Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia is a program for graduate studies in macroeconomics or related fields at various universities in Japan. The program is aimed at promising, young officials in central banks or in ministries of finance, economy, or planning in the Asia, Central Asia, and Pacific regions.⁹ The program, which is operated under the JSA, offers 12- and 24-month scholarships and is in the process of being expanded from the previous 25 scholarships per year to about 50 scholarships each year. For the academic year 2002, 31 scholarships were awarded.¹⁰ There are two forms of scholarships. Scholars accepted under the “partnership track” participate in specially designed courses offered by one of four participating universities,¹¹ while the “open track” is available to candidates who have already been accepted to a graduate-level program in macroeconomics or a related field at any leading university in Japan. The program is currently administered by the IMF’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Tokyo.

Since the first students were awarded scholarships in 1993, a total of 241 scholarships have been awarded and by the end of the academic year 2002, 175 scholars will have graduated from the participating universities. Table 6 shows the distribution of scholars by their nationality and organizational affiliation. The scholars continue to indicate that they have greatly benefited from the training and that they are better prepared to discharge their official duties upon returning to their work, which is regularly confirmed by the participating countries’ request to have the number of scholarships increased.

Table 6.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia: Distribution of Scholars by Country and Affiliation, 1993-2002

Table 6.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia: Distribution of Scholars by Country and Affiliation, 1993-2002

Scholars by Country	Total	Percent	Scholars by Affiliation	Total	Percent
China	48	20	Central Bank	107	44
Vietnam	40	17	Ministry of Finance	53	22
Mongolia	26	11	Statistics Bureau	14	6
Myanmar	24	10	Trade Affairs Ministry	7	3
Cambodia	21	9	Foreign Trade or Investment Bank	7	3
Uzbekistan	21	9	Economic Affairs Ministry	5	2
Kyrgyz Republic	20	8	Tax Authority	4	2
Kazakhstan	19	8	Others	44	18
Tajikistan	7	3	Total	241
Lao PDR	6	2
Indonesia	4	2
Philippines	3	1
Turkmenistan	2	1
Total	241

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Table 6.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia: Distribution of Scholars by Country and Affiliation, 1993-2002

Scholars by Country	Total	Percent	Scholars by Affiliation	Total	Percent
China	48	20	Central Bank	107	44
Vietnam	40	17	Ministry of Finance	53	22
Mongolia	26	11	Statistics Bureau	14	6
Myanmar	24	10	Trade Affairs Ministry	7	3
Cambodia	21	9	Foreign Trade or Investment Bank	7	3
Uzbekistan	21	9	Economic Affairs Ministry	5	2
Kyrgyz Republic	20	8	Tax Authority	4	2
Kazakhstan	19	8	Others	44	18
Tajikistan	7	3	Total	241
Lao PDR	6	2
Indonesia	4	2
Philippines	3	1
Turkmenistan	2	1
Total	241

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies

Japan also provides financial support for a scholarship program for qualified Asian nationals who want to study economics at the doctorate level at one of the leading universities in North America in order to pursue a career in government or in an international financial institution, such as the IMF. The program covers reasonable costs for two years of study, while scholars are expected to secure another source of funding to cover the remaining years of study.

The first group, consisting of nine scholars, was admitted to the program in 1996.¹² Since 1997, 15 scholars have been admitted annually to pursue their Ph.D.s. Table 7 shows the distribution of scholars by country since the beginning of the scholarship program. Table 8 lists the universities attended by the scholars and the number of scholars that have attended or are attending each of these institutions. The number of applications received for the program has steadily increased over the years, with over 100 applications received in each of the past two years. The quality of the applicants continues to be very strong and selected applicants have typically achieved high academic standards prior to joining the program. An annual orientation program is held at the IMF in Washington, D.C. to expose incoming scholars to the IMF and to provide an opportunity to meet other scholars before embarking on their studies. At the end of the third year of study, scholars are expected to complete a summer internship with the IMF. During the internship, scholars carry out a research project under the supervision of an experienced IMF economist. Thus far, all scholars have successfully completed their internships.

Table 7.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars by Country, 1996-2002

Table 7.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars by Country, 1996-2002

									1996-2002
		1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	Total	Percent
Bangladesh		0	0	2	0	1	1	1	5	5
China (Including Hong Kong SAR)		2	5	2	4	2	2	1	18	18
Japan		3	7	7	7	7	7	5	43	43
Kazakhstan		0	0	0	0	1	1	1	3	3
Korea		2	2	2	2	2	1	1	12	12
Kyrgyz Republic		0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1
Malaysia		0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1
Mongolia		0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1
Philippines		0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	1
Tajikistan		0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1
Thailand		2	1	2	0	0	1	2	8	8
Uzbekistan		0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1
Vietnam		0	0	0	1	0	1	2	4	4
TOTAL		9	15	15	15	15	15	15	99	100

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Table 7.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars by Country, 1996-2002

									1996-2002
		1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	Total	Percent
Bangladesh		0	0	2	0	1	1	1	5	5
China (Including Hong Kong SAR)		2	5	2	4	2	2	1	18	18
Japan		3	7	7	7	7	7	5	43	43
Kazakhstan		0	0	0	0	1	1	1	3	3
Korea		2	2	2	2	2	1	1	12	12
Kyrgyz Republic		0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1
Malaysia		0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1
Mongolia		0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1
Philippines		0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	1
Tajikistan		0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1
Thailand		2	1	2	0	0	1	2	8	8
Uzbekistan		0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1
Vietnam		0	0	0	1	0	1	2	4	4
TOTAL		9	15	15	15	15	15	15	99	100

Table 8.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars by University, 1996-2002

Table 8.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars by University, 1996-2002

								1996-2002
	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	Total
USA
1. Brandeis University	1							1
2. Brown University	1	2		1	2	1		7
3. Boston University			1				1	2
4. Columbia University			2	3	1	1	1	8
5. Cornell University		1	2			1		4
6. Duke University	2			1	1		1	5
7. Georgetown University							1	1
8. Harvard University			1	1				2
9. Indiana University		1						1
10. Johns Hopkins University		1					1	2
11. Massachusetts Institute of Technology							1	1
12. New York University			1	2		2	1	6
13. Northwestern University		1						1
14. Ohio State University, Columbus					2			2
15. Stanford University	1	2	3	1	1	1		9
16. University of California, Berkeley						1		1
17. University of California, Los Angeles		2	3	1	1	1		6
18. University of California, San Diego						1		1
19. University of Chicago		1	1		1	2	1	0
20. University of Maryland, College Park					1	1	1	3
21. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor		2	1	2			1	0
22. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis					1		1	1
23. University of Pennsylvania	1			2	3	1	1	8
24. University of Rochester	1	1		1				3
25. University of Texas, Austin							1	1
26. University of Washington, Seattle					1			1
27. University of Wisconsin, Madison		1				1	1	3
28. Vanderbilt University	1					1		2
29. Yale University	1							1
Canada
30. University of British Columbia							1	1
TOTAL	9	15	15	15	15	15	15	99

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Table 8.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars by University, 1996-2002

								1996-2002
	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	Total
USA
1. Brandeis University	1							1
2. Brown University	1	2		1	2	1		7
3. Boston University			1				1	2
4. Columbia University			2	3	1	1	1	8
5. Cornell University		1	2			1		4
6. Duke University	2			1	1		1	5
7. Georgetown University							1	1
8. Harvard University			1	1				2
9. Indiana University		1						1
10. Johns Hopkins University		1					1	2
11. Massachusetts Institute of Technology							1	1
12. New York University			1	2		2	1	6
13. Northwestern University		1						1
14. Ohio State University, Columbus					2			2
15. Stanford University	1	2	3	1	1	1		9
16. University of California, Berkeley						1		1
17. University of California, Los Angeles		2	3	1	1	1		6
18. University of California, San Diego						1		1
19. University of Chicago		1	1		1	2	1	0
20. University of Maryland, College Park					1	1	1	3
21. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor		2	1	2			1	0
22. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis					1		1	1
23. University of Pennsylvania	1			2	3	1	1	8
24. University of Rochester	1	1		1				3
25. University of Texas, Austin							1	1
26. University of Washington, Seattle					1			1
27. University of Wisconsin, Madison		1				1	1	3
28. Vanderbilt University	1					1		2
29. Yale University	1							1
Canada
30. University of British Columbia							1	1
TOTAL	9	15	15	15	15	15	15	99

Table 9 shows the employment of the scholars from the first three intakes, academic years 1996–1998. It has been encouraging to note that many are choosing to apply for the IMF’s Economist Program (EP), which is the main entry point for economists seeking to join the organization after completion of their studies. This is a good outcome, since one of the objectives of the program is to increase the number of Asian nationals on the staff of international financial institutions. So far, four scholars have been recruited by the IMF as EPs and one scholar as a mid-career economist. This is considered a good success rate, demonstrating the high academic achievements of the scholars. The majority of scholars who joined the program in academic year 1998 have now completed their studies. The total number of scholars that have completed their Ph.D. degrees now stands at 33.

Table 9.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Employment of Graduates from the 1996-1998 Programs

Table 9.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Employment of Graduates from the 1996-1998 Programs

	1996	1997	1998
IMF Economist Program (EP)	0	4	0
IMF Mid-career Economist	0	1	0
Other International Organizations	1	0	0
Government	2	2	2
Academic Position	2	2	3
Studies In Progress	0	0	6
Other	4	6	4
Total	9	15	15

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Table 9.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Employment of Graduates from the 1996-1998 Programs

	1996	1997	1998
IMF Economist Program (EP)	0	4	0
IMF Mid-career Economist	0	1	0
Other International Organizations	1	0	0
Government	2	2	2
Academic Position	2	2	3
Studies In Progress	0	0	6
Other	4	6	4
Total	9	15	15