Global Initiatives Program:(2011～2015)

Global Initiatives Program for Promoting Overseas Collaborative Research Toward Graduate Education in Biological Sciences, Nano Science, and Information Technology.

1. Purpose

The Global Initiatives Program for Promoting Overseas Collaborative Research Toward Graduate Education in Biological Sciences, Nano Science, and Information Technology (Global Initiatives Program) was started with funding from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology (MEXT) in 2011. This program aims to establish and develop joint research opportunities for students enrolled at NAIST and our overseas partner institutions. Moreover, the Global Initiatives Program strives to cultivate active members of the global science community and further establish NAIST as a globally recognized graduate education center.

2. Outline of Program Areas

In order to further globalize and increase the level of NAIST's education, the following three types of projects are supported under this program:

(1)Collaborative Graduate Research: Students enrolled at NAIST and its partner institutions are encouraged to engage in faculty-guided, face-to-face collaborative research. These research exchanges are valuable opportunities for students to participate as members of the global science community.

(2) International Student Workshops: In cooperation with partner institutions, students participate in international workshops giving presentations and taking part in discussions in English in order to develop communication skills, exchange views on research with fellow graduate students, and develop ties with researchers and students around the globe.

(3) International Student Internships at NAIST: NAIST invites students from diverse backgrounds to experience NAIST's research and educational environment, further encouraging on-campus global exchange.

3. Eligible Activities

NAIST encourages applications for the following activities:

(1) Collaborative Graduate Research: This collaborative graduate research must correspond to one of the three categories below:

・Research that is performed under the mutual consent of both institutions' professors (researchers) with a defined purpose and clear research plan, and is deemed to be beneficial to the student's research and thesis.

・Research that is performed under the mutual consent of both institutions' professors (researchers), deemed as having the potential for future research collaboration, and that which provides students with new research materials or leads to the acquisition of research methods.

・Activities such as workshops, meetings, and discussions that are held to explore or discover ideas and proposals related to the two previous categories.

(2)Student Workshops (Workshops deemed as belonging to 2−(2))

(3)International Student Internships at NAIST (Internships deemed as belonging to 2−(3))

4. Funding Requirements

(1) In principle, activities eligible for funding are to be collaborative graduate research, student workshops, or international student internships at NAIST involving NAIST and partner institutions that are deemed to lead to further progress or results through this funding.

(2) Programs to be funded are to be selected every fiscal year. For those activities that span multiple fiscal years, applications must be submitted for each year's budget.

(3) After the activities are completed, an activity report must be submitted as soon as possible.

5. Expenses Covered

Travel expenses necessary for the activity (including room, board, visa expenses, etc.), necessary supplies, and other costs (participation fees, organization costs, etc.)

6. Additional Comments

(1) Budget implementation is to be carried out according to NAIST regulations.

(2) Activity Reports: The NAIST professor(s) in charge of the funded activity will submit a comprehensive report. All participating students are required to fill out a "Global Initiatives Project Student Report" in English after the activity is completed.

(3) If you are a partner institution professor interested in the Global Initiatives Program and have activities that may be eligible for funding, please contact your NAIST counterpart and discuss the details and possibility of collaboration. If the NAIST professor agrees to the proposed activity, he/she will then initiate the application process with relevant NAIST staff. (Application by the partner institution is not possible.)