As part of its Coordinator for Study in Japan Projects, Okayama University held an academic seminar in Myanmar on February 11 (Mandalay) and 12 (Yangon), 2017. This seminar was designed for students who answered affirmatively to “Want to study in Japan even without any scholarship?” and/or “Want to study in a Master’s course?” in a questionnaire survey conducted at the Study in Japan Fair. To encourage them to study in Japan, trial lessons and personal counseling were offered by faculty members from SixERS member universities.

The academic seminar held in Mandalay was lively with the participation of approx. 300 Myanmarese students, and with approx. 100 students in Yangon. We believe that this seminar served as the first step to giving academic staff from SixERS member universities a better understanding of local universities and students and to preparing to accept students from Myanmar.

In October 2014, Okayama University was assigned by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to conduct and implement the “Coordinator for Study in Japan Project in Myanmar.” To promote the acceptance of Myanmarese students by Japanese institutions of higher education, we launched the Okayama University Japan Educational Information Center in Yangon in February 2015, and since March 2015 coordinators have been stationed full time, who play a central part in “all-Japan” efforts, beyond institutional boundaries, to invite students from Myanmar to study in Japan.