Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) was established by the Government of Bangladesh with the assistance of the Government of Japan in 2001.
The objective of JDS Program is to support human resources development of Bangladesh, targeting promising, young government officials and others, who are expected to be leaders of the country, and to engage in formulating and implementing social and economic development policies in Bangladesh. Participants of the JDS Program, JDS fellows, shall continue to expand and enhance foundation for bilateral relations with Japan, having well-rounded knowledge of Japan.
JDS fellows will acquire expert knowledge, conduct research, and build human networks at Japanese universities, and are expected to use such knowledge to take an active role in practically solving problems concerning the social and economic development issues that Bangladesh is facing.

Framework of JDS Program in Bangladesh
The framework of the JDS program has been reviewed and new system is applied from 2010-2011 batch, to ensure the better assessment and enhance efficiencies of the program. A single program was designed to have "four batches" and this is the first batch in Bangladesh in the new system.
The new JDS program consists of "sub-program" and "component", which correspond to and deal with the selected target priority area and development issues. In Bangladesh, 2 sub-programs and 4 components have been settled, which were confirmed as being indispensable to the economic and social development of Bangladesh through the preliminary study. JDS fellows are selected from the "Bangladesh Civil Service Cadre/ Class-1 Officers of Bangladesh Bank" related to the target priority areas and development issues to be developed. Accepting Japanese universities, which provide educational programs corresponded to the needs on development issues, are allocated accordingly. The degree to be obtained is master's degree.
JDS fellows will be accepted by the universities in Japan, which provide them with related programs concerning the Sub-Program and Component.

Chart 1   ↓

Research Areas under Each Component:
Research areas are the breakdown of the component (development issues), and your research plan must be related to one of the research areas under the component of your choice.

Public Administration:
□  Advancing effective administrative systems
□  Decentralization and improvement of regional development
□  Social development and climate change
□  Strengthening of analysis, evaluation and planning in public policy

Economics:
□  Ensuring balanced and stable fiscal management
□  Promotion of attractive market and active industries
□  Economic growth and climate change
□  Advancement of administrative capacity to improve trade and investment

Environmental Policy:
□  Building institutional capacity for environmental management
□  Development adopting Clean Development Mechanism
□  Environmental policy and climate change
□  Socio-environmental considerations for development projects

International Relations:
□  Strengthening of multilateral diplomatic relations focusing on development, trade, investment and finance
□  Building-up closer relationship with Asian countries

1)  Nationality: Bangladesh Nationals

2)  Age:  Below forty (40) years of age as of April 1, 2010 (Born on/after April 2, 1970)

3)  Academic Background: Completed sixteen (16) years of school education with at least Bachelor's degree. At least two (2) First Division or equivalent with no Third Division (At the time of application, 2009)

4)  Work Experience:

• Public Administration, Economics, Environmental Policy, International Relations: confirmed member of Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Cadre with two (2) years of work experience in Government Service
• Economics, Environmental Policy: Class-1 Officers of Bangladesh Bank with two (2) years of work experience in Bangladesh Bank.

5)  Health: Applicants must be mentally and physically in good health

6)  Permissions:

• Applicants must obtain permission for their application from appropriate department or person (Prescribed Form).
• For Government Officials: To be a Government Official in BCS Cadre, successfully completed necessary Foundation Training Course by April 1, 2010, and eligible to get the deputation for full period of preparatory orientation as well as study in Japan before the departure to Japan.
• For Bangladesh Bank Officials: To be a Class-1 Officer AND eligible to get study-leave or deputation for full period of preparatory orientation as well as study in Japan before the departure to Japan.

7)  Ineligibility:

• Those who have been awarded or are scheduled to receive other scholarship of master's degree program.
• Those who have already taken a master's degree overseas.
• Military personnel and military civilian employees registered on the active list. Those who are personnel on temporary leave from the active list.

* To apply for JDS program, applicants are expected to have good command of both written and spoken English (preferably IELTS 6.0/ CBT (Computer-Based TOEFL) 213/ PBT (Paper-Based TOEFL) 550 or above).

• Number of dispatched fellows: Maximum 15 fellows in 2010-2011 batch
• Sub-Program / Component and Universities: Refer to Chart 2
• Degree to be obtained: Master's degree (2 year Course)
• Language: Basically instructed in English

• Applicants must complete all sections of Application Form in English.
• Applicants must choose the sub-program / component and accepting university.
• Application Form must be attached with required documents. The documents must be issued in English or accompanied with an attested English translation.
• Application Form and required documents must be submitted by hand or post to
  JICE JDS Project Office in Bangladesh.
• Application deadline is 17:00, September 14 (Monday), 2009.
• Application missing the deadline shall NOT be accepted.
• Application documents will not be returned under any circumstances.

a. First Selection: Examining Application Documents

• Application Documents will be examined by accepting universities by mid October 2009.
• Only successful candidates will be notified the selection result by post and/or phone by mid October, 2009

b. Examination on English Proficiency and Mathematics

• While Application Documents are being examined, candidates must take English examination (IELTS) and Basic Mathematics examination  (60 min) in Dhaka in mid October, 2009. Failure to attend the both exams will lead to disqualification from the selection. Only those who can submit valid official certificate of IELTS (6.0), TOEFL (CBT 213, PBT 550) or above will be exempted from English examination (IELTS). Both exams are used only for reference purpose.

c. Second Selection: Technical Interview

• Candidates will take an interview with a professor of Japanese university concerned and a medical check in Dhaka in late October, 2009.
• Only successful candidates will be notified the selection result by post and/or phone by late October 2009.

d. Third Selection: Comprehensive Interview

• Candidates will take an interview with the Operating Committee members of JDS in Dhaka in early November, 2009.
• Only successful candidates will be notified the selection result by post and/or phone by late November 2009.
• Final successful candidates are requested to submit JDS pledge to follow the conditions deemed necessary as scholarship fellows under the JDS Program.

e. Admission to University

• JICE-JDS project office supports the final successful candidates for the necessary university admission procedures.
• Upon admission by the university to accept, the final candidates can be regarded as JDS fellows.

-Place of Distribution:

JICE JDS Project Office in Bangladesh:

• It is mandatory for fellows to participate in short-term Pre-departure Orientation in Dhaka when requested and before departure in late July 2010.
• Fellows are scheduled to arrive at Japan in early August 2010.
• After the arrival, fellows will participate in a short Japanese Language Training in Japan until the enrolment to each accepting university.
• Fellows will enter each accepting university in August to October 2010.

About related organizations in China and their roles
The JDS program is executed through discussion, confirmation and conclusion by Operating Committee (O/C). Main members of Operating Committee and their roles are as follows;

» Rules of JDS Fellows 2009   (PDF / 1.2MB)