The Master’s Degree Program in Infrastructure Management at Yokohama National University was established with a special fund from the Government of Japan, administered by the World Bank, for the purpose of training government officials from developing countries who have engineering backgrounds. The program focuses on such areas as economics, management, specialized engineering and law related to the development and management of infrastructure. In the present global situation, if the government officials who are engaged in planning and implementing their nations’ infrastructure development policies are to make decisions consistent with the welfare of the people of their countries, it is vital that those officials have advanced knowledge of and experience in management, technological fields and macro-economics.
The YNU program, which is specifically designed to meet the needs of students from developing countries under the scholarship program funded by the World Bank, offers lectures and laboratory work in the fields of engineering, economics, management and law. Students are also provided with an opportunity to learn practical Japanese, mathematics, computer techniques and other basic subjects. After the initial 12 months of schooling, students engage in an internship program related to their area of study mainly through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
During the remainder of the two-year period, individual instruction and tutorials are given to students to help them consolidate their understanding of their courses and prepare a thesis, which is a requirement for the completion of the Master’s program.
The YNU program is organized and operated by an inter-faculty committee, which functions in close cooperation with JICA. The university committee consists of the Graduate School of Education and Human Sciences, the Graduate School of Engineering, the Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, and the International Graduate School of Social Sciences of Yokohama National University.
Approximately fifteen scholarships are allocated to the YNU program by the World Bank. Each scholarship provides a monthly allowance of JPY170,000 (2011-2013) and a round-trip air ticket to Japan plus a travel allowance of USD500. The scholarship also covers tuition fees, the entrance examination fee and the admission fee.
Citizens of low and middle income World Bank member countries are eligible for the scholarships. Applicants must be age 35 or under as of April 1, 2011. Applicants must have at least four years of practical experience involving responsibility for infrastructure development and must also intend to pursue a career in the field of development.
Application Deadline August 13, 2010
