YOUNG LEADERS' PROGRAM (LAW)
I. OUTLINE
1. General Objectives of the YLP
The Young Leaders' Program (YLP) aims to contribute to the fostering of future national leaders in Asian countries by providing graduate level educational opportunities in Japan. Moreover, the YLP seeks to deepen participants' awareness and understanding of Japan and to help form a regional network among national leaders that contributes to the establishment of friendly relationships and improved policy planning activities among Asian and countries. The YLP is one of the Japanese
Government’s (Monbukagakusho: MEXT*) Scholarship Student schemes.
*MEXT= The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
2. Eligible Countries and Participants
Participants are selected from the sixteen countries listed below. They should be legal professionals, who are expected to play an active role as future national leaders in their respective countries.
Target Countries: P. R. China, Rep. of Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar,
Cambodia, Mongolia, Singapore, India, South Africa, Turkey and Bhutan (16 Countries)
3. Host University
Kyushu University, Graduate School of Law.
4. The Number of Students
15 students maximum per year.
5. Recruitment and Selection
(1) Method of Recruitment
Recruitment will be conducted through specially designated recommending institutions. Please enquire at the Japanese
Embassy for further information on the recommending institutions.
(2) Screening Procedure
① First screening by the recommending institution
② Second screening by the host university (in this case, Kyushu University)
③ Final screening by the YLP Committee established by MEXT
6. Curriculum
(1) Basic Concept of YLP programs
Each YLP course has been specially designed to contribute to the development of national leaders in various fields by seeking to take advantage of Japan's experiences of exchange with both Western and Asian countries and to establish a
“human network” through education related activities.
(2) Course Duration and Qualification
Course duration is for one year, resulting in the conferring of a Master’s degree in Law from Kyushu University.
(3) Language
All classes will be conducted entirely in English.
7. Commencement of the Program
October 2013
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II. INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
MEXT will offer scholarships to foreign students who wish to study in Japanese universities as YLP students in law for the academic year 2013 under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program. The conditions are as follows:
1. Field of Study
Law (Kyushu University, Graduate School of Law)
2. Qualifications
To be eligible, all of the following conditions must be met:
(1) Nationality
Applicants must be nationals of a country that is participating in the YLP (see above). Applicant who has Japanese nationality at the time of application will not be eligible.
(2) Age
Applicants must, in principle, be under 40 years old as of 1st October 2013 (i.e. born on or after 2 October 1973).
(3) Academic Background
Applicants must be college graduates who have attained a high level of academic achievement in their undergraduate study.
(4) English Ability
A minimum TOEFL (Paper-based) score of 550, TOEFL-CBT score of 213, or TOEFL-iBT score of 79-80, or equivalent.
(5) Work Experience
At least 4 years of work experience in the applicant's home country in a law office or in the legal section of a company or government department. This work experience must be full-time and after graduation from university.
(6) Health
Applicants must have no infectious diseases and must be in generally good health.
(7) Visa Requirement: Selected Applicants must obtain a College Student (ryuugaku 留学) visa prior to his arrival in Japan.
Applicants who are already in Japan under a visa other than College Student are required to change it to College Student by the end of the month preceding the start of the scholarship. Applicants who change their resident status to any status other than “College Student” after their arrival in Japan will immediately lose their status as a Japanese government scholarship student. (8) Others: Any applicant who meets any or all of the following conditions is not eligible. If identified after the start of the scholarship period, the applicant will be required to withdraw from the scholarship:
① The Applicant is an active member of the military or a civilian employed by the military at the time the scholarship period is due to begin.
② The Applicant is unable to travel to Japan within the dates set by the receiving university
③ The Applicant is currently enrolled in a Japanese university under the resident status of “College Student,” or if he/she plans to enroll at a Japanese university as a privately-financed international student between the time of application for this scholarship and the time the scholarship period is due to begin.
3. Term of Scholarship
One year from October 2013 to September 2014.
4. Scholarship Benefits
(1) Allowance
242,000 yen (in FY2012. The amount is subject to change.) per month will be awarded to each grantee during the term of the scholarship, with the understanding that the scholarship will be suspended in cases where a grantee is absent from the university for an extended period. The amount of the monthly stipend is subject to annual review and may change.
Scholarship will be cancelled for a grantee in the following cases. Furthermore, if scholarship payments were made during the period the following cases applied, the grantee may be ordered to return scholarship payments received during that period. ① If any of his/her application documents is found to be falsely stated;
② If he/she is in breach of his/her pledge made to the Minister of MONBUKAGAKUSHO (MEXT);
③ If it becomes definitive that the grantee will not be able to complete his/her course within the standard course term because of his/her poor academic achievement or suspension;
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④ If his/her resident status of “College Student” as provided for in Paragraph 1-4 of Appendix to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act changes to any other status;
⑤ If he/she is provided with another scholarship (except for a scholarship designated for research expenses);
⑥The request from the government and/or other state institutions of applicant's home country;
(2) Transportation
① Transportation to Japan
Each grantee will be provided, according to his/her itinerary and route as designated by MEXT, with an economy class air ticket from the international airport closest to his/her place of residence to the Fukuoka International Airport (or following the itinerary normally used by the university where the grantee is placed). Expenses such as inland transportation from his/her place of residence to the nearest international airport, airport tax, airport usage charges, special taxes on overseas travel and travel expenses within Japan will be borne by the grantee (the place of residence of the grantee shall in principle be the address stated in the application form).
② Transportation from Japan
The grantee who is going back to the student's home country within the fixed period after the expiration of the scholarship will be supplied, upon application, with an economy class air ticket from Fukuoka International Airport to the international airport nearest to the student's home address. Such expenses as inland transportation from his/her home address to the international airport, airport tax and special taxes on the travel will NOT be provided (The address in the country of the grantee's nationality stated in the application is in principle considered as the “home address”).
* Any aviation and accident insurance to and from Japan should be contracted by the applicant at his or her own expense.
The airport the grantee departs from or returns to must be an airport of the country of his/her nationality.
(3) School Fees
Fees for matriculation, tuition and entrance examinations at a university will be paid by the Japanese government.
(4) Accommodation
Students can apply for a room at Kyushu University accommodation. (Please note: The number of rooms is limited and successful candidates are not guaranteed a room).
5. Selection
(1) Based on the recommendation of specified institutions, the participating university will select initial candidates from among applicants by means of an interview, a review of the submitted documents and a short essay. If it is not possible to hold an interview in the applicant's home country, an interview may be conducted by telephone or the Internet.
(2) Those who have been selected initially by the participating universities will be put forward to the YLP committee established by MEXT for the final selection.
6. Language of instruction
All lectures and practical training at universities will be conducted entirely in English.
7. Application Procedure
Applicants must submit the following documents to their recommending authorities by the designated deadline. (Please note: submitted documents will not be returned.)
(1)①Application for Admission (prescribed form) ---- 1 Original and 4 Photocopies (except photographs);
(2) Photographs (6 x 4 cm, taken within the past 6 months, should be affixed on each of the 5 application forms) ---- 5
Originals;
(3)②Official Transcript or Certified Academic Record of the university the applicant attended ---- 1 Original and 4
Photocopies;
(4)③Recommendation Letter from the Recommending authority ---- 1 Original and 4 Photocopies;
(5)③Two recommendation Letters from the Employer or from the supervising Professor of the university the applicant last attended (prescribed form) ---- 1 Original and 4 Photocopies;
(6)④Certificate of Health (to be issued by the medical institution designated by the Japanese Embassy of the country in which the applicant resides) ---- 1 Original and 4 Photocopies;
(7)⑤A Copy of the Official Diploma or Certificates of Graduation from the University the applicant last attended ---- 5
Photocopies;
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(8)⑥An Essay explaining applicant's future plans after the completion of the YLP ---- 1 Original and 4 Photocopies;
(9) A Copy of the ⑦Applicant's Family Register, ⑧Photocopy of Passport or ⑦Certificate of the Citizenship ---- 5
Photocopies;
(10)⑨English Proficiency Certificate (TOEFL or other equivalent test score.) ---- 5 Photocopies;
(11)⑩Answers to each of the designated essay questions ---- 1 Original and 4 Photocopies;
(12)Others
① Use A4 paper as the standard for all submitted documents, which in principle should be typed. Handwritten documents should be written clearly.
② These documents should all be written in English. If written in another language, attach an English version translated by a public institution. Caution is necessary as many applications are not written in English and do not come with an
English translation, particularly recommendation letters and diplomas.
③ Recommendation letters written by a workplace supervisor or an academic advisor from one’s university should be written separately by two of them and must use the stipulated format. At least one and preferably two should be written by your direct boss at work.
④ Reason for application and future plans will be important factors in selection, so submit a small essay of three pages explaining as much as possible what you expect from this program and what kind of job you seek in the short- and long-terms. ⑤ If you submit test English proficiency scores from TOEFL or IELTS, please submit scores obtained roughly within the past two years. If you submit other certifications, please submit documents illustrating how to convert the score to
TOEFL or IELTS.
⑥ If you have a book or dissertation, submit a separate overview.
⑦ Your application may be rejected if the above application is either incomplete or inaccurate, or if some documents are missing. ⑧ Write the numbers 1 through 10 in line with the item number for the items above on each document in the upper right corner. 8. Notes
(1) For more detailed information on this scholarship program, please contact the appropriate office at the Japanese Embassy.
(2) A grantee will be deprived of the scholarship in any of the following cases:
a. A false statement has been made on the application documents.
b. A violation of any article of the pledge to the Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology has occurred. c. A grantee has been subjected to disciplinary action by the university or has failed to reach the required academic standard.
d. At the request from the government and/or other state institution of the applicant's home country.
(3) Before coming to Japan, it is advisable to learn enough Japanese language for daily life and to have some information on
Japanese climate, customs and manners, university education, etc.
(4) Please note that the stipend for October will only be given to students at the end of the month. It is highly recommended for grantees to bring approximately US$2,000 or the equivalent to cover immediate needs upon arrival in Japan.
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Young Leaders Program (Law)
Curriculum Guidelines
I. Overview
The primary focus of the YLP in Law at Kyushu University is international economic and business law. The program has been specifically designed to expose students to both theoretical and practical perspectives on a wide range of contemporary legal issues related to international trade and commercial transactions. Courses taught within the framework of the YLP focus on “cutting edge” topics driven by the research interests of an international faculty. As such, the program aims to provide students with the necessary intellectual skills for pursuing a law-related career in an increasingly global economic environment. II. Participants
As a one-year Master’s program in law, this course is primarily geared towards persons who have worked in the legal department of government ministries & business, as well as judges, public prosecutors, lawyers and other law-related professions. In particular, the program is suited to lawyers or government officials working on international trade issues or commercial transactions.
III. Indicative Courses
The following classes are offered within the framework of the YLP. They are divided into three categories: Foundational
Classes, Recommended Classes for YLP & Other Elective Classes.
The following is an indicative list of classes offered in recent years and is subject to change.
(1)Foundational Classes
・Introduction to Legal and Political Studies
・Legal Research Methodology and Writing
・Thesis Workshop
(2)Recommended Classes for YLP
・Japanese Case Law & Practice
・EU Private Law I
・Reception of European Legal Systems and Concepts in Japan
・Introduction to EU Law
・Japanese Law in Comparative Perspectives
・Law & Economics of Contracting & Organizations
・Int'l Law in Today's World
・Comparative Corporate Law
・Financial Services & the Law
(3)Other Elective Classes
・International Business Law
・Int'l Economic and Social Law
・Int'l Economic Law and Practice
・World Trade Law
・Int'l Maritime Law
・Int'l Arbitration
・Consumer Protection Law
・IP and Private International Law
・Int'l Civil Litigation
・Contemporary Issues in Competition Law
・Jap. Constitutional & Administrative Law
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・White Collar and Corporate Crime
・Bioethics and the Law
・Nature, Business and the Law
・Int'l Sports Law
・Japanese Intellectual Property Law Practice
・Creative Economy, Innovation & the Law
・EU Private Law II
・Facts and Theories of Conflict Management
For an up-to-date curriculum see: http://www.law.kyushu-u.ac.jp/programsinenglish/
In addition, to coursework students are expected to complete a Master’s thesis (50 pages minimum).
IV. Internships
Each YLP student will be assigned to a Fukuoka-based law firm for around 2 weeks (in February - March) to experience legal practice in Japan. The interns will attend court hearings and accompany the lawyers for consultations with clients.
During the internship students will visit other law-related institutions and will engage in discussions with serving judges.
Students are also provided with various summer internship opportunities at Tokyo based law firms and/or large corporations.
These internships provide students with the unique chance to experience international commerce and legal practice in Japan.
V. Fukuoka & Kyushu University
Located in the heart of East Asia, midway between Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul, Fukuoka is the largest city in Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands. It is a thriving modern metropolis that has not sacrificed its unique local character and charm. Historically known as Hakata, it has long been one of Japan’s key ports for commerce with the rest of Asia, and today the spirit of Hakata lives on, for the growing continental ties of recent years have enabled the city to establish itself as a major regional center.
In 2006, Newsweek named Fukuoka as one of the “Ten Most Dynamic Cities” in the world, identifying an energetic regional economy, excellent infrastructure, and the proximity and openness to Asia as key features behind its continued growth. In June 2008, the Financial Times reported a survey of world cities that ranked Fukuoka as the 17th most livable city in the world, and awarded the city a special commendation for it’s downtown district.
Kyushu University is the largest university in Kyushu and one of the most prestigious national universities in Japan. Founded in 1911 as one of seven original Imperial Universities, it continues to be a focal point for academic and educational excellence. Graduate study in Kyushu University provides well-motivated students with the opportunity to study in a dynamic academic atmosphere and to enjoy life in one of Japan’s fastest growing cities.
And yet, perhaps the most important feature of Fukuoka for the foreign resident is its people. Known throughout Japan for their friendliness, the people of Fukuoka have long enjoyed good relationships with visitors from abroad. For the foreigners living among Fukuoka's 1.7 million residents, life is both comfortable and stimulating.
VI. Further information
For further information on the YLP program: http://www.law.kyushu-u.ac.jp/programsinenglish/ For further information on Kyushu University: http://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/ - 6 -