NEWS from Asia and the Pacific
IMF Scholarship Alumni Reunite, Refresh and Reengage in Japan
Alumni of the Japan-IMF Scholarship for Asia (JISPA) listen to the lecture on external position assessment by IMF economists at the 2nd JISPA Continuing Education course in Yokohama.
March 29, 2019, Yokohama – More than 20 alumni of the Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA) completed today a 10-day continuing education program to brush up their skills in macro-economic policymaking while reuniting with their Asian colleagues and reengaging with the IMF to help support sustainable economic development.
JISPA Continuing Education (JISPA-CE) is a platform for the scholarship alumni to refresh their knowledge in macroeconomics to support their career advancement and regional economic integration and cooperation. Arriving on 19 March, 22 alumni from 13 Asian countries, who graduated from JISPA as early as 1998 and currently hold senior positions in central banks, ministries and other government offices, took advantage of the JISPA-CE opportunity.
Led by Senior Economist Geoffrey Heenan of the IMF Institute for Capacity Development, the Fund’s economists offered lectures on a variety of topics, ranging from growth diagnostics to external debt sustainability. Each lecture was coupled with an interactive workshop where participants were grouped to share their views and experiences.
In addition, Professor Masahiko Takeda of Hitotsubashi University and Director Tetsuya Harada of the Credit Risk Analysis Division with the Japan International Cooperation Agency joined the panel discussion and shared their views on global risks impacting Asia. Wrapping up the program, each group of participants shared their assessment of the model economy used for the course, using their refreshed analytical and policy formulation skills.
The continuing education program doesn’t, however, end in the classroom. Many participants took the opportunity to reunite with old friends and former classmates.
“It is nice to be back in Yokohama,” said Mr. Mann Souk, Deputy Director of Statistics at the National Bank of Cambodia, who came back to Yokohama for the first time in 16 years—he graduated from Yokohama National University in 2003 with an MBA. He was one of 53 graduates of the university under the JISPA scholarship. During the 10-day stay, he was invited to a dinner with the university president along with two other alumni to reconnect with their alma mater.
“It feels great to be attached to my university, even years after graduation,” he said on the surprise dinner. “The program itself was very intensive, but very useful. Once I return, I will try to teach what I have learned to my colleagues, especially junior staff.”
The continuing education program was first introduced in 2018, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the scholarship program. JISPA is a specialized scholarship for junior officials of Asian economies to pursue graduate-level degrees in Japan. It has produced more than 700 alumni since its inception in 1993.