The Embassy of Japan is pleased to announce that the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho:MEXT) Scholarships for Teacher Training is now open for application until 18th February 2022.

Qualified Malaysian nationals who would like to pursue their studies in Japan are invited to apply. During the term of scholarship, monthly allowances of approximately 143,000 yen (approx RM5,400) will be given to each Teacher Training grantee (amount is subject to change). Fees for entrance examination, matriculation and tuition at universities will be exempted. A round-trip airplane ticket is also provided.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers scholarships to international teachers who wish to conduct research on school education at designated Japanese universities as Teacher Training Students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program as follows.

Requirements:

1. Teacher Training (1½ year non-degree course from October 2022)
   
   • Applicants must be under 35 years of age as of 1st April 2022 (born on or after 2nd April 1987)
   • Applicants must be graduates of universities or teacher training college who work as teachers in primary or secondary schools or as academic staff at TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTIONS with at least 5-year experience in their terms of service.
   • Applicants must have good command of English language and are willing to learn Japanese language.
   • Application for Teacher Training Scholarship (Government school`s teacher) should be made to the Ministry of Education Malaysia. Kindly refer through MOE`s website/internal announcement for further information. For private school teacher, kindly email [email protected] for application documents.

The interviews for both programmes will be held on early March 2022. The Embassy of Japan will notify qualified candidates only (by email) to attend the interview.

Qualifications & Conditions

MEXT accepts applications from international students for study in Japan who satisfy the following qualifications and conditions. Its aim is to foster human resources who will become bridges of friendship between the grantee’s country and Japan through study in Japan and who will contribute to the development of both countries and the wider world.

1. Nationality - Applicants must have the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. An applicant who has Japanese nationality at the time of application is not eligible. However, persons with dual nationality who hold Japanese nationality and whose place of residence at the time of application is outside of Japan are eligible to apply as long as they choose the nationality of the other country and renounce their Japanese nationality by the date of their arrival in Japan (the acquisition of student status). The First Screening must be conducted at the Japanese diplomatic mission in the country of which the applicant chooses the nationality.
2. Age - In principle, applicants must be born on or after April 2, 1987. Exceptions are limited to cases in which MEXT deems that the applicant could not apply within the eligible age limit due to the situation or circumstances of the applicant’s country (military service obligation, loss of educational opportunities due to disturbances of war, etc.). Personal circumstances (financial situation, family circumstances, state of health, circumstances related to applicant’s university or place of employment etc.) will not be considered for exceptions.
3. Academic and Career Background - Applicants must be graduates of universities or teacher training schools and have worked as teachers at primary/secondary educational institutions or teacher training schools (excluding universities) in their home countries for a total period of five years or more as of October 1, 2022. In-service faculty members in a higher education institution are not eligible.
4. Japanese Language Ability - Applicants must be willing to learn Japanese. Applicants must be interested in Japan and be willing to deepen their understanding of Japan after arriving in Japan. Applicants must also have the ability to do research and adapt to living in Japan.
5. Health - Applicants must submit a health certificate in the prescribed format signed by a physician attesting that the applicant has no physical or mental conditions hindering the applicant’s study in Japan.
6. Arrival in Japan - In principle, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan by the designated period (usually September or October) between the day two weeks before the course starts and the starting date of the course. If the applicant cannot arrive in Japan during the specified period for personal reasons, travel expenses to Japan will not be paid. Excluding cases in which MEXT deems as unavoidable circumstances, the applicant must withdraw from this scholarship program if the applicant cannot arrive in Japan by the end of the specified period above which decided by MEXT or the accepting university.
7. Visa Requirement - An applicant shall, in principle, newly obtain a “Student” visa at the Japanese diplomatic mission located in the applicant’s country of nationality, and enter Japan with the newly obtained residence status of “Student”. Accordingly, even if the applicant already has other residence status (“Permanent resident,” “Long-term resident,” etc.), the applicant must change it to the “Student” status and re-enter Japan. The applicant should be aware that the original resident status of “Permanent resident” or “Long-term resident,” might not be necessarily granted after the expiration of the status as a MEXT Scholarship student. Moreover it should be noted that if the grantee comes to Japan without newly obtaining the “Student” visa, the provision of the scholarship will be stopped.
8. Non-Eligibility - Those who meet any one of the following conditions are ineligible. If identified ineligible after being selected as a scholarship student, he/she must withdraw from the scholarship:
   • Those who are military personnel or military civilian employees at the time of their arrival in Japan or during the period of the payment of the scholarship;
   • Those who cannot arrive in Japan by the last date of the period specified by MEXT or the accepting university;
   • Those who are previous grantees of Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship in the past (including those who withdraw from the scholarship program after the arrival in Japan). It does not apply to those receiving the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students in the past;
   • Those who are currently also applying for another program for which scholarship payments will begin in fiscal 2022 through a Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship scheme;
   • Those who are already enrolled in a Japanese university or other institution with a residence status of “Student,” or who are going to be enrolled, or plan to enroll, in a Japanese university or other institution as a privately-financed international student from the time of application to the MEXT scholarship program in the applicant’s country until the commencement of the period for payment of the MEXT scholarship. However, this stipulation does not apply to privately-financed international students who, even though they are enrolled, or are planning to enroll, in a Japanese university or other institution, verifiably complete their studies before the start of the scholarship payment period, return to their home country at the time of the scholarship application, and newly acquire the “Student” residence status and come to Japan;
   • Those who are planning to receive scholarship money from an organization other than MEXT (including a government organization of the applicant’s country) on top of the scholarship money provide by MEXT after the start of the scholarship payment period;
   • Holders of dual nationality at the time of application who cannot verify that they will give up Japanese nationality by the time of their arrival in Japan (the acquisition of student status);
   • Those who change their residence status to that of other than “Student” after their arrival in Japan.
9. Return and Continue to Work after the End of the Scholarship Period - Applicants must assure that they return to their home country by the end of the final month of the scholarship period and resume their work as a teacher at his/her primary/secondary educational institution or teacher training school. Applicants shall utilize the results of their research on school education in Japan. If a grantee fails both conditions, he/she may be ordered to return the entire amount of the scholarship paid during the scholarship period. Those who are uncertain about returning and resuming their work after the end of the scholarship period should not apply for this program.
10. Others - MEXT Scholarship will be granted those who are willing to contribute to mutual understanding between Japan and their home country by participating in activities at schools and communities during their study in Japan while contributing to the internationalization of Japan. They shall also make efforts to promote relations between the home country and Japan by maintaining close relations with the university attended after graduation, cooperating with the conducting of surveys and questionnaires and cooperating with all relevant projects and events conducted by Japanese diplomatic missions after they return to their home countries.

Placement & Specialized Training at Universities

1. The study/training is implemented only in the university study courses listed in the “Course Guide of Teacher Training Program.” This Course Guide is available from the MEXT’s website and the Japanese diplomatic mission in the country of applicant’s nationality.
2. MEXT, in consultation with the universities concerned, will decide on the university where each grantee shall be enrolled by taking into consideration his/her Japanese language ability, the result of written examination and specialized courses he/she wishes to take. Objections regarding university placement will not be accepted. If the accepting university has yet to be determined by the specified period of time (by the middle of August 2022), the applicant will be rejected.
3. The training at universities will be conducted in Japanese or English in principle. Language(s) used in each course can be confirmed in “Course Guide of Teacher Training Program.”
4. Grantees whose Japanese language ability is insufficient shall take Japanese-language education in a Japanese language study course at the accepting university or at a university designated by MEXT. Japanese-language education is generally provided for six months at the beginning of the scholarship period, but some of the accepting universities may conduct Japanese-language education parallel to the training.
5. The training mainly consists of educational administration (examples: educational administration and finance, school management), educational methods (examples: classroom teaching, learning system theory, curriculum, and educational assessment), specialized subject research (examples: mathematics, physics, chemistry, and gymnastics), and observational tours and practice (examples: class observations, participation in special educational activities, and tours of educational research facilities). However, as the course contents vary with each university, please make sure to check on the course guide.
6. A grantee who has completed a specified course at the accepting university will be given a certificate from the university. Please be aware that the purpose of this scholarship program is not to obtain an academic degree. The grantee, therefore, shall return to the home country by the end of the final month of the scholarship period after the completion of the course and resume their work as a teacher at his/her primary/secondary educational institution or teacher training school. The grantee cannot be enrolled in a master’s or a doctorate course at a Japanese university during his/her scholarship period or right after its completion. If a grantee fails both conditions, he/she may be ordered to return the entire amount of the scholarship paid during the scholarship period.

Period of Scholarship

The scholarship period is the necessary period for the completion of the accepting university’s training course, which should be between October 2022 (or the starting month of the course) and March 2024. Extension of the scholarship period is not permitted.

Scholarship Benefits

1. Allowance - After arrival in Japan, 143,000 yen per month will be paid. A supplemental regional allowance of 2,000 or 3,000 yen per month will be added to the monthly scholarship amount for the grantees studying or conducting research in specially designated regions. Due to the situation of the Japanese Government’s budget, the amount of payment may be subject to change each fiscal year. If a grantee is absent from the university for an extended period, the scholarship shall be suspended for that period.
2. Education Fees - Fees for the entrance examination, matriculation and tuition at universities will be paid by MEXT.
3. Travel Expenses
   • Transportation to Japan - For grantees arriving in Japan during the fixed period stipulated in 1. (6) “Arrival in Japan,” MEXT stipulates the travel schedule and route, and provides an economy-class airline ticket for the flight from the international airport closest to the grantee’s residence (in principle, the country of nationality) to an international airport in Japan used on the normal route to the accepting university. The travel schedule change or route change is not allowed after provision of airline ticket. The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to domestic travel from the grantee’s residence to the nearest international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees, special taxes necessary for travel, travel expenses within Japan (including airline transit costs), travel insurance expenses, carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc. The grantee shall also bear at his/her own expense travel and lodging costs incurred in a third country if the grantee must travel to a third country before coming to Japan for visa purposes because there are no Japanese diplomatic missions in his/her country, if there are no direct flights from the grantee’s country of residence to Japan. MEXT will provide an economy-class airline ticket from the grantee’s country of residence to the said third country, and from the third country to an international airport in Japan used on the normal route to the accepting university. In principle, the address given in the space for “Your address before departure for Japan” on the application form shall be recognized as the “residence,” and the airline ticket will be arranged for a flight from the international airport nearest to that address. Except for cases when the grantee must travel to a third country to obtain a visa, MEXT will not provide an airline ticket for cases of travel to Japan from a country other than the grantee’s country of residence due to the grantee’s personal circumstances. Moreover, if, due to the grantee’s personal circumstances, the grantee arrives in Japan outside of the fixed period stipulated in 1. (6) “Arrival in Japan” above, the travel expenses for the trip to Japan will not be provided.
   • Transportation from Japan - Based on the application by the grantee, MEXT will provide an airline ticket to grantees who shall complete the training course at the accepting university and return to the home country by the end of the final month of the scholarship period (See “3. PERIOD OF SCHOLARSHIP”) designated by MEXT. MEXT, in principle, shall provide an economy-class airline ticket from an international airport in Japan used for the normal route to and from the accepting university to the international airport (in principle, in the country of nationality) nearest to the returning grantee’s residence. The travel schedule change or route change is not allowed after provision of airline ticket. The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to travel from the grantee’s residence in Japan to the nearest international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees, special taxes necessary for travel, travel expenses within the country of nationality (including airline transit costs), travel insurance expenses, carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc. If a grantee returns to the home country before the end of the scholarship period due to personal circumstances, or reasons stated in “5. SUSPENSION OF PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP”, MEXT will not pay for the returning travel expenses.
     
     If a grantee will also not return to his/her home country by the end of the final month of the scholarship period, or will not resume his/her work at his/her primary/secondary educational institution or teacher training school, MEXT, in principle, will not pay for the returning travel expenses.

Suspension of Payment of Scholarship

Payment of the scholarship will be cancelled for the reasons given below. Should any of the following reasons apply, the grantee may be ordered to return a part of, or all of, the scholarship paid up to that time. Payment of the scholarship may also be stopped during the period up to the decision on the disposition of the matter:

1. A grantee is judged to have made a false statement on his/her application;
2. A grantee violates any article of his/her pledge to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology;
3. A grantee violates any Japanese laws and is sentenced and imprisoned for an indefinite period or for a period of exceeding 1 year;
4. A grantee is suspended from his/her university or receives other punishment, or is removed from enrollment; as a disciplinary action in accordance with school regulations of the accepting university;
5. It has been determined that it will be impossible for a grantee to complete the study course within the standard time period because of poor academic grades or suspension or absence from the university;
6. A grantee came to Japan without newly acquiring the “Student” residence status, or changed his/her residence status to one other than “Student”;
7. A grantee has received another scholarship (excluding those specified as being for research expenditures);
8. A grantee does not return to his/her home country by the end of the final month of the scholarship period and does not resume his/her work as a teacher at his/her primary/secondary educational institution or teacher training school.

Selection

• The Japanese diplomatic missions will conduct the First Screening of applicants by means of examination of submitted application documents, a written examination (subject: Japanese and English) and interviews.
• The date and time of the notification of the results of the First Screening will be specified separately by the Japanese diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country; the reasons for the results of the screening will not be disclosed. Those who pass the First Screening will not necessarily be selected as the MEXT Scholarship grantees.
• Applicants who have passed the First Screening will be recommended to MEXT. MEXT will conduct the Second Screening of applicants recommended by the Japanese diplomatic missions, and will select the applicants successfully passing the Second Screening.
• The results of the final selection will be notified on a date separately designated by the Japanese diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country. The name of accepting university will also be notified to the scholarship grantees. Any objections to the decision on the university placement will not be accepted. If the accepting university has yet to be determined by the specified period of time (by the middle of August 2022), the applicant will be rejected.

Application Process

January - February: Submit application form to the Ministry of Education Malaysia (Government schools)/ Embassy of Japan in Malaysia (Private schools) by due date (18 February 2022).

March: Interview. Only successful candidates will be notified to attend the interview

August:  Notification of final result

October: Depart to Japan

Important Notes:

1. Late submissions will not be entertained no matter what reasons are given.
2. Applications without sufficient documents (stated in the guidelines) will not be considered.
3. Submitted application forms and documents will not be returned, whatever reasons given.
4. The decision on successful candidates made by the Embassy of Japan is final. Any queries on the final decision will not be entertained.

Source: https://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/teachertraining.html