Nikon Scholarship Program in Thailand
As one of its social contribution activities, Nikon is supporting education for young people in Thailand through the Nikon Scholarship Program in Thailand. The scholarship program was established to commemorate the company's 90th anniversary. The program enables junior and senior high school students to receive a basic education, as well as enabling certain university students and university graduates to go to Japanese graduate schools. Nikon hopes that the program will contribute to the development of human resources that will help to build bridges between Japan and Thailand.
Nikon is Supporting Human Resource Development in Thailand, a Major Nikon Partner
After the scholarship conferment ceremony at Tak in northeastern Thailand
Nikon has maintained positive relations with Thailand over the years. For example, it set up Nikon (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Ayutthaya. Although Thailand is becoming more affluent, the country still faces many challenges. Nikon looked for ways in which it might be able to assist Thailand, and concluded that it was important to help develop human resources that would support the country. The company decided that supporting the education system would be of most benefit to Thailand's future. Therefore Nikon decided to establish a scholarship program.
This program is comprised of two scholarships. The Nikon Shanti Scholarship is designed to support students attending junior high school, high school and university. The other is the Nikon Chulalongkorn Scholarship that supports Thai students studying in graduate schools in Japan.
Nikon Shanti Scholarship
The Nikon Shanti Scholarship is implemented with the cooperation of two organizations: The Shanti Volunteer Association, a Japanese group with experience in social-contribution activities in Thailand, and Thailand's Sikkha Asia Foundation. About 150 junior high school and high school students, and about 20 university students, are awarded this scholarship each year.
Above: the scholarship conferment ceremony at Tak (left); visiting one of scholarship recipients' house (right)
Below: the scholarship conferment ceremony at Bangkok (left) and at Phayao (right)
Hometowns of students
Number of Nikon Shanti Scholars per year
| Students | Total number of scholars |
|---|---|
| Junior high school and high school students | About 150 |
| University students | About 24 |
In the year ending March 2012, the Nikon-Shanti Scholarship was granted to 150 junior high school and high school students, and 24 college students.
Nikon Chulalongkorn Scholarship
The Nikon Chulalongkorn Scholarship is implemented in cooperation with Chulalongkorn University, a top-ranked educational institution in Thailand with a proud history. Current Chulalongkorn University students and alumni are short-listed and then selected as recipients of scholarships. The program supports their living expenses and tuition for graduate education in Japan.
The selections are based on motivation for applying, the way of thinking about his/her study field, personality, and how he/she understands the intent of the scholarship. Selection for the scholarship has been made every year since 2007. A total of five scholarship students had been selected up until March 2012.
Nikon Chulalongkorn Scholars
| Qualifying students | Selection | Support | Number of recipients |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current university students or university graduates | Both Chulalongkorn University and Nikon select recipient(s) | Living expenses and tuition fees | To a maximum of four |
In March 2011, two students completed their graduate school life as members of the inaugural class of the Nikon Chulalongkorn Scholarship. Ms. Kulrumpa Worasri graduated from the Master's Course of the Graduate School of Language and Culture, Osaka University, and Mr. Nirin Suarod graduated from the Master's Course of the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo.
Three students are now attending graduate school: one is enrolled on the doctoral program at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering; one is enrolled on the doctoral program at the Tokyo Institute of Technology's Graduate School of Science and Engineering; and the another is sitting a Master's course on the Graduate Program at Tama Art University's Art Research Department.