A life-changing opportunity through Ajinomoto scholarship

MANILA, Philippines - Living in one of the world’s best cities and immersing one’s self in an environment of diverse culture, while earning a Master’s degree in one of the world’s best universities is perhaps the dream of many students and young professionals.

But for two Filipino scholars, this is their reality — living in Tokyo and experiencing the world, while earning a Master’s degree at the University of Tokyo — a once in a lifetime opportunity that they got through the Ajinomoto postgraduate scholarship grant.

Giselle Grace Lim, the first recipient of the scholarship grant in 2010, has been studying Applied Biological Chemistry since April 2011. As an international student, she has seen the difference between Japanese and Philippine universities, in terms of conducting research studies. She underscores the premium that the University of Tokyo puts on research, which she experienced firsthand when her Japanese professor encouraged her to conduct a research that has no immediate application but can contribute to adding new knowledge in the scientific field — an idea that is new to Giselle. “Since I was trained to do research on a limited funding, my mindset was to develop a research that could be readily utilized and profited from. This is in contrast with my professor’s mindset since he is most concerned about contributing new knowledge,” she shares.  

Karen Tan, Ajinomoto postgraduate scholarship grant holder for 2011, on the one hand, enjoys doing research work at the University of Tokyo because of the extensive array of instruments available to the students. “Very fortunately, all the instruments and reagents needed for performing the experiments I have only wished to perform when I was in UP are here within one area,” the former instructor and research assistant at the University of the Philippines Manila tells. She also shares that her Japanese professors and classmates always give her a hand in helping her fully understand the lessons, which are all delivered in Nihongo. Karen took up Pharmacy as her undergraduate course and is currently studying Natural Products Chemistry.

While Giselle and Karen have already started pursuing their Master’s degree, 2012 Ajinomoto Postgraduate Scholarship Grant recipient Melvin Charles Dy is looking forward to begin his course in Applied Computer Studies in April. He expects that his studies at the University of Tokyo will be more challenging and more rewarding than his experience in the Philippines.

After graduation, Giselle and Karen are considering to join the academe to impart their new learning to young minds, while Melvin wants to become part of a professional research group to contribute towards the development of new technologies that will benefit the public.

Although the three scholarship recipients are pursuing studies in respective fields that interest them, they are one in saying that the postgraduate degree, which they will earn through the Ajinomoto postgraduate scholarship grant, will lead them to fulfilling their goals of advancing their careers.

The application for the 2013 Ajinomoto Postgraduate Scholarship Grant is now open. The successful applicant will receive a full scholarship in one of the graduate schools in the field of science and technology at the University of Tokyo, and can enroll either as a research student first then as a master’s course student (three-year program) or directly as a master’s course student (two-year program). Other benefits include monthly living allowance; full coverage of examinations, admission and tuition fees; full coverage of Japanese language learning prior to going to Japan; and full coverage of airfare to and from Japan. Deadline for application is on March 20, 2012. For more details, contact 8906410, e-mail [email protected] and visit www.ajinomoto.com.ph