THE JAPANESE government, to its credit, seems incredibly keen to have Irish students pay at least one visit in their lives to the Land of the Rising Sun.
Essay competitions, placements and research scholar ships all ensure that that third level students can't say that they haven't been offered some opportunity to experience the hospitality of the Japanese nation.
Rene Duignan, a UCD graduate, has been awarded one of this year's Monbusho scholarships for research students. Two other graduates, Aoife Burke and Christabel O'Loughlin, both graduates of, the NCAD, have received provisional offers of scholarships, pending the confirmation of suitable places for them at Japanese universities.
The 18 month or two year scholarships are open to all university or college graduates who wish to study at a Japanese university as research students. The scholarships cover travel costs, accommodation, an arrival allowance of 25,000 yen (approximately £120), a monthly allowance of 185,500 yen (roughly £900), an allowance for field study and the payment of all fees.
Applications for the 1998 scholarships are now being accepted. Forms are available from the Department of Education (international section), floor 6, Apollo House, Tara Street, Dublin 2. Further details are also available from those nice people at the Embassy of Japan, Nutley Building, Merrion Centre, Nutley Lane, Dublin 4 (tel: (01) 269 4244, ext. 42). The closing date for receipt of applications is July 1997.
A note of caution, though. Up to two years in a foreign country is not for the faint off heart, a fact acknowledged in the details of this year's scholarship programme: "In view of expected psychological burden due to cultural and environmental changes, mental as well as physical health is an essential prerequisite." You have been warned.
