1. Why did you choose to study in Japan?

Studying abroad had been my great obsession, and Japan remained on the top list of my promised destinations. Japan’s best education systems and the unique ways of life of the Japanese people inspired me to study there. To me, Japan is undoubtedly the place for producing qualified human resources. Furthermore, I observe that its strong foundation of education cultivates students to be proficient, independent, enforce critical thinking skills, and possess the highest morality. 

2. How did you prepare Doc and find info before you studied in Japan?

Getting a chance to study in Japan has always alarmed me vibrantly. Thus, I kept myself updated by critically following Japan’s embassy’s newsfeeds and MoEYS’ web pages to accomplish this dream. Then I found an announcement called for application with detailed requirements and procedures. So, I just followed the available guidelines, and I found that the preparation of the documents was not that difficult.

3. What do you expect to learn or discover in your time abroad?

My strong expectations are to enhance scientific research and analytical skills to deal with a broad range of contemporary political and development problems. Besides, I want to learn the best practices of Japan’s development lessons. Equally important, I am keen to learn how Japan implements its foreign policy in the fluid world situation that has been becoming more complex and uncertain, resulting from the rampant geopolitical rivalries and the emergence of new threats and world actors.

4. What are excites you about studying abroad?

Studying abroad was incredibly impactful on my learning outcomes, both academic and social life. These impacts excited me the most. For the academic setting, I have expanded horizontal knowledge in my major, mastered my research skills, and developed analytical and logical thinking skills. For the social life, I have possessed a better understanding of Japanese society and adopted favorable networking with new people.   

5. What advice would you give to another student?

• Sharpen your goal and come up with a good research proposal! Then master yourself in your topic: what will be its academic contribution or value-added to development or social improvements? 

• Be prepared and ready to confirm with the examiners/selection committee that you are the prioritized and potential applicant!

• Be optimistic and wait for luck!

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6. What was the most valuable lesson you learned from Japan?

Development Strategies! It was about socio-economic development policies needed for developing countries to achieve economic growth in a sustainable way. It covered a broad range of practical knowledge, which is advantageous for economic development, especially on developing countries’ strategies to enforce active engagement in the proliferation of regional economic integration and maximize socio-economic impacts from those initiatives.

7. How did you get to study in Japan?

My dream to study in Japan came true through the JDS scholarship. (Thank you, the government and the people of Japan, for giving me this invaluable scholarship). 

I had gone through some challenging stages. The initial stage was the ‘academic aptitude test’ to shortlist suitable candidates. After that, the so-called ‘screening stage,’ where the designated university comprehensively reviewed the application and research proposal. Then ‘technical interview’ was conducted. In this stage, a professor from the Japanese university came to Phnom Penh and examined our potentialities. Finally, a ‘comprehensive interview’ was administered for a final decision. It was interviewed by a composition of Japanese and Cambodian examiners.