Appendix“Rompaku”

Q&AQA

What is the “Rompaku” program?

“Rompaku” is a dissertation-only doctoral program. There is no supervisor and nocourse required at the Graduate School. In Japan, there are two ways to receive a Ph.D.
One is similar to the Western (American) process, i.e. through course work and thesis; theother one is the traditional Japanese way, i.e. through thesis only. While the former degree,which is usually obtained in one’s late 20s or early 30s as a sort of “entrance ticket” to theuniversity/academic community, the latter degree has been considered more prestigious,
as sort of an “award” for academic achievement. Ph.D. applicants submit a quasi-lifework
thesis usually in their 50s or 60s. Until approximately 20 years ago, Japan only had the latter
program. Basically, our program belongs in the latter category, but some original conditions
such as age have been eased and some courses at ARIISW have been added to improveyour teaching skills not as a Ph.D. candidate but as a future faculty staff.
Please note that Rompaku is not a discounted Ph.D. program, and may be moredifficult to complete than a worldly common western-style program in a sense.

What is the difference between

There is a significant difference between the western-style Ph.D. program and the“Rompaku” program and Ph.D.

“Rompaku” program. The western-style Ph.D. course provides the doctorate throughcourse program?

advanced courses at the Graduate School. In the "Rompaku" program, candidates haveto finalize their thesis by themselves, and ARIISW does not provide supervision.
Candidates must be experienced and/or promising scholars ready to write theirthesis. ARIISW will support you basically as colleagues.

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It seems to be a shortcut program

Two years are designed for writing and finalizing your thesis, not for attending advanced

to get the Ph.D. in only two (2)courses of the Graduate School. Please note that the coursework at ARIISW is designed toyears.

provide candidates with an opportunity to increase their skills as future educators.
Applicants are expected to have completed at least some data collection, analysis,and if supervision necessary prior to application. Applicants are also expected tohave sufficient academic achievements or experience.

Who would be my supervisor?

The program does not provide a supervisor, but, ARIISW provides faculty support for
the visiting researcher as colleagues. This is a program for mature researchers. You mayof course find and assign a supervisor by yourself.

Eligibility

What is the definition/range of

There is leeway regarding both definitions. It is possible to convincingly justify the definition"international social work" anddepending on your own situation.

"Buddhist social work"?
To what extent do you require usIt is required that the applicant finishes his/her thesis within 2-year-stay (within 3-year-

to have started writing the thesis

program in some cases). Higher priority will be given to projects already in the writing

theme and framework?

process or with well-developed content.

Am I ineligible if I could not obtain

The recommendation letter is strongly requested. Please explain the reason why you could

a recommendation letter from mynot get the letter from your university/faculty. Please note that priority will be given to thoseuniversity?

who have obtained the recommendation letter.

I don’t live in the Asian region.

This fellowship is primarily for the members of universities, agencies and organizations ofMay I apply to this fellowship?

social work in Asia. Please judge for yourself the area of the Asian region.

What is the scope of "Asia"?

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Is it possible to participate in theYes, you may join the program at your own cost. Facility usage and course fees will be

program even if I could not get thewaived for the non-fellowship researcher. However, the program does not cover travel,

fellowship?

accommodation, living and research expenses of non-fellowship participants. The Asian
Research Institute for International Social Work (ARIISW) will always open the door to allpeople who wish to use it as a “research base.” We welcome you as a general visiting
researcher/research fellow. It is also possible to come as non-participant of the program.

Content ofDo you have medical insurance

All people registered as residents in Japan are required to take part in the National Healththefor us? What is covered under theInsurance (NHI) system operated by the Japanese Government. It will cover most of thefellowship

medical insurance plan?

medical treatment for injuries and diseases (including dental treatment). Thirty-percent(financial(30%) of medical expenses will be charged to you directly when you are treated.

support)Participants in this program are required to join the NHI system. Registration procedures
will take at least one (1) week after entry in Japan, so please cover this initial period withgeneral travel insurance.
Are travel expenses forNo. This program provides no provision for accompanying persons. There is no financial

accompanying family covered by

support for the family.

the fellowship?
When the family accompanies theA small American style apartment/flat will be prepared. If you are accompanied by yourparticipant, is there any

family, you are responsible for finding housing at your own expense. ARIISW will support

reasonable space for them to live

you in finding housing and schooling for your children as long as possible.

in the apartment? How should theparticipant arrange for schoolingof their children?

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Does the fellowship program

The utility costs (gas, water and electricity) must be paid by the resident. Note that thecover the utility cost in theapartment is not equipped with a phone. If you want to use a phone, you must purchase itapartment?

on your own. You will be responsible for the telephone bill payments.

Is a Visiting Researcher allowed toNo, basically. Please note that the intent of this program is to fully concentrate on the Ph.D.

find a part-time job during theirthesis. Remember that additional permission and procedures may be requested, in casestay in Japan?

you need to work part-time. Please refer to the Immigration Bureau for details.

Selection

Who will select the participants forApplicants will be selected by a fair and independent committee. No details concerning theProcess

this fellowship program, and how

process of the selection will be provided.

andare they selected?

Methods

When and how will the applicants

ARIISW will send all official documents (including visa application forms) by PDF promptly

be notified of the results?

after the selection date written in the application form and on the guidelines for allapplicants.

Application

May I apply online?

How should

I send application to you?

You may send all application documents in PDF form by email or in hardcopy form by postal
mail by the application deadline.

In case of postal mail, registered mail is preferable

considering postal conditions in some countries. When sending your application by postal
mail, please inform us of your application submission by email. All application documents
must arrive at ARIISW by the deadline.
Preparation

What kind of visa is required? Do

Although your status is Visiting Researcher, "Student visa" is the resident status designatedfor travel

you send all required documents

by the Immigration Bureau of Japan. All necessary documents will be sent to you.

to apply for the visa?

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How and when will the participant

It will be paid in Japanese yen at the same time as the October stipend, after arrival inreceive travel costs?

Japan.

Arrival atWhat date should the participant

The participant is expected to arrive in Japan on the program starting date (In case of 2020,

Shukutoku

arrive in Japan?

the program will start on October 7th).

UniversityMay participants expect help withYes. ARIISW will dispatch staff to welcome you at the airport. The staff will wait with yourtransfer from the airport to thenametag at the lobby after passing through Customs. The staff person will also accompany

hotel/residence?

you to the hotel/residence.

Writing

When should the Ph.D. thesis be

Submit your Ph.D. thesis as soon as it is completed. The conferment of the Ph.D. degree

Ph.D.

finished and submitted?

is scheduled 6 months after submitting the thesis. Therefore, participants who want to gettheir Ph.D. in 2 years should finish and submit their thesis in one and a half years. TheThesis

Ph.D. degree candidates who submit their Ph.D. after 2 years when they leave ARIISW andJapan will be conferred 6 months after submittal.
In the case of a participant leaving

Yes, but ARIISW will provide you necessary travel expenses for the oral examination, theJapan after submitting their Ph.D.

examination at the public reviewing board (public defense).

thesis, is it necessary to returnback to Japan for the oral
examination and the examination
at the public reviewing board(public defense)?

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Should the participant prepare aYes. Prepare it by yourself. It is the author’s responsibility to find a translator, if necessary,Japanese translation of his/herand submit a quality abstract. ARIISW cannot take the responsibility for the quality ofPh.D. thesis summary bytranslation. If a translation fee is necessary, ARIISW will provide it within reason.

himself/herself?
What happens when theThe participant can apply for the Ph.D. degree of Shukutoku University Graduate Schoolparticipant is not able to finish andas the Visiting Researcher of ARIISW within 3 years from the starting date of this program.

submit the Ph.D. thesis within 2-However, we recommend you to finish and submit the thesis during your 2-year-stay inyear-stay?

Japan to avoid the inconvenience in online communication.

What happens if the participant is

In this case, fellowship will be terminated. Depending on why the participant was not able

not able/allowed to stay in Japan,

to continue/finish the Ph.D. thesis, in some cases the participant may be requested toor not able to continue therefund fellowship funds already received.

research and writing of the thesisanymore?
I have heard that in some cases

Such cases include:

the fellowship can be terminated.

If the participant doesn't earnestly continue research and thesis writing activities.

Can you describe such cases?

If the participant acts in a way that doesn’t reflect the values of ARIISW or Shukutoku
University.
In case of false statements on the application form.
If the participant violates Japanese law or rules.
If the type of visa status is changed.
If the participant receives any other scholarship or fellowship.

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CourseQAWhich courses will be provided?

Eight courses described in the information and guidance materials will be provided. Afterconsultation with the participants, ARIISW may provide courses or some special seminars,

work

if necessary.
What is the subject matter of theA syllabus with details on all courses will be provided at the start of the program, in thecourses?

same way as other university Ph.D. programs.

How will be these courses

At least one participant will take part in these courses. In some cases, a visiting researcher

conducted?

from Japan or from abroad (both without fellowship) may take part in the coursework. At
the beginning of the semester, there will be face-to-face coursework provided for one ortwo weeks. The rest of the course will be conducted via internet. The contents of thecoursework may be different from the common Ph.D. program because the participant isalready on university staff, and because this is the Ph.D. through thesis program(“Rompaku”).

Do participants get credits in these

No. This is not coursework for students, so there are no credits. But the subject matter ofcourses?

courses to be provided are as or more challenging than the regular Ph.D. program courses
at university. Participants who accomplish the coursework will receive the certificate issued
in the ARIISW director’s name.

What happens if the participant isIf the participant doesn't accomplish the program courses, he/she will not receive ARIISW‘s

not able to accomplish the course

recommendation to the Graduate School of Shukutoku University. Of course, the participant

work?

may submit his/her Ph.D. thesis to the University as a common "Rompaku" thesis, without
the recommendation.

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QAFrom thesis

Can you describe the procedure

After finishing your thesis, submit it (including Japanese and English summary) to thesubmission

from submitting the Ph.D. thesis touniversity via ARIISW. After receiving your Ph.D. thesis, the Graduate School of Shukutoku

to thereceiving the Ph.D. degree

University will review it and judge whether to accept it or not. If accepted, your Ph.D. thesis

Ph.D.

conferment?

will be examined via documents and oral examination by the referee (dissertation)

degreecommittee composed of three Shukutoku University graduate school professors and one

confermentor two professors from other universities in or outside Japan. After passing this examination,
you will have the presentation (including questions and comments) at public defense, andyour Ph.D. thesis will be submitted to the Committee of Graduate School of Integrated
Human and Social Welfare Studies at Shukutoku University where it will be finally reviewed.
If successful, the Ph.D. degree will be awarded.
When will be the participant be

The deadline for Ph.D. thesis submission is March and September every year. (Theawarded the Ph.D. degree?

deadline for the preliminary examination is December and June.) The degree is conferred
6 months after submitting the thesis, i.e. the following September or March.

Taking partAs a visiting researcher, may I

During guidance at the start of your stay, ARIISW provides information about its researchin thetake part in some ARIISW

activities. If you are interested, you can join ARIISW activities. No monetary reward will beARIISW

research activities (besides myprovided.

activities

Ph.D. thesis writing and course
work)? Or is the participation insome ARIISW activities
compulsory?

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During the two years of thePlease note that the intent of this program is to fully concentrate on your Ph.D. thesis in ourreturn

program am I allowed to leave orInstitute. Please consult ARIISW first about the temporary leave. Then the director permits

return home temporarily?

it depending on the reason. No travel expenses will be provided in case of temporary return.
The fellowship may be reduced, depending on how many days you leave Japan.

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