IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP)

Activities for JISPA Scholars

The IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP) and partnership universities organize several activities for JISPA scholars.

Networking

OAP hosts welcome and farewell receptions each year for JISPA scholars to help them develop network with other scholars. Officials from the Bank of Japan and the Japanese Ministry of Finance (MOF), together with representatives from the relevant embassies, also attend these events in order for them to get acquainted with the scholars.

Seminars

OAP organizes a series of occasional seminars on current policy issues exclusively for JISPA scholars. The scholars are encouraged to actively participate in discussion.

During the 2011-2012 academic year, several seminars were presented by IMF economists on various topics related to important policy issues facing the global economy.

OAP will also organize a thesis presentation where representatives among JISPA scholars will present their thesis as an accomplishment of their studies under the program.

JISPA scholars are also invited as observers to regional conferences on macroeconomic and financial policy issues organized by OAP.

Field Trip

Each partnership university arranges a field trip exclusively for JISPA scholars once a year. This trip helps the scholars promote an understanding of the Japanese economy and traditional culture. Destinations include industrial facilities, local governments, branch offices of ministries and/or the central bank, as well as cultural and historical heritage sites in Japan.

Visits to the Bank of Japan and the Tokyo Stock Exchange are additionally organized.

Alumni Activities

OAP arranges alumni gatherings in various countries for former JISPA scholars. It also maintains an alumni networking site to promote and facilitate networking opportunities between alumni. The site is for the exclusive use of alumni, and enables them to search and interact with other alumni.