One of The Nippon Foundation's premier efforts is a scholarship
program known as SYLFF. SYLFF, which is implemented by The Tokyo
Foundation, is described below in an article by Tua Mondal, which
appeard in the December 23rd issue of The Statesman, a major Indian
newspaper. The article appeared, following a pair of million-dollar
grants, given to Jadavpur University and Jawaharlal Nehru
University.

When Japan came to JU
SASAKAWA Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF) is a fellowship
programme administered by the Nippon Foundation, a Japanese non-
profit foundation.working in the areas of eradication of leprosy
and human resource development. Beginning 1987, there have been 68
SYLFF endowed universities in 45 countries of Africa, Asia,
America, Europe and Middle East and 8500 fellows.

Jadavpur University competed for the endowment, worth 1 million
dollars, and was the first Indian institute to earn a SYLFF status,
closely followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. "We had
to submit a theme on which university students would be working,"
said Joyashree Roy, the SYLFF project director, Department of
Economics, JU. The fellowship will be awarded to outstanding
students working on the broad theme, "tradition, social change and
sustainable development," as relevant to contemporary Indian
society. "Other than academic excellence the financial management
and the administrative work of JU helped us to earn this grant,"
puts in Roy.

The forms would be distributed in August 2004 and the fellowship
period starts from July 2005. A maximum of four fellowships would
be allotted--two for MA, one for MPhil, one for PhD. "The
numbers may vary, depending on the quality of proposals," says
Biswajit Chatterjee, dean, Faculty of Arts, JU. The proposed
research must be completed within three years and no dropouts or
extension would be granted.

For a PhD programme, applicants must have a masters or a higher
degree from any faculty or interdisciplinary school of any
university, in any country. The applicant must register at JU under
the Faculty of Arts. The values of the fellowships offered are--
US $ 3400+ 3660 + 3920 for doing a PhD and US$ 1600 for an MA.

Fellows Mobility Programme awards will enable SYLFF fellows to
pursue study and research for not more than one year at another
SYLFF institution. SYLFF prize winners will be invited to Japan for
two weeks.

Yohei Sasakawa, president, Nippon Foundation, when contacted in
Japan, sounded highly enthusiastic about JU's becoming the first
Indian University to receive this grant. "The university
participates actively in policy-making for the state and national
governments, other state-run bodies and nongovernmental
organisations. JU is also deeply into the development and
validation of different types of indigenous knowledge. It was
selected for its achievements as acknowledged by the University
Grants Commission of India (one of the five universities with
'potential for excellence'), and the National Assessment and
Accreditation Council (NAAC) which has granted it a five-star
status," he said. "During the preliminary survey of the
university by the foundation, JU consistently demonstrated a deep
understanding of the SYLFF programme, a strong commitment to
fulfilling the purpose and the goal of SYLFF programme, and a
thoughtful responsiveness, led by the vice-chancellor," he added.

But how would the fellowships benefit Indian society? "JU will
publicly announce the availability of SYLFF fellowships throughout
West Bengal and thereby attract applications from highly qualified
individuals who have a high potential for leadership in national
regional and international affairs--public life as well as
private endeavours. They would be committed to society throughout
their lives," said Sasakawa, with great conviction.


Tua Mondal