President YOSHIDA Kozo delivered an online lecture to the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) of Bhutan on "Japan's Civil Service Personnel Management System (the Personnel Evaluation System in particular)" on February 24, 2026.

RCSC leads the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) in Bhutan, administered by JICE, as the implementing organization and serves as co-Chair of the Operating Committee. Under a long-standing collaborative relationship with JICE, this lecture was given based on the request from Tashi Pem, Chairperson of RCSC, and Dr. Tshering Cigay Dorji, Commissioner of RCSC, both of whom have studied in Japan for post graduate study, in order to systematically learn about Japan's civil service performance evaluation system.

RCSC Chairperson Tashi Pem asks a question to President Yoshida's lecture

More than 20 participants from RCSC, including all five Commissioners, participated in the online lecture on the day. Drawing on his experience as Commissioner of Japan’s National Personnel Authority, President Yoshida began his lecture by reviewing the characteristics of the modern civil service system, or professional civil service system. He then touched on the origins of Japan's civil service system and the democratization and civil service reforms after World War II. He then explained how Japan's personnel evaluation system was established and what it is now. He also lectured what is needed to improve the quality and capabilities of government administration and to secure highly motivated and capable civil servants.

During the question-and-answer session, many questions directly related to practical matters were raised, including how absolute evaluation is used in personnel evaluations for Japanese civil servants, the mechanisms for competency evaluation and performance evaluation, and how evaluation results are reflected in personnel management. Active exchange of opinions were made well beyond the scheduled time.

Tashi Pem, Chairperson of RCSC, commented, “It was a very comprehensive and highly beneficial lecture. It provided valuable insights that will influence the development of Bhutan’s personnel management system in the future.” Dr. Tshering Cigay Dorji, Commissioner of RCSC, added, “What we learned from this lecture will undoubtedly have a significant impact on Bhutan’s civil service system.”

JICE hopes that this lecture will contribute to the establishment of a better civil service system in Bhutan. JICE will also continue to deepen its engagement and collaboration with RCSC and contribute to strengthening administrative capacity and human resource development in Bhutan.

HAYASHI Etsuko
Deputy Director
Overseas Planning Division Ⅰ and Overseas Planning Division Ⅱ
International Student Programs Department