Syrian Refugees to Study at Graduate Schools in Japan from Autumn

Tokyo, Aug. 22 (Jiji Press)--A first batch of 20 Syrian refugees will be admitted to graduate schools in Japan this autumn under a Japanese government initiative announced last year. In May 2016, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to invite a total of 150 Syrian refugees in five years to study in Japan, in response to the 2015 refugee crisis in Europe. The Japan International Cooperation Agency will handle 100 of the total. Eleven universities have offered to accept such refugees under the first-year program, including the offering of education in English. The 11 are Kwansei Gakuin University, Keio University, International University of Japan, Soka University, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Hiroshima University, University of Miyazaki, Ritsumeikan University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and University of the Ryukyus. In cooperation with the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, JICA launched application procedures in November last year and received applications from 54 Syrian refugees in Lebanon and from 66 in Jordan. Many applicants opted for engineering studies, apparently reflecting hopes to be involved in the reconstruction of their war-torn home country. The successful applicants, selected in June through written exams and interviews, will receive Japanese language training as soon as they arrive in Japan, before being enrolled at their respective graduate schools at the start of the next school term in September or October. JICA is ready to provide counseling services for the Syrian students in the event of continuing war trauma. JICA is also working to arrange an event in summer 2018 to introduce the Syrian refugees to Japanese companies, as they may consider working in Japan if they find difficulties returning to Lebanon and Jordan. Meanwhile, JICA is working with the Office of the UNHCR to begin application procedures for next year's intake as soon as possible. JICA also plans to allow Syrian students on next year's program to come to Japan earlier than under the first-year program so that they can spend a longer learning the Japanese language before starting to study at graduate schools. END