African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative) 2017 for Africans

Application Deadline: October 28th 2016

Master’s Degree and Internship Program of the African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative) Batch Four

At the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), held in Yokohama in 2013, Japan’s Government stated its policy of promoting support for the ongoing dynamic growth of Africa with stronger public-private partnerships. In his speech, Japanese Prime Minister Abe announced the “African Business Education Initiative for Youth (hereafter, referred to as the “ABE Initiative”), a strategic five-year plan providing 1,000 youths in Africa with opportunities to study at Japanese universities as well as do internships at Japanese enterprises. Prior to the TICAD V, Japanese industries, including the Federation of Economic Organizations (KEIDANREN) and the Japanese government, had made a joint recommendation for TICAD V at “Public-Private Council for the Promotion of TICADV”.

These bodies pointed out that there is a need for human resource development in both private and public sectors of Africa in order to cultivate a strong human network between Japan and Africa. The recommendation also mentioned the significance of increasing the number of African people visiting Japan, as well as increasing awareness among Africans regarding the efficiency of Japanese technologies and systems of enterprises. The ABE Initiative was launched based on this recommendation.

JICA has been appointed to implement a master’s degree and internship program within the ABE initiative framework developed for countries whose official requests have been approved by the Government of Japan.

Objective

The objective of the ABE Initiative master’s degree and internship program is to support young personnel who have the potential to contribute to the development of industries in Africa. This program offers opportunities for young African men and women to study at master’s courses in Japanese universities as international students (hereafter referred to as participants) and experience internships at Japanese enterprises.

The aim is for them to develop effective skills in order for them to contribute to various fields. Beyond acquisition of skills and knowledge, this program also intends to cultivate excellent personnel who can recognize and understand the contexts of Japanese society and systems of Japanese enterprises. The expected outcome of the program is a network of potential contributors to the development of African industries who will also lead Japanese businesses to engage further in economic activities in Africa.

Target Participants

Target participants are from among the following three types of personnel.

1. Persons from the Private Sector
   Young individuals who are or will be involved in economic activities in the local private sector maintaining and developing strong ties with Japanese companies.
2. Governmental Officials
   Young officials, such as civil servants, who take part in governance and policy-making in order to enhance industries to whose development Japanese companies can contribute, and has a recommendation by a Japanese company.
3. Educators
   Young individuals who are responsible for educating in Higher Education and TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) institutions in Africa, in order to enhance capacity building in related industries, and has a recommendation by a Japanese company.

Eligible applicants

1. Citizens of one of the 54 African countries
2. Between 22 and 39 years old (as of April 1st in the year of you arrival in Japan)
3. A bachelor’s degree
4. Applicants from government sectors/ educators who have both of the following:

-At least 6 months working experience at their current organization -Permission from their current organization to apply

1. Have adequate English proficiency, both in written and oral communication (IELTS score of over 5.5 is preferred)
2. Clearly understand the objective of this program and have a strong will to contribute to the industrial development of their country while broadening and strengthening the linkage between their country and Japan
3. Not currently applying or planning to apply to scholarship programs offered by other organizations
4. Have good health condition, both physically and mentally, to complete the program

Number of Participants/ Durations

Participants will be selected and dispatched to Japan in 4 batches and the number of participants for each batch is planned as follows.

• 1st batch (arrival in Japan in 2014): 150 participants from 9 countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania)
• 2nd batch (arrival in Japan in 2015): 350 participants from 54 African countries
• 3rd batch (arrival in Japan in 2016): 300 participants from 54 African countries
• 4th batch (arrival in Japan in 2017): 100 participants from 54 African countries

It is expected that the duration of stay in Japan will be a maximum of 3 years. (6 months as a research student, 2 years as a student for master course and 6 months as an intern)

Benefits:

JICA will provide the following expenses for participant of the program which is equivalent
to similar JICA schemes.

•  Tuition at Japanese university master’s degree programs (and research student)
• Allowances for living expenses, outfit, shipping etc.
• A round-trip airfare
• Expenses for support programs during the study in Japan, including the costs of
  observation tours and internship
  Other costs should be covered by the participants’ organizations or other individuals.
  *Participants are not allowed to work while their stay in Japan.
  *To invite family to Japan (spouse and children only), Participants should be responsible for all expenses, necessary procedure by themself. JICA does not provide any support or additional financial assistance except issuing necessary documents for the process. JICA strongly recommend inviting family AFTER 6 MONTHS upon arrival in Japan.

Duration

• Overall Program : November, 2013 – October, 2021 (total 8 years)
• Participants will be dispatched to Japan in 4 groups over the course of 4 years. Participants will be dispatched in September each year from 2014 to 2017. A single participant is allowed to stay in Japan up to 3 years including as a research student and internship period.
•  4th Batch participant group’s stay in  Japan
  Standard Timetable
  September, 2017 – September, 2020
  – 6 months as a research student if necessary
  – 1 or 2 years as a master’s student
  – About 2 weeks internship in summer break for all participants and up to 6 months internship after graduation if needed

Internship at Japanese Private Companies

• All participants are expected to do internships at Japanese companies during summer
  break. The participants from “private sector” category (and those who wish to participate from other categories) are also expected to do internship up to 6 months after graduation of master’s courses. Internship programs are carried out in English.

Application Documents for the 4th Batch

• General Information (4th Batch) (PDF/1.61MB)
• Annex 1. Guidelines for Application Form (4th Batch) (Word/144KB)
• Annex 2. Application Form (4th Batch) (Word/90.5KB)
• Annex 3. Recommendation Letter_Japanese (4th Batch) (Word/61.0KB)
• Annex 3. Recommendation Letter_English (4th Batch) (Word/39.0KB)
• Annex 4. List of Japanese Graduate Schools (Excel/74.2KB)
• Annex 5. Check List (Application documents to be submitted) (Word/27.4KB)
• Annex 6. Contact List (Word/76.5KB)
• Annex 7. List of Categories, Areas, Disciplines and Research Fields (PDF/98.7KB)

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative) 2017