Scholars from developing nations have deepened their learning through the links between JICA and universities. Today, they are playing active roles in either their home country or Japan.
Promoting Tourism Development as a Leader:
Ms. Shirin Amonzoda
Giving a lecture at a Tajikistan university.
Tajikistan
Ms. Shirin Amonzoda first came to Japan to work in public relations for the Tajikistan Pavilion at Expo 2005 in Aichi Prefecture. She soon fell in love with Japan, and made it her goal to come to the country to study. Her dream was realized when she spent two years at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University's graduate school, from 2014 to 2016. Along with young leaders from around the world, she studied both the theory and practice of public policy, from past to present. "I think the JDS is a very important chance that provides valuable opportunities to female civil servants working in Tajikistan, in a way that allows them to balance their academic and private lives in Japan," says Ms.Amonzoda. During her time as a scholar, she lived with her two daughters in Beppu, Oita Prefecture. She also planned festivals to celebrate the new year for Middle Eastern and central Asian countries, and organized cultural events that featured Tajikistan cooking. "I am very grateful to everyone at the Beppu City Office for actively introducing the culture, traditions, and lifestyle of Tajikistan to Beppu City." During her stay in Japan, there were some difficult times, with both her parents dying in succession, but she overcame the difficulties thanks to the support from those around her.
On returning to Tajikistan, she was appointed as deputy chair of the newly-formed Tourism Development Committee. With the help of other government ministries and agencies, she created a tourist development strategy that will run until the year 2030, and compiled an action plan to put it into practice. In 2020, she was promoted to chair of this committee.
Asked the significance of studying abroad, Ms. Amonzoda explains, "I researched tourism, public planning and policy in Japan, as well as the role of the government in tourism planning. This research experience in Japan proved very helpful when I was appointed to a key position in tourism development. I feel the skills developed will continue to be of use in the future." She is committed to working for the expansion of the tourism industry in Tajikistan.
Ms. Amonzoda and her girls became part of the community when they lived in Beppu.
As committee chair, her days are filled.
Ms. Shirin Amonzoda
From Tajikistan. Lived in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, as a JDS Fellow from 2014 to 2016, researching Tajikistan tourism development and public policy planning in the graduate school of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. On her return home, she was appointed deputy chair of the Tourism Development Committee in 2017, and in 2020 was promoted to chair (which in Tajikistan is a Cabinet-level post).
About the JDS
The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) invites young public administrators who are expected to become policy makers in their home countries, to study at graduate schools in Japan. It started in 1999 as a grant aid project. Emphasizing the needs of the partner countries, it provides learning in fields related to development issues and key fields in developing nations. In the 2019 academic year, 360 Fellows from 16 nations were hosted by the program. Including both master's and doctoral courses, more than 4,600 Fellows have studied in Japan.
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