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 several leading universities in Japan. The objective of the program is to contribute to institutional capacity building of transition and developing economies, by providing educational opportunities to promising junior officials in central banks or in ministries of finance, economy, or planning in East and Central Asia and the Pacific region.¹⁸

For the academic year 2007, 38 new scholarships were awarded, and a total of 46 scholars were studying in Japan under the program.¹⁹ There are two forms of scholarships. Scholars accepted under the “partnership track” participate in specially designed master’s courses offered by one of four partnership universities,²⁰ whereas the “open track” is available to candidates who have already been accepted to a graduate-level program, at either the master’s or PhD level, 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.

A set of skill-refreshing courses (SRCs) is also offered under the program, which aims to better prepare incoming scholars by offering math and English courses prior to commencement of their regular studies at the participating universities. In 2007, 35 out of the 38 new scholars participated in the SRC conducted at the International University of Japan.

Since the first students were accepted under the Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia in 1993, a total of 419 scholarships have been awarded, and by the end of the academic year 2006, 316 scholars had graduated from the partnership universities. Table 6 shows the distribution of scholars by their country and organizational affiliation. Most scholars have expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the program and subsequently with the career opportunities that have opened to them. A number have taken up mid- to senior-level positions in their respective agencies, and have direct input into policy initiatives. In 2007, alumni events were organized in Cambodia, China, Lao P.D.R., Mongolia, and Vietnam to provide former scholars with an opportunity to renew acquaintances and to maintain the alumni network.

Table 6.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia: Distribution of Scholars by Country and Affiliation, 1993–2008

Table 6.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia: Distribution of Scholars by Country and Affiliation, 1993–2008

Scholars by Country	Total	Percent	Scholars by Affiliation	Total	Percent
China	75	18	Central Bank	202	48
Vietnam	67	16	Ministry of Finance/Tax Authority	93	22
Uzbekistan	53	13	Others	19	5
Myanmar	38	9	Economic Affairs Ministry	33	8
Mongolia	36	9	Statistics Bureau	11	3
Kyrgyz Republic	34	8	State-Owned Commercial Bank	9	2
Cambodia	33	8	Trade Ministry	52	12
Kazakhstan	31	8	Total	419	100
Indonesia	13	3
Tajikistan	10	2
Lao P.D.R.	10	2
Philippines	9	2
Thailand	7	1
Turkmenistan	2	1
Fiji	1	0
Total	419	100

View Table

Table 6.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia: Distribution of Scholars by Country and Affiliation, 1993–2008

Scholars by Country	Total	Percent	Scholars by Affiliation	Total	Percent
China	75	18	Central Bank	202	48
Vietnam	67	16	Ministry of Finance/Tax Authority	93	22
Uzbekistan	53	13	Others	19	5
Myanmar	38	9	Economic Affairs Ministry	33	8
Mongolia	36	9	Statistics Bureau	11	3
Kyrgyz Republic	34	8	State-Owned Commercial Bank	9	2
Cambodia	33	8	Trade Ministry	52	12
Kazakhstan	31	8	Total	419	100
Indonesia	13	3
Tajikistan	10	2
Lao P.D.R.	10	2
Philippines	9	2
Thailand	7	1
Turkmenistan	2	1
Fiji	1	0
Total	419	100

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies

Japan also provides financial support for a scholarship program for qualified Asian nationals to study economics at the doctoral level, at one of the leading universities in North America, in order to pursue a career at the IMF or in their home country governments. The program covers tuition and reasonable costs for two years of study. Scholars are expected to finance the remaining years of study, typically through additional funding from their universities.

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies (JISP), which is administered by the IMF Institute, began in 1996 with a class of nine scholars seeking to obtain a PhD in economics. In each succeeding year, up to 15 scholars from Asian countries who independently gained admission to a leading U.S. or Canadian university have received this scholarship.

An annual orientation program for each incoming group of scholars is conducted at the IMF in Washington, D.C., to introduce scholars to the IMF and to provide them with an opportunity to meet other JISP scholars. At the end of the third or fourth year of study, scholars are expected to complete a 10- to 13-week summer internship in an IMF department, during which they engage in supervised research and other professional work under the guidance of an experienced IMF economist.

Interest continues to remain high for this scholarship, with an average of 100 applications received per year from a growing number of eligible countries that now totals 17. The quality of the applicants also remains high, in terms of both their academic record and graduate school examination scores. While participating in the scholarship program, scholars are required to maintain high grades and good academic standing. The high academic standards of the program are now widely recognized, as evidenced by many distinguished universities in Asia and North America recommending that their students apply. Table 7 shows the distribution of scholars by country since the beginning of the scholarship program, and Table 8 lists the universities attended by the scholars and the number of scholars at each institution during the program.

A total of 75 scholars have graduated with PhD degrees in economics since inception of the JISP, of whom 17 have joined the IMF staff. Of those 17 JISP alumni, 15 were hired through the highly competitive IMF Economist Program, which is the main entry point for economists seeking to join the organization after completion of their studies.

Table 7.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars Accepted by Country, 1996–2008

Table 7.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars Accepted by Country, 1996–2008

															Total
														Total	percent
														Scholars	Representation
														per	per
														Country	Country
	Number of Scholars													(1996–	(1996–
Country	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2008)	2008)
Bangladesh	0	0	2	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	3
Cambodia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	1
China
(including
Hong Kong
SAR)	2	5	2	4	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	24	13
Indonesia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	3	2
Japan	3	7	7	7	7	7	5	7	7	7	8	6	3	81	44
Kazakhstan	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	5	3
Korea	2	3	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	19	10
Kyrgyz Rep.	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	2
Malaysia	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Mongolia	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	1	2	1	7	4
Myanmar	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	1
Nepal	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	1
Philippines	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
Tajikistan	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Thailand	2	1	2	0	0	1	2	0	1	2	2	1	1	15	8
Uzbekistan	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	2
Vietnam	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	1	2	2	1	0	1	11	6
Total	9	16	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	11	186	100

View Table

Table 7.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars Accepted by Country, 1996–2008

															Total
														Total	percent
														Scholars	Representation
														per	per
														Country	Country
	Number of Scholars													(1996–	(1996–
Country	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2008)	2008)
Bangladesh	0	0	2	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	3
Cambodia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	1
China
(including
Hong Kong
SAR)	2	5	2	4	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	24	13
Indonesia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	3	2
Japan	3	7	7	7	7	7	5	7	7	7	8	6	3	81	44
Kazakhstan	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	5	3
Korea	2	3	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	19	10
Kyrgyz Rep.	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	2
Malaysia	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Mongolia	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	1	2	1	7	4
Myanmar	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	1
Nepal	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	1
Philippines	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
Tajikistan	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Thailand	2	1	2	0	0	1	2	0	1	2	2	1	1	15	8
Uzbekistan	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	2
Vietnam	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	1	2	2	1	0	1	11	6
Total	9	16	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	11	186	100

Table 8.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars by University, 1996–2008

Table 8.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars by University, 1996–2008

	Number of Scholars
University	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	Total
United States
1. Brandeis University	1													1
2. Brown University	1	2		1	2	1	1		1	1		1		11
3. Boston University			1				2		1		2		2	8
4. Columbia University			2	3	1	1	1		5	2	1			16
5. Cornell University		1	2			1					1		1	6
6. Duke University	2			1	1		1		1					6
7. Georgetown University							1	4	1			1		7
8. George Washington University												1		1
9. Harvard University			1	1					1					3
10. Indiana University		1												1
11. Johns Hopkins University		1					1	1			2			5
12. Massachusetts Institute of Technology							1							1
13. New York University			1	2		2	1						2	8
14. Northwestern University		1										1	1	3
15. Ohio State University, Columbus					2							2	2	6
16. Princeton University										2				2
17. Stanford University	1	2	3	1	1	1							1	10
18. University of California, Berkeley						1						1		2
19. University of California, Los Angeles	1	3	1	1	1					1				8
20. University of California, San Diego		1				1				1				3
21. University of Chicago		1	1		1	2	1	2		2	1	1		12
22. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign											1			1
23. University of Maryland, College Park					1	1			1	1			1	5
24. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor		2	1	2			1	1				1	1	9
25. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis				1		1	1	1	1	2	2	1		10
26. University of Pennsylvania	1			2	3	1	1			1				9
27. University of Rochester	1	1		1				1				1		5
28. University of Texas, Austin							1			1				2
29. University of Virginia									1	1		2	1	5
30. University of Washington, Seattle					1									1
31. University of Wisconsin, Madison		1				1	1	4	1				2	10
32. Vanderbilt University	1					1								2
33. Yale University	1	1									1	1		4
Canada
34. McGill University									1					1
35. University of British Columbia							1							1
36. University of Toronto										1				1
Total	9	16	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	11	186

View Table

Table 8.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Number of Scholars by University, 1996–2008

	Number of Scholars
University	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	Total
United States
1. Brandeis University	1													1
2. Brown University	1	2		1	2	1	1		1	1		1		11
3. Boston University			1				2		1		2		2	8
4. Columbia University			2	3	1	1	1		5	2	1			16
5. Cornell University		1	2			1					1		1	6
6. Duke University	2			1	1		1		1					6
7. Georgetown University							1	4	1			1		7
8. George Washington University												1		1
9. Harvard University			1	1					1					3
10. Indiana University		1												1
11. Johns Hopkins University		1					1	1			2			5
12. Massachusetts Institute of Technology							1							1
13. New York University			1	2		2	1						2	8
14. Northwestern University		1										1	1	3
15. Ohio State University, Columbus					2							2	2	6
16. Princeton University										2				2
17. Stanford University	1	2	3	1	1	1							1	10
18. University of California, Berkeley						1						1		2
19. University of California, Los Angeles	1	3	1	1	1					1				8
20. University of California, San Diego		1				1				1				3
21. University of Chicago		1	1		1	2	1	2		2	1	1		12
22. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign											1			1
23. University of Maryland, College Park					1	1			1	1			1	5
24. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor		2	1	2			1	1				1	1	9
25. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis				1		1	1	1	1	2	2	1		10
26. University of Pennsylvania	1			2	3	1	1			1				9
27. University of Rochester	1	1		1				1				1		5
28. University of Texas, Austin							1			1				2
29. University of Virginia									1	1		2	1	5
30. University of Washington, Seattle					1									1
31. University of Wisconsin, Madison		1				1	1	4	1				2	10
32. Vanderbilt University	1					1								2
33. Yale University	1	1									1	1		4
Canada
34. McGill University									1					1
35. University of British Columbia							1							1
36. University of Toronto										1				1
Total	9	16	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	11	186

The IMF Institute, with the assistance of the Institute of International Education, conducted a tracer study in 2004 to locate and obtain information on the professional career paths and profiles of past scholars, with contact information being updated annually. Table 9 shows the employment of graduates from the first 10 intakes—that is, academic years 1996–2005.²¹ Building on this, modifications were made to the 2007 survey to reach out to the JISP alumni for more up-to-date and accurate information, and to gain further information how to improve the program. In response, an alumni website is being considered to extend the reach to past and current scholars in order to more effectively maintain contact information, share knowledge and experiences, and help promote the program to colleagues and friends. The annual JISP survey of past and current scholars continues to convey a high degree of satisfaction (96 percent in 2007) with the scholarship program and their internships.

Table 9.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Employment of Graduates from the 1996–2005 Programs¹

¹Data based on the results of scholar and alumni annual surveys. Scholars in groups starting after 2005 are still in the JISP.

²One graduate from the 2000 program received a fixed-term appointment in the IMF in 2006.

Table 9.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Employment of Graduates from the 1996–2005 Programs¹

											Category
	1996	1997	1998	1999	20002	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	Total
IMF Economist Program (EP)	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	3
IMF economist (former EP)	0	4	0	5	2	1	0	0	0	0	12
IMF mid-career economist	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2
Government	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
Academic position	3	2	7	1	1	2	1	1	0	0	18
Studies in progress (PhD program)	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	2	9	14	30
Other	6	9	6	7	11	10	10	12	6	1	78
Total	9	16	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	145

¹Data based on the results of scholar and alumni annual surveys. Scholars in groups starting after 2005 are still in the JISP.

²One graduate from the 2000 program received a fixed-term appointment in the IMF in 2006.

View Table

Table 9.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies: Employment of Graduates from the 1996–2005 Programs¹

											Category
	1996	1997	1998	1999	20002	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	Total
IMF Economist Program (EP)	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	3
IMF economist (former EP)	0	4	0	5	2	1	0	0	0	0	12
IMF mid-career economist	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2
Government	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
Academic position	3	2	7	1	1	2	1	1	0	0	18
Studies in progress (PhD program)	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	2	9	14	30
Other	6	9	6	7	11	10	10	12	6	1	78
Total	9	16	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	145

¹Data based on the results of scholar and alumni annual surveys. Scholars in groups starting after 2005 are still in the JISP.

²One graduate from the 2000 program received a fixed-term appointment in the IMF in 2006.

The IMF is pleased with the demonstrated success of the JISP, which is well regarded by officials of leading universities who continue to report high academic achievements by the JISP scholars. Moreover, participating scholars, particularly those from developing and transition countries, have expressed great appreciation for the generous support of the government of Japan for their studies.