Education institutions design a scholarship program utilizing the checklist below. Individual institutions do not have to provide all of these items alone. In fact, institutions are encouraged to collaborate with public and private partners to create a network of support. Other consortium members with experience administering education pathways programs are a great resource too.

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Preparation Checklist

Required

▢ Support for visa issuance and residence permit

▢ Transportation to Japan

▢ Accommodation

▢ Tuition

▢ Stipend

▢ Support for Japanese Language Study

▢ Psychosocial Support

▢ Health Insurance

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Recommended

▢ Part-time work opportunities

▢ Family accompaniment/support

Once the outline of the scholarship program and the application process has been set up, institutions will begin outreach through channels that are accessible to refugees. When application is closed, institutions will review the applications and select the students to admit. Institutions may need to be flexible with admissions requirements, as refugee students often have incomplete documentation. While institutions may choose to manage this stage of the program alone, it may be more efficient to conduct joint recruitment with other consortium members.

Admitted students will apply for student visas at the Japanese embassy or consulate in their country of asylum. Once they receive their visas, they will travel to Japan and enroll in their host institutions.

Utilizing existing resources on campus, host institutions should build a support system for the students. For example, institutions may want to appoint a staff and/or faculty member to be a mentor to admitted students so they can meet with them regularly to see how they are doing, and catch and address potential issues early. Fellow students can also be mobilized to create a support group to welcome the refugee students, help acclimate them to their new environment, and offer company.

Host institutions should help students transition to the next stage of their lives by providing career counseling, facilitating internship opportunities, and/or offering guidance on graduate school applications. It is important for institutions to ensure that the students understand options for legal status after graduation.