SEVENTEEN Filipinos were named recipients of a Tokyo-funded scholarship program that allowed them to pursue their graduate and post-graduate degrees in Japan’s top institutions.

These scholars from various Philippine government agencies were chosen to join the Knowledge Co-Creation Program Long-Term: SDGs Global Leader Program.

This is the biggest number of scholars since it was launched in 2017.

The program aims to equip government officials with theoretical and technical knowledge to enable them to influence socioeconomic policies in the pursuit of the SDGs.

“Embrace your individual academic pursuits with an open mind and a thirst for knowledge. Take into heart that you are not only representatives of your agencies but also ‘Ambassadors of Goodwill’ of the Philippines to Japan,” Takenaka Narufumi, Senior Representative of JICA Philippines, said in a statement.

The scholars will also gain insights on Japan’s modernization and development by studying and researching in high-level universities.

The KCCP aims to share Japan’s long history of development as well as vast knowledge and expertise to partner countries such as the Philippines in order to foster human resource development towards socio-economic growth.