SGC-NEXUSプログラム

March ２６, 2024

Application Guidelines
SGC-NEXUS Program- Next Generation Researcher Development Program at Nara Women's UniversityFor Prospective Students Enrolled in April 2024 and April 2025
Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences,
Nara Women's University
Doctoral Degree Support SGC-NEXUS Committee,
Nara Women's University

１．Overview
Nara Women's University has been selected as an implementing institution for the Japan
Science and Technology Agency's (JST) "Next-Generation Researchers Challenging Research
Program (New SPRING)" starting from April 2024. In response, we have established the "SGCNEXUS." as a succession of the previous "SGC" and "SGC+" initiatives program. The aim of thisprogram is to establish a framework where competent female students can pursue research in
the doctoral program without bearing excessive financial burdens or facing uncertainties about
their career paths after obtaining their degrees.
The SGC-NEXUS program entails a comprehensive plan for a three-year standard study
period (or within the applied study period for long-term students) to obtain a doctoral degree.
The plan includes provisions for enhancing research capabilities and facilitating a smoothtransition to post-degree careers, incorporating activities such as overseas assignments andinternships in business institutions. Applicants are expected to carefully plan their researchplan and devote themselves to self-improvement in consultation with their main and cosupervisors to ensure that the above objectives are achievable. Furthermore, we earnestly
request the continued dedication of the supervising faculty in providing additional support for
the attainment of degrees within the specified academic period.
Aligned with the university's educational and research philosophy of "cultivating female
talents leading to a gender-equal society," we aim to nurture female talents capable of making
proactive judgments, taking actions, and addressing and tackling with problems without
apparent answers through the deepening of expertise and the cultivation of comprehensive
knowledge. As an extension of this philosophy, we anticipate that the women enrolled in theSGC-NEXUS program will shatter the "glass ceiling" and connect with others as leaders insociety.
In accordance with these principles, we here announce the recruitment details and call forcandidates who join the SGC-NEXUS program as outlined below.

２．Application period
Ｍｏｎday, April １, 2024 ～ Ｍｏｎday, April ８, 2024

*due by 12:00pm

３．Number of candidates
Prospective students in April 2024 (Spring)：8 students
Prospective students in April 2025 (Spring): 5 students＊Announcements for prospective students in October 2024 as well as additional
recruitment for April2025 will be conducted at a later date.

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４．Application and eligibility
Prospective students who are scheduled to enroll in the doctoral program of ourgraduate school in April of 2024 and April of 2025, and have received confirmation(including the plans) from the prospective primary academic advisor regarding theirapplication.
Examples of eligible individuals*1:
・Students who are not employed in a job with regular income and can obtain a degree
within the standard study period (including those with work experience)
・Working professionals with an annual income less than 2.4 million yen*2,*3・Long-term research students (support is provided until the end of D3)
・Self-funded international students not receiving support such as scholarships fromtheir home country
Examples of individuals not eligible*1:
・Individuals on a leave of absence during the period of receiving support
・Those who have been enrolled in the doctoral program for more than three years
・Those who have obtained a scholarship at a sufficient level for living expenses (more than 2.4
million yen per year).*3
・Those who receive a stable income, including salaries, executive compensation, etc., at asufficient level (more than 2.4 million yen per year) as an equivalent amount for living expenses
from universities, companies, etc.*3
・Government-sponsored international students and foreign students receiving support
such as scholarships from their home countries
・Special research fellows of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
If an individual falls into any of the above "Examples of individuals not eligible" during the periodof receiving support, they shall lose eligibility for the support.
*1…For further details, please contact the office.
*2…Working professionals refer to individuals with regular income and homemakers.
*3…The 2.4 million yen is the total amount paid including income tax, social insurance
premiums, overtime pay, bonuses, etc.
*The duplication with tuition exemptions is allowed. Part-time employment (including RA/TA,etc.) within a range that does not interfere with research activities is also permitted. Part-time
income does not qualify as stable or fixed income.
* If accepted, you will no longer be eligible for exemption from repayment of scholarships basedon outstanding achievements from the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO).

５．The obligations of SGC-NEXUS grant recipients
1) Submission of current status report
Submit and receive evaluations on the progress of research activities every semester.
2) Enrollment in courses related to SGC-NEXUS
By the completion of the second year of the doctoral program, students are required to take atleast one credit from the common courses of the doctoral program, including 'Self-Analysis and2

SGC-NEXUSプログラム
Work Style Seminars A and B,' 'Career Seminars (Business Skills, Internship, etc.) A and B,''Design and Programming of Information Systems,' and 'Fundamentals of Statistical Analysis.'3) Meeting with the mentor team
Attend regular meetings with the mentor team every semester.
4) Presentation of research outcomes
Conduct public presentations of research outcomes by the end of the funding period.
5) Participation in the planning of SGC-NEXUS initiatives
Actively engage in initiatives implemented by this program, such as internships, overseas
dispatch, and research exchange events.
6) Response to career path survey
For 10 years after the end of support, please respond to the career tracking survey.
Note that the fulfillment status of the above obligation terms will be confirmed and examined by by
the Nara Women's University Doctoral Degree Support SGC-NEXUS Operation Committee. If any
term of the obligations turns out to be violated, the recipient will be considered to have losteligibility for financial support, and a replacement will be sought through a new recruitment
process.

６．Grant amount and details
If the application is accepted, a research incentive grant of 200,000 yen per month, as a
general rule, will be provided from April until the acquisition of a doctoral degree within thestandard acquisition period. Therefore, the period eligible for disbursement will be a maximumof three years from the time of SGC-NEXUS acceptance (including a maximum of three years
for long-term students). For international students, support begins upon their arrival inJapan.
We will also provide an annual research grant of 180,000 yen (with the possibility of anadditional increase up to 100,000 yen if necessary, with a proportional reduction dependingon the acceptance timing). Regarding the accounting treatment of research grants, if there
is any unspent amount at the end of each fiscal year, we will request the return of theunused funds.
*Note that the grant amount is subject to change depending on the national budget
situation.

７．Application documents
Submit the application form (including resume, research achievements, research plan, etc. SeeForm 1) and an activity plan (See Form 2). Please contact the item 10 for request theapplication form template.

８．Selection Process
We request applicants to submit the application form (Form 1) and activity plan (Form 2),and join interviews, if necessary (Interviews include oral presentations and question-andanswer sessions by the applicants). The selection will be based on a comprehensive
evaluation of these materials. If an interview is conducted, it is scheduled to take place
during the period from Monday April 15 to Wednesday April 24,2024. As the period until theinterview is short, we kindly ask applicants to prepare interview presentations, etc., inadvance. Details will be provided after the acceptance of application documents. The
results of the review will be communicated directly to the applicants via email.

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９．The submission method and destination for the application documents【Application Form】（Form 1）・Please save the application documents in PDF format and electronically submit them asattachments to the following address.
・Please name the application form file as '〇〇〇〇-202404SGC-NEXUS Application.'*〇〇〇〇 represents the applicant's name.
・Please use '〇〇〇〇-202404SGC-NEXUS Application' as the subject of the email.
【Activity Plan】（Form 2）・Please name the activity plan file as '〇〇〇〇-202404SGC-NEXUS Activity Plan.'*〇〇〇〇 represents the applicant's name.
・Please send it together with the application form
<Submission email address>
SGC-NEXUS Program : nwu-sgc@cc.nara-wu.ac.jp
・If we receive the submission of the application documents, we will send you aconfirmation email acknowledging receipt.
・If you do not receive the confirmation email by 5:00 PM on Ｔｕｅｓday, April ９,
please contact us by email or phone listed at the item 10 below as Contact
Information' mentioned for confirmation.

10．Contact Information【SGC-NEXUS Program；Next Generation Researcher Development Program at Nara
Women's University】
Graduate School Section
Educational Affairs Division
Nara Women’s University
Kitauoya-Nishimachi, Nara
630-8506
Tel/Fax 0742-20-3503
Emailnwu-sgc@cc.nara-wu.ac.jp

URL

http://www.nara-wu.ac.jp/daigakuin/index.html
https://sgcfs.nara-wu.ac.jp/sgc-nexus_20240326/

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