(NEWS) Sasakawa Fellowship Students Orientation 2026

October

2026

Sasakawa Fellowship Students Orientation 2026

The annual Sasakawa Fellowship Orientation was held on 25 September, welcoming 30 new Sasakawa Fellowship Students to the Class of 2027. They were joined by 31 Sasakawa Fellowship Students from the Class of 2026, who will soon graduate.

Organized by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), the orientation brings together incoming and graduating Fellows, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences, build connections and learn more about the Sasakawa Fellows Programme. Students from the Class of 2026 shared insights into their areas of specialization and offered advice to the incoming students as they begin their studies at WMU.

Representing SPF on behalf of The Nippon Foundation were Mr. Eisuke Kudo, Senior Advisor to SPF, Ms. Emi Shimada and Ms. Reiko Naito. In his opening remarks, Mr. Kudo reflected on his more than 20 years of involvement with the Sasakawa Fellowship Programme and emphasized the importance of maintaining connections among Sasakawa Fellows around the world. Ms. Shimada provided an overview of the Programme, including its history, structure and support available to Fellows.

The students also had the opportunity to introduce themselves and learn more about one another’s backgrounds and interests. The orientation concluded with a reception at the WMU World Bistro, where on behalf of WMU President, Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Vice President (Provost), Professor Michael Manuel, expressed appreciation to The Nippon Foundation and SPF for their continued support of fellowship opportunities that contribute to maritime and ocean capacity development.

Including the Class of 2027, 873 students from 89 countries have now received Sasakawa Fellowships to study at WMU, reflecting the longstanding partnership between WMU and The Nippon Foundation and its contribution to developing maritime professionals and leaders around the world.

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About The Nippon Foundation’s Support to WMU:
The Nippon Foundation is dedicated to social innovation, aiming to foster a society where individuals support one another, alleviating challenges through collaboration. The Nippon Foundation’s contributions to WMU began in 1987 with providing fellowships for WMU students. The WMU Sasakawa Fellowship Programme began in 1988. The Nippon Foundation is the largest fellowship donor to the University, providing 30 new awards on an annual basis.

In addition to fellowships, The Nippon Foundation organizes a week-long field study in Japan. Since 2001, SPF has regularly conducted Regional Network Meetings for WMU Sasakawa Fellows. Moreover, The Nippon Foundation further supports the capacity development mission of WMU by substantially funding the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, as well as funding six Professorial Chairs, and numerous conferences and events connected with WMU.

Each year, a limited number of Sasakawa Fellowships are available for government employees from developing countries. The Sasakawa Fellowship Awards Committee seeks qualified candidates with strong academic and professional backgrounds, prioritizing those aged 26 to 35. Interested applicants must apply for admission to the university while simultaneously submitting a Donor Funding Application from their organizations and a Sasakawa Fellowship Motivational Statement. It is crucial for both applications to be thoroughly completed. Completed applications must reach the university by the end of January in the year of entry.

For more information, click here.

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