Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship for Developing Countries

Overview

Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program for Public Policy and Taxation. The World Bank annually awards five scholarships to the PPT program. The first level of screening of candidates will be done at Yokohama National University. The final decision regarding scholarship recipients will be made by the World Bank.

The primary motivation for the establishment of the PPT program stems from the belief that the absence of well-structured tax laws and functioning taxation systems is one of the major factors hindering economic development in developing countries. Prompted by this conviction, the Graduate School of Economics, in collaboration with Japan's National Tax Agency and the World Bank, has developed a special graduate program tailored to the needs of students from developing countries who are currently working in the field of tax administration and related areas.

The objectives of the PPT program are: firstly, to develop a basic understanding of public policy and taxation; secondly, to teach the concepts and methods of an entire taxation process through an internship program provided by Japan's National Tax Agency; and lastly, to offer specialized courses of study on various aspects of public policy and taxation which are most relevant to the students' home countries. The students trained under this program are expected to return to their home countries to apply their acquired knowledge and skills towards improving public service in their respective countries.

World Bank Scholarships for Developing Countries

The scholarship covers a monthly allowance of JPY170,000 (the amount is subject to change), and a round-trip air ticket to Japan plus a travel allowance of JPY60,000. The monthly stipend is intended to cover living, commuting and other incidental expenses during the student's study period. The next scholarship program runs from April 2012 to March 2014. This cannot be changed under any circumstances. In addition, the scholarship covers tuition, entrance examination and admission fees. Travel expenses for some program-sponsored field trips are also included.

Eligible Candidates

Applicants should:

1. be between the age of 25 and 45; 2. be nationals of a World Bank borrowing member country; 3. be mid-career professionals in public service; 4. be of good character, a team player and active in extracurricular activities; 5. hold, at minimum, a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a development-related field; and 6. have at least four years of recent full-time professional experience in a field related to economic development or public policy, in the applicant's home country or in another developing country

The following applicants are NOT eligible:

1. those currently pursuing a Master’s or PH.D. program in industrialized countries; 2. those who have had one or more years of training/studies and/or residency in an industrialized country; 3. permanent residents/nationals of industrialized countries; 4. Executive Directors, their Alternates, and staff of the World Bank Group (the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) including consultants, as well as their close relatives.)

Priority consideration will be given to applicants who:

1. are 35 years old or younger, 2. are currently holding an official position in the field of tax administration, 3. can receive an official leave of absence during the period of study, 4. are planning to return to the equivalent position (including the current one) in their home country after s/he completes the program, 5. are recommended by appropriate government agencies, 6. submitted GRE scores.

Application Requirements

The following are the documents to be submitted in addition to the application form:

1. English proficiency: Each applicant must demonstrate a proficiency in English sufficient for undertaking instruction in that language. In this regard, a minimum TOEFL score of 550 for the paper-based, 213 for the computer based, 79 for the internet based or IELTS score of 6.0 is required for entrance into the program. The only documents we accept are official TOEFL scores sent directly by Educational Testing System (ETS) or official IELTS sores sent directly by British Council. Please refer to the TOEFL webpage or the IELTS webpage where you can obtain information regarding the examination. The institution code for Yokohama National University for TOEFL is 0410. Choose 84 (economics) as the department code. The only exception is the case in which the primary language of instruction at the applicant’s undergraduate institution is English. In this case, you must include an official letter obtained from the university confirming this information. In any event, those applicants who do submit TOEFL or IELTS scores will be given priority in the selection process. We do NOT accept copies of TOEFL and IELTS scores directly sent by applicants, the results of the TOEFL institutional exam, or any other exams conducted by private agencies. 2. Two letters of recommendation: One must be from a supervisor at your workplace, and the other must be from a faculty member of the university from which you obtained your bachelor's degree. Letters of recommendation must be submitted in an envelope sealed by the reference. 3. Official academic transcript: Only an official transcript in a sealed envelope issued by your university or school will be accepted. 4. Statement of purpose (1,200 words or less): Be concise and specific in preparing your statement, giving information which will aid the selection committee in evaluating your potential for completing the program. Use the form provided with the application form, attaching an additional sheet if needed. Please type.

Telephone interviews may be conducted to assess English proficiency and/or to confirm any other information contained in the applicant's file. Applicants who cannot be reached for a telephone interview will become ineligible. Lastly, although this is not required, if you have taken the GRE, please have the official score sent to the program. Those who present GRE scores will be considered favorably in the selection process.

How to Apply

Application forms will be mailed upon request, and are not available through website or email. To receive an application or for more information, please direct inquiries to: MPE Office Email: is-mpe@ml.ynu.ac.jp Fax +81-45-339-3608 Inquiries by telephone will not be accepted.

The following materials constitute your application. ♦ Application Form ♦ Statement of Purpose ♦ Two Confidential Letters of Recommendation ♦ Return Address Label ♦ Official Academic Transcript ♦ Official TOEFL/IELTS Score or a letter from your undergraduate institution confirming that the primary language of instruction is English. ♦ Official GRE Score (if available)

Use the original copy of the application form. We do not accept photocopies. We do not accept applications via fax or email. Your application should be submitted to the following address. MPE Office International Graduate School of Social Sciences Yokohama National University 79-4 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku Yokohama, 240-8501 JAPAN Please note that none of the application materials can be returned to applicants under any circumstances. Also, a medical certificate will be required upon acceptance.

Application Deadline

Application forms for 2012 Admission (for study program from April 2012-March 2014) are available from March 2011. Applications for the 2012 admission must reach the MPE Office by NO LATER than September 30.

Contact Detail

MPE Office

Email: is-mpe@ml.ynu.ac.jp

Fax +81-45-339-3608

http://www.igss.ynu.ac.jp/wb-ppt/program_information01.html

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