ISLAMABAD, 18 MAR (DNA) -.Japan has awarded MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan) Research Scholarships for Masters/Doctorate degrees for the year of 2016 to eight (8) postgraduate students of Pakistan aiming to provide them with an opportunity to pursue higher studies in their respective fields at the best universities in Japan.

The Embassy of Japan on Friday organized a pre-departure orientation for the scholarship grantees. Pakistani alumni of the Japanese universities were also invited at the orientation who shared their knowledge and experiences of studying and living in Japan as the young scholarship grantees.

Mr. Junya Matsuura, Charge d’Affaires ad interim of Japan to Pakistan also hosted a reception to bid farewell to the scholarship grantees of year 2016. Mr. Matsuura congratulated the students and also expressed his hope that they would come back to Pakistan to utilize the knowledge and expertise that they would acquire in Japan for the future development of Pakistan and that they would always become bridges of friendship between Pakistan and Japan.

Since the first scholarship Pakistani student came to Japan in 1963, a large number of Pakistani students have successfully returned to Pakistan after obtaining their PhD/Master’s degrees in Japan.

They are actively working in the academia, public and private sectors and have made significant contributions to the development of Pakistan in various fields as well as the friendly relationship between Pakistan and Japan. Japan awards graduate and post graduate fully funded scholarships to Pakistani students every year besides many short-term scholarships and training courses round the year. DNA