Maldives and Japan Sign Scholarship Agreement to Strengthen Civil Service
- The Maldives and Japan signed a 152 million Yen (approximately USD 1 million) grant agreement under Japan's JDS scholarship programme.
- The initiative funds Master's degrees in Public Policy, International Relations, and Environmental Management to strengthen the Maldivian civil service.
- Since 2020, Japan has provided 36 scholarships to Maldivian civil servants, with nine students currently studying in Japan.
The governments of the Maldives and Japan have officially signed a grant assistance agreement. The agreement, valued at 152 million Japanese Yen – approximately USD 1 million – was signed under Japan’s Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) programme.
Dr Ismail Shafeeu, Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, signed the agreement on behalf of the Maldivian government, while Taki Moto, Resident Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), represented Japan.
Officials state that the financial aid funds Master’s degree programmes across three top Japanese universities. They added that the initiative focuses on enhancing administrative and development capabilities within the Maldivian civil service, offering specialised degrees in Public Policy, International Relations, and Environmental Management.
Ahmed Shafeeu, Minister of State for Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, highlighted the initiative’s strategic relevance to public sector development. He noted that the Japanese government has provided 36 scholarship opportunities to Maldivian civil servants since introducing the specialized programme in 2020.
As per reports, nine Maldivian students currently pursue postgraduate degrees in Japan under the JDS scheme. Previous graduates have returned to the Maldives to work across various state institutions, applying their acquired expertise directly within the public sector.
