2-6-20, Yaesu, Chuo-ku,
Tel +81-(0)3-3274-5125

Tokyo 104-0028 JapanFax +81-(0)3-3274-5103

http://www.hondafoundation.jp

Honda “Y-E-S” Award Program Launched to Encourage University
Students in Myanmar
Yangon, July 9, 2014— Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA) and Honda
Foundation (HOF) will jointly launch the Honda Young Engineer and Scientist’s(“Y-E-S”) Award, a grant program for university students studying science andtechnology, in Myanmar staring in July, 2014. Si Si Shein, President of MAJA andHiroto Ishida, President of HOF, singed and exchanged Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) for the program today at a ceremony held at Chatrium Hotel Royal LakeYangon.
The Y-E-S Award program aims to discover and encourage students who would
become the future leaders to develop and implement innovative technologies that help
realizing truly humane civilization, maintaining harmony of human being and its
surrounding environment. The program initially kicked off in Viet Nam in 2006 and it
has been also implemented in other countries in Asia; India, Cambodia, and Laos whose
economies are growing at a remarkable pace. Specifications of the program varycountry by country to attain optimal results.
In Myanmar the program will annually select up to 2 undergraduate students of its
designated universities in Myanmar to award a USD 3,000 grant and an extra prize.
With an admission to postgraduate study or an internship in Japan within three years thereceipt of the Award, these awardees will be eligible for an additional non-restrictive
grant up to USD 10,000. An awarding ceremony for the program is currently
scheduled in January, 2015.
MAJA will be responsible for operating the Y-E-S Award program in Myanmar. Anadministrative office will be set up in the City of Yangon, which will be responsible for
all administrative matters for the program, including public announcements andselection and awarding processes, and will serve as the liaison for HOF concerning theprogram.
The selection committee for the Award will consist of representatives from MAJA,
Myanmar-Japan Center for Human Resources Development (MJC) and HOF.
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MAJA is a non-profit organization of former students who have studied in Japan. Its
objectives are to organize Myanmar alumni of educational and training institution inJapan to participate in economic, social and educational development activities of thecountry within the bounds of State policy, to deal directly with ASCOJA (ASEANCouncil of Japan Alumni) as a regular chapter and to fully participate in its activities,
and to co-operate with the ASJA (Asia Japan Alumni) International for mutually agreedpurposes.
Honda Foundation was established in December 1977 by donations from the founder of
Honda Motor Company, Soichiro Honda, and his younger brother, Benjiro. Its goal is
to contribute towards the creation of a truly humane civilization throughinterdisciplinary approaches. The Foundation’s belief is that science and technology
should truly contribute to happiness and peace of mankind, and along that principle,
Honda Foundation is engaged in a variety of activities which includes;.
- Honda Prize: annual award to an individual or group in recognition of the recipient’s
remarkable achievement in the field of science and technology that is in harmony
with both the natural and the human environment (what we call “ecotechnology”);- International Symposia and colloquia: opportunities for open discussions on theroles and possibilities of echotechnology among experts in various disciplines; and- Honda Y-E-S Award: a grant program to discover and encourage students who
would become the future leaders to bring ecotechnology into action.
For contact:
Honda Foundation:
Yuzuru Matsuno
Phone: +81-3-3274-5125
Fax: +81-3-3274-5103
URL: http://www.hondafoundation.jp2