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March 17, 2022

JISR: Seeking for a Life-time Opportunity

JISR is a competitive program in which potential candidates must vie against each other while undergoing a long, careful and high-level screening process.

Starting with the dissemination of online/offline recruitment campaigns, application forms including certificates as proof of completed studies are collected and assessed by JICA. The potential candidates go through TOEFL and math exams, consultation with Japanese universities regarding the suitability of proposed research plans, application screening by Japanese universities, and final interviews with JICA and the universities.

In order to gain a better understanding of what the Syrian participants have to go through to seek such scholarship opportunities, which make them being away from their precious families and homeland, we have conducted a small survey with the 5th-batch participants from Jordan and Lebanon, and personnel at UNHCR Jordan and JDS Jordan.

Voices from JISR Participants

1. Reasons and reactions to be selected for JISR

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Even though I am a bit nervous to leave my home and family behind. I am really excited to live in a developed country like Japan!


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I felt confused about what qualities were expected from JISR participants in the beginning. But after checking the JISR program's objectives, goals, and targeted participants, I felt like I had found a lifetime opportunity!


2.Situation in Jordan and Lebanon

The situations in the host countries made it hard to dream about their future because JISR candidates were too busy worrying about what would happen tomorrow. This played a huge role in their desire to join the JISR program as it would provide the opportunity to broaden their horizon and try to achieve their goals that they had almost forgotten they had.

Comments from the JISR participants are below.

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Finding a job in the host country (Lebanon/Jordan) was extremely difficult. Even if we did, it was never in the field of our study major. Living expenses were very high and I always hoped to find some better opportunities to study and work abroad.


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I worked as a cashier from 10 pm to 7 am every day. I had to pay the house rent and take care of my little brother with a limited amount of salary.


3. Recruitment process

JISR recruitment process is taken over almost 10 months. Some participants said that the long duration of the recruitment period was difficult to go through. However, this selection process is a necessary period for the potential candidates to determine if they can manage the rigors of studying in Japan.

Other comments from the JISR participants are seen below.

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Obtaining the requested documents such as recommendation letters from professors or former employers was very difficult especially due to the pandemic; at that time, the whole country was in a total lockdown. Fortunately, I was relieved by the flexibility of the JISR staff members who understood the situation well.


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Online meetings and tests were difficult and challenging due to the constant power outages in Lebanon. To cope with this issue, I took the countermeasure like by borrowing a special battery for the router etc. in case the local internet was interrupted.


Voices from UNHCR Jordan

UNHCR is a key partner for JISR program and continuous coordination between JICA and UNHCR was crucial for the recruitment procedure.

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The use of an online application platform in Jordan made it much easier for everyone. In the beginning, physical submission of applications was necessary and was a bit problematic for the participants as they had to travel long distances to reach UNHCR offices. UNHCR tried to facilitate by placing submission boxes in the north, Amman, and inside the camps.


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Very often, the high level of English language skills requested by JISR was also difficult to achieve for the applicants.


Voices from JISR Local Staff

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Throughout the selection process, JISR local staff had the honor to be in close contact with the participants. It has been extraordinary experience to be able to witness the participants' lives before and after going to Japan.


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One participant applied for the JISR scholarship 4 years in a row, every year trying to improve something that was not good enough the previous year, and he was finally accepted. After 4 attempts, we felt like he was a family member, and we were truly excited and happy that his hard efforts finally paid off.


Due to the ongoing situation in Syria, most likely, JISR participants would not be able to return to their homeland even after they complete their studies in Japan.

Therefore, it is extremely important for them to learn the Japanese language and culture to be able to integrate with the Japanese society quickly while they're studying. Upon completion of the master's degree, it would be crucial for them to find a job that can sponsor them for a work permit and legal resident status in order to continue living in Japan.

Today, many of the world's refugees find themselves having to adjust to a new reality, stranded away from home or separated from their friends and family. We may learn a lot from them through their resilience and courage in the face of adversity and their will to survive. As we may worry about when we can be reunited with our friends and family and resume our "normal" lives amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to remind ourselves that those people displaced by conflict, violence, and persecution are faced with these constant uncertainties every single day.

The courage and strength with which they confront their harsh journeys can be a true inspiration to all of us.

PhotoJISR Promotion Poster. Many applicants had a strong desire to study in Japan looking through this beautiful Japanese scenery.

PhotoFlew out from Beirut Lebanon, and step into another planet, Japan!

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