Ten Asian high school students along with three supervisors made a courtesy visit to Mr. Hakubun Shimomura of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), on the morning of Thursday, May 14, 2015 in Tokyo.
The students are a group of 108 invitees from the Republic of India, the Republic of the Philippines and the Kingdom of Thailand, under the Japan-Asian Youth Exchange Program in Science (the Sakura Exchange Program in Science), administrated by JST in Tokyo.
The Sakura Exchange Program in Science is designed to facilitate youth exchange between Japanese and Asian students by offering a short-term invitation to outstanding Asian youth of 15 countries and regions*1 with an emphasis on the field of science and technology. The program aims to raise the interest of Asian youth towards science and technology, thus contributing to the advancement of science and technology in Asia.
JST(President: Michiharu Nakamura)invites about 600 excellent high school students from Asia in 2015, of which the 1st group of 108 students and their supervisors are scheduled to stay in Japan from May 9 through 16. They are to visit top Japanese universities and research institutes, and to participate in a hands-on chemistry experiment supervised by Dr. Hideki Shirakawa, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2000, in addition to having exchanges with Japanese high school students, among other activities.
Representing the 10 students*2, Mses. Antao and Bagadia of India, Messrs. Dator of the Philippines and Sriwararat of Thailand expressed their appreciation for a chance to visit Japan for the first time and for having learned about Japan’s advanced science and technology as well as Japanese culture and the kindness of Japanese people. They are also grateful for a chance of exchanges with Japanese high school students. Based on this precious experience, they promise to be dedicated to the development of science and technology.
At the end of the speeches, Ms. Bagadia presented a bouquet to Mr. Shimomura. The Minister, in return, extended a heart-felt welcome to the delegation and wished that they would play an active role in the advancement of each country, and more importantly in contributing to the development of the human beings as well.
Mr. Shimomura receiving a bouquet from
Ms. Bagadia of India with a welcome handshake
Mr. Shimomura (center in the front row) with the visiting students
- *1 Eligible Countries and Regions under SSP (in alphabetical order):
- Brunei Darussalam, Kingdom of Cambodia, People's Republic of China, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Singapore, Taiwan, Kingdom of Thailand, and Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
- *2 Four students representing the delegation are:
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India Ms. Zuleika Juliet Antao, Fatima Convent High school Ms. Riddhi Bagadia, The Cathedral & John Connon School The Philippines Ms. Justine Nicole Dela Cruz Dator, Philippine Science High School Thailand Mr. Chaichontat Sriworarat, Bangkok Christian College
Outline of Sakura Exchange Program in Science
The Sakura Exchange Program in Science has two sub-programs, Calls for Proposal and Special Invitation of High School Students.
- 1) Calls for Proposal
- Japanese universities and research institutes, as host organizations, work out an exchange plan in close cooperation with Asian sending organizations and submit applications for the final selection by JST.
- 2) Special Invitation for High School Students
- JST, as a host, invites outstanding Asian high school students under the Sakura Science High School Program. Invited students are exposed to Japan’s advanced science and technology, as well as make exchanges with Japanese high school counterparts and researchers.
Website for Sakura Exchange Program in Science: http://ssp.jst.go.jp/EN/index.html
Contact
Nobuyuki FUKASAWA
Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science Promotion Office, JST
Tel: +81-3-5214-0095
E-mail: 