The Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom announced a new scholarship program for Saudi students who have graduated from vocational schools in Saudi Arabia.
After completing two years of study in local schools, students can join the third and fourth year in universities in Japan and earn a bachelor’s degree.
The students are expected to be teachers in vocational schools after they come back to Saudi Arabia. Before they join the faculty in Japan the students must have attended Japanese language courses for 1-1.5 years. The King Abdullah Scholarship will cover all expenses needed to study in Japan.
The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) has chosen Japan as one of the partner countries that are known for their high level of technology.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) coordinated with universities in Japan to resolve issues such as credit transfer.
The first batch of 24 students going to Japan will specialize in engineering. In the future, the courses will be extended to other fields, like fashion and cosmetics for the benefit of Saudi women in women's universities in Japan. Currently, some 450 students are studying in Japan under the King Abdullah Scholarship in various fields, such as medical, engineering, management etc. Before their departure, Yasunari Morino, the Japanese Embassy's charge d'affaires, briefed the first batch of students on life and study in Japan.
“There are more than 700 universities in Japan and they welcome students from Saudi Arabia. The students have made a good choice to study in our country because our academic institutions are well known for teaching not only theories but also practical expertise and techniques that might help them in the work place. I hope that young students will adapt themselves to life and culture in Japan,” said Morino. In the engineering domain, Japan established three vocational schools in Saudi Arabia: the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI), the Saudi Electronic & Home Appliance Institute (SEHAI), and the Higher Institute for Plastics Fabrication (HIPF).
Japan has received 204 employees of TVTC for training courses in Japan organized by JICA. Morino emphasized that Japan is determined to sustain Saudi Arabia’s effort for human resources development.
New scholarship program set for vocational grads
