Study in Japan: From new rules, visa policies to best colleges – all you need to know

Are the methods adopted by the Government of Japan enough to attract students from India? Check the list of changes and top colleges.

Studying abroad in Japan can be a gainful experience for any student, especially for those who are interested in science and technology, finance and even pop culture. In fact, Japanese universities are working really hard to attract international students to raise their competitiveness with other international study abroad destinations such as the USA and UK. In 2009, the Japanese government had adopted the goal of securing 3,00,000 foreign student admissions by 2020, an aim that has been achieved ahead of time, with 298,980 international students enrolled in Japanese institutions, as of May 2018.

Their government also aimed to have 10 Japanese universities in the list of top 100 universities in the world by 2023. In this regard too, the government policies seem to be taking effect as the QS World University Rankings of 2019 have listed five Japanese universities among the top 100. Given below are a couple of ways the government of Japan is hoping to attract more foreign students. These can also be a game-changer for Indian students aspiring to study there.

Online presence: Universities in Japan are increasing their online as well as offline dialogue with prospective international applicants by offering more expansive support through student service offices and having degree programme information available in English.

Dormitories: They are also changing the campus structure and culture to make it more accommodating for foreign students. In Japan, most students commute to the college from their own houses which left international students desperate to find their own place of residence, as universities rarely had dormitories available. This has changed in recent times. For instance, Meiji University has built a Global Village dorm complex that caters to the residential needs of both Japanese and international students.

In video| How to plan your study abroadEnglish as mode of instruction: Language is the biggest obstacle faced by any foreign student who wishes to study in Japan. To remedy this, universities are changing their curriculum to include full-degree programmes in English as well as offering diverse courses in humanities and sciences. The University of Tokyo offers 24-degree programmes for UG and PG candidates which are taught entirely in English.

New scholarships: Funding is also one of the main issues faced by foreign students who wish to study in Japan. To tackle this problem, the MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) and JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization) offer government-funded scholarships to prospective applicants. Beyond this, Japanese universities are offering their own scholarship programmes to target foreign students.

Job opportunities: The Japanese government has also set its sights on increasing the employment rate of foreign students (who wish to work in Japan after the completion of their degrees) to 50 per cent by the year 2020. The universities in Japan are thus increasing their efforts in securing students part-time jobs and providing them with access to their alumni networks to ease the job search process.

If you are also considering to take advantage of these new rules, here are some colleges you can consider:

University of Tokyo: Founded in the year 1877, University of Tokyo or ‘Todai’, as it is colloquially known, is one of Japan’s most historically significant institutes of higher education. In fact, 15 of Japan’s 62 prime ministers have completed their education at Todai and five former students have become astronauts. It ranks among the QS World Top 10 for providing the best education in disciplines like modern languages, physics, astronomy, chemistry, mechanical and chemical engineering.

Kyoto University: Kyoto University was established in 1897 in the former capital city of Kyoto in Japan. The institute has produced 13 Nobel Prize winners since its inception and is founded on the motto of ‘freedom of academic spirit’. It ranks among the top 2 in Japan with Todai and is ranked among the top 50 globally.

Osaka University: Nicknamed ‘Handai’ by the local populace, Osaka University was founded in 1724. According to the QS World Rankings, it is among the top 100 best universities globally. It is renowned for being among the top 40 universities in the world providing excellent quality of education in subjects like dentistry, chemical engineering, natural sciences and material science research.

–Article by Buddy4Study

Source: Indian Express, 8/02/2020

Remembering the British journalist who was deported for his fearless reporting on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre

Horniman was also known to have smuggled into Britain the photographs of the massacre, which were published in the Daily Herald. His defiance, however, resulted in deportation.

After the rifles of Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer and his 50 men fell silent at Jallianwala Bagh, the press was gagged from reporting on the indiscriminate firing at hundreds of people peacefully protesting against the British rule.

Benjamin Guy Horniman, a British journalist working with the Bombay Chronicle, defied the order and reported fearlessly on the protests being held across India against the infamous Rowlatt Act and the nationalist sentiment that was on the rise in the country in general. “His was a very unbiased account because he was British and had nothing to gain from reporting what he saw as the truth,” says author Kishwar Desai who has referred extensively to Horniman’s report on the incident in her book ‘Jallianwala Bagh, 1919: The real story’.

Horniman was also known to have smuggled into Britain the photographs of the massacre, which were published in the Daily Herald. His defiance, however, resulted in deportation.

Who was Benjamin Guy Horniman?

Horniman was born at Sussex county in England in 1873. He began a career in journalism in his early 20s at the Portsmouth Evening Mail. He worked in several British dailies including the Manchester Guardian and the Daily Chronicle.

Horniman moved to Calcutta in 1906 to join the Statesman as its News Editor and Assistant Editor. During his stint in India, Horniman was one of the very few British reporters to write about the impact of colonial rule and the authorities failure in maintaining law and order.

In 1913 Horniman moved to Bombay to take up the job of editor of The Bombay Chronicle, a nationalist newspaper founded by the political leader, Pherozeshah Mehta. The newspaper became a mouthpiece of the freedom movement in India and the scathing attack on the British regime soon earned Horniman the criticism of his own countrymen. He also played a huge role in assisting Motilal Nehru begin the Allahabad-based newspaper ‘The Independent’, which was known for its radical stance and unabashed criticism of the British rule.

Horniman’s reportage of the protests against the Rowlatt Act

In the days preceding the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy, the atmosphere in the country was thick with resentment against the British enactment of the Rowlatt Act. Press censorship was among the several other draconian measures undertaken by the British to control the rising nationalist sentiment in the country. Horniman’s efforts at reporting the truth, defying the gag orders deserve special mention. He wrote extensively on how the spirit of nationalism had spread like wildfire among even those who had never been politically active.

“He is one of the first British reporters to have pointed out to the Hindu-Muslim unity that existed during that time,” says Desai. “Subsequent events in Punjab served to strengthen this feeling of unity between the two great sections of the Indian people so greatly that never again will the ruling powers be able to look at the principle of Divide et Impera for their good,” wrote Horniman in his book ‘Amritsar and our duty’, as cited by Desai.

His coverage of the Jallianwala tragedy, however, irked the colonial authorities and he was deported to Britain. “There was huge censorship going on in Punjab at that time, but since he was British they did not censor him initially. When the authorities started feeling uncomfortable they just deported him,” explains Desai. He passed away in 1948, just a year after India gained independence. His fearless journalism had influenced and inspired several in India and he continues to be commemorated in Mumbai’s ‘Horniman Circle Gardens’. “Gandhi too had expressed his sadness and sorrow because someone like Horniman had been forced to leave by the British,” says Desai.

Source: Indian Express, 14/04/2019

The Inner Ocean

On this planet, we have deep, vast oceans with their cool refreshing waters, their tranquil scenery, and their hidden mysteries. People often go to the seashore to bathe in these waters or gaze upon their beauty. There is another ocean, far greater than the physical waters of this earth. It is an ocean that is far more permanent than the seas; an ocean that offers not only refreshing waters to bathe the body, but also to nourish the soul. It is the ocean of spiritual consciousness, waiting to be tapped within each of us. It is waiting to be discovered by everyone who seeks it. Spiritual consciousness is becoming conscious of the soul and divinity within. Most of us are aware of our body, of thoughts passing through our mind, and of the world around us. This is called body consciousness or physical consciousness. But we are more than our body and mind. We are actually a soul, a conscious entity that inhabits the body. The soul is a part of the Divine and is the power that enlivens the body. This consciousness at the level of soul, independent of body and mind, is termed spiritual consciousness. We can attain spiritual consciousness by focusing our attention within, through a process called meditation. Through meditation, we contact our true nature, our soul, and discover it is one with God, the Source of divine love. Then we will find all the treasures of divinity available to us. Just as the ocean has been there for people of all ages, so is the spiritual ocean of love lying in wait for us within. Meditation is the first step.

Source: Economic Times, 17/02/2020

Quote of the Day

February 14, 2020

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.”

‐ George Sheehan

“जैसा इंसान आपको विश्वास है आपको बनना है, वैसा बनने की इच्छाशक्ति, लगन और हौंसला होना ही सफलता का मतलब है।”

‐ जॉर्ज शीहन

Careers are not dependent on grades, these success stories are a proof

But, is it really that big of a problem? Even if it is, how do we deal with it? In the words of our former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, “Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success”.

While most of the Class 12 students by now have secured a seat in their college or are waiting for the cut-offs, there are many who may not get a seat in their favourite course or college. Throughout the year, we all work hard to score well in the board exams but even after getting results, we are worried. Why? The root of our problems is our career. In India, there are many competitive examinations ranging from NEET and IIT-JEE to CLAT that are held in May-June. The issue that bothers us the most is either our marks in board exams or our performance in competitive tests.

If we manage to secure good score in our exams, we become anxious and nervous whether we would be able to secure a seat in a good institution or not. On the other hand, if we do not achieve good-enough marks, people around us makes us realise how ruined our life will become and how we will not be able to have a decent career in future. This is the most serious problem of all the students in India — it, literally, is a do-or-die situation.

But, is it really that big of a problem? Even if it is, how do we deal with it? In the words of our former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, “Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success”. He always said that our perspective can make all the difference. In order to support his poor family, he distributed newspapers after his school-hours to add to his father’s income. He received average marks in school but was a hardworking student with a strong desire to learn and discover. He also failed to become a pilot but he never lost hope and later came to be known as the “Missile man of India”. His life is a clear example of the result we get when we deal with our problems positively.

Stephen Hawking is another well-known name. He was a great cosmologist, theoretical physicist and author. He hailed from a poor family and at 21, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS: failure nerves that control muscles). His early school life was not magnificent, he got the third rank from the bottom in his classes but he really enjoyed board-games. He made computers out of waste-parts to solve mathematical equations. His immense success as a physicist proves that our careers are not solely decided by our grades and disability but on our determination. He always said, “Disability is never physical and is always in the mind.”

We all love Harry Potter novels but not many of us know about the hardships faced by the series author JK Rowling. Soon after getting the idea for Harry Potter, she began writing but had to stop suddenly because of the devastating death of her mother. Later, she ended up with a failed marriage. She had no job. As she struggled with depression, raising her baby-daughter on her own and living off scant unemployment benefits, she resumed her work on the books while her daughter was asleep. In spite of numerous setbacks, she found peace in doing what she loved the most – writing.

Her work was constantly rejected by numerous publishers but as she describes now “Failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me”. Finally, the editor at Bloomsbury publishing company agreed to publish her work. She rose from being a jobless single-mother to one of the best-selling authors of all times.

Clearly, it is very important to realise that poor marks and not getting admission in favourite college/ course are trivial issues. Rather than losing heart, we should think of making our next step successful. What matters is the way we deal with problems. That is what makes or breaks our careers. Good grades in examinations are never useless but they definitely are not the only factor that leads to successful professions and we, as students, should learn this from our real-life heroes.

- The author is an M.Tech student- Biological Engineering- IIT Gandhinagar

Source: Indian Express, 6/07/2018

How an Assam village is building its own tank for safe water during floods

Using traditional purification methods along with modern technology, the tank is expected to provide arsenic-free drinking water to 236 villages in Majuli island.

When floods hit Assam in July 2019, Haren Narah, a resident of Majuli, started distributing relief materials in the island’s Jogibari village. The wave of floods that year were particularly devastating, affecting all 33 districts, with close to 100 people losing their lives.

The materials being distributed included tents, packets of Surf Excel detergent and sanitary napkins. Potable water, in the form of Bisleri water bottles, was also part of the package — till residents said the pet bottles were of no real use.

“Clean, drinking water is probably the biggest challenge during the floods every year. And the small water bottles were not making much of a difference. I wondered how we could solve the problem,” says Narah, who has been a social activist for 15 years and was at one point the president of Takam Mising Porin Kebang, or the Mising tribe student union.

Months later, the answer can be found in a patch of land 46-year-old Narah donated to his community. On it now is being built a community water tank of thousand-litre capacity. “The aim is to provide clean drinking water during floods to the 236 families of the five sapori (island) villages in Majuli and North Lakhimpur,” says Narah.

The tank is being built with the money raised from the crowdfunded Living Art Festival organised in Majuli by a Guwahati-based NGO, Maati Community. It is near completion and will be inaugurated this month.

The tank, Narah hopes, will prove most useful during the annual flood season in July and August. A reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structure has the tank placed at 1.8 metres above ground level. It comes with a staircase and safety railing.

“We did some research on the traditional Mising houses of Majuli —1.8 meters is the safety mark, and most families store their belongings at that height.” says Ankur Choudhury, an architect and faculty member at the North East Hill University, who helped design the tank.

Choudhry and his partner Sneha Doijad were also involved in Maati Community’s Living Art Festival 2020 — an art festival which promotes community engagement in Majuli.

The architects, who have worked on a number of rural community projects, refer to the tank as an “indigenous knowledge-based water tank”, which uses traditional water purification methods practised by the villagers — a three layered water filter consisting of coal from burnt timber or bamboo, small pieces of stone, and river sand.

“Usually two small earthen matkas (pots) are used atop the other. The three layers act as purification filters for the water which is thrown from the top. The purified water filters into the second matka,” says Choudhury. The same technique has been replicated on a larger scale for the project.

“This method is very common in the villages here — the sand layer acts like a sieve, all the impurities are collected in layer which has the bed of stones, and finally the charcoal is another purifying level,” says Choudhry.

The team is also testing the tank to see if the water is arsenic-free. “In Majuli, most areas have a high level of arsenic,” says Narah. Fluoride, too, is found in above-prescribed limits in groundwater. A report from October 2018 says that 6,881 areas in 24 out of 33 districts in Assam have arsenic contamination. Long-term consumption of contaminated water can have grave results and lead to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, bronchitis and diabetes, among others.

While most houses have been sticking to traditional purification methods, some, says Choudhuri, have moved to modern Aquaguard filters as well. “But we decided to go with this because we wanted to build a bridge between the traditional and the modern,” says Choudhry, adding that the use of RCC and the water tank were the modern features.

With the work about 80 per cent complete, the tank remains to be waterproofed. At the height of 1.8 metres, there is a wooden plank — so it can be accessed by boat during the floods. “But the good part is that it can be used all-year around,” says Narah.

Source: Indian Express, 6/02/2020

Parasite’s Oscar is likely to awaken many film viewers to cinema beyond Hollywood

For whatever reasons, the Oscars are popular and have a wide reach, and if this popularity can help bring attention to the many cinemas of the world, perhaps that’s not such a bad thing. Am I being too ambitious while saying this?

Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite won big at the 92nd Academy Awards. It bagged four top honours including the Best Picture Oscar. Parasite also merits special acclaim for being the first Non-English film to win in the Best Picture category. Expectedly, Bong Joon Ho is over the moon and considers his victory as a big moment for South Korean cinema.

The Oscar has its own set of problems and I am not suggesting that an Oscar recognition is always an indicator of excellence in cinema produced in Hollywood. However, it was heartwarming when several of those who came on stage either to present or accept awards made repeated references to race, gender, equality and justice through film reminding their colleagues about cinema’s social role. Like all other awards, the Academy Awards also fall prey to formula and that criticism is valid. Before the big day, film critics and audiences spend many anxious moments making predictions for possible winners. However, I see Parasite’s victory in a slightly different way.

Bong Joon Ho is a well-regarded film maker from South Korea. His films have regularly travelled the film festival route enabling many of us located in smaller cities like Pune to watch his films. He recently said that once you overcome the barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many amazing films. I couldn’t agree more with his statement though I have always believed that cinema is primarily a visual medium. The visuals or images constructed in film become its language. Often the images speak louder than dialogues and I felt the same while watching Parasite.

Set in contemporary South Korea, it is the story of class apathy and social disparity. While wealth is controlled and concentrated in the hands of a few, large masses live literally like parasites in their underground homes because they couldn’t afford to live anywhere else. There’s a scene in the film when the parasite-like residence, because of its low-lying location, is submerged in water owing to incessant rains. The people look helpless and indifferent because they don’t know what else to do. I don’t think any language or subtitle would aid or prohibit my understanding of this agony though the reach and visibility of such cinema remains a point of concern.

Parasite’s win is expected to awaken many film viewers (not only Americans) to cinema beyond Hollywood. Owing to its cultural and political clout, Hollywood is often the only foreign cinema that is available in our theatres. Film festivals, film society and archive screenings and some online film viewing platforms are the only other forums to watch non-Hollywood foreign films.

For whatever reasons, the Oscars are popular and have a wide reach, and if this popularity can help bring attention to the many cinemas of the world, perhaps that’s not such a bad thing. Am I being too ambitious while saying this? Perhaps yes, but as I write this, Parasite is back in theatres with increased number of shows. Many multiplexes have moved the film from a late night slot to a more respectable time amenable for public viewing.

Also read | Parasite’s win at Oscars 2020 brings pride and bit of disbelief in Korea

At theatres here, we also managed to see Pedro Almodovar’s Pain and Glory which was nominated alongside Parasite in the Best International Film category. There were very few shows entirely made possible by the Oscar nomination. Is that a desirable situation? I don’t think so. But I do want to hope that a small beginning has been made with Parasite.

Bong Joon Ho has also made English films in the past and worked with Hollywood stars like Tilda Swinton. However, his films have been most effective when he delved deeper into his own context and social reality. Parasite is a glaring example of that conviction and reminds us again of cinema’s powerful role to make us aware of the many inequalities that thrive around us and how complicit we are in such a process.

This article first appeared in the print edition on February 13, 2020 under the title ‘After the prize’. The writer teaches literary and cultural studies at FLAME University, Pune.

Source: Indian Express, 13/02/2020