowned economist Professor Yujiro Hayami, explain the interactions and complementary roles of cultural and economic subsystems in development. These courses survey a wide range of development theories, with special emphasis on the role of three important institutions: state, market, and community. Other courses, also taught by noted economists in their fields, then build on these foundations, covering essential economic methodologies as well as practical case studies, which provide exciting new perspectives on issues in both developed and developing countries. The seminar ‘Applied Development Research’ is a forum where students cut their teeth as fledgling development economists, completing a challenging, but ultimately rewarding extended project. Through all of these courses, I have appreciated how accommodating and accessible the faculty and staff of this school are.

A five-month internship program, which gives students a chance to work with leading international or Japanese organizations, is another unique feature of this program. This exposes students to international-standard working conditions and etiquette which will be of immense use for most students, especially international students, who work with international partner organizations.

In addition, I have truly benefited from many other things beyond the academic program. Studying with students from all over the world gave me an opportunity to develop friendships with Japanese as well as international students while learning about their cultures. In particular, the horizontal and vertical interactions between IDS students, and the intimacy with the faculty and their family members, form a lively community which has extended my network of friends. Above all, during my stay in Japan I have been deeply fascinated by Japanese culture and Japan’s development history, which has undeniably made a deep impression on me and my way of thinking.

Finally, this program has enhanced my skills in and broadened my understanding of development. I am now more confident and skilled in the use of analytical tools which I hope to apply in my own future research. The IDS program must surely be the right choice for anyone who is keen to excel as a researcher or policy maker in the development field.