From L to R: the Japanese Ambassador, H.E. Mr Norio Maruyama, Mr Ciarán Micheál Maher and Assoc. Prof. Naonori Kodate (Director, UCD Centre for Japanese Studies)
UCD student, Mr Ciarán Micheál Maher, has been selected as the representative of all Higher Education Institutions in Ireland, and visit Japan on the 2023/2024 MIRAI* Visiting Japan Program. Ciarán is a Stage 2 BSc student (Environmental Biology /Microbiology/Plant Biology/Zoology) and will take part in his first-choice area, Group 5: Environment & Green, from 14-21 November 2023.
The word MIRAI means "future" in ese, and the acronym stands for Mutual understanding, Intellectual Relations and Academic Exchange Initiative. The programme is run and financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan.
The UCD Centre for Japanese Studies (JaSt) and its precursor brought this scholarship twice to UCD in the past. Ciarán is our 3rd nominee who was successful in this highly competitive process. The first awardee from UCD was Mr Anthony O’Shea (selected for the category of Politics, Law, History, International Politics, Economics and Public Policy, 2017), and the second was Mr Cillian O’Brien (selected for the category of Science & Technology, 2019).
The Embassy of Japan in Ireland informed us that they had a very strong field of candidates again this year across the country, and this fantastic result attests to the high standards of our students and a very strong interest in Japan. This was a two-stage selection process, and the selection panel put together by the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies nominated Ciarán to the Embassy. During the process, the Centre provided hands-on guidance and helped him with the final application.
President Prof. Orla Feely and the Japanese Ambassador, H.E. Mr Norio Maruyama met with and congratulated Ciarán, in person, on the 16th of October.
From L to R: Assoc. Prof. Naonori Kodate (Director, UCD Centre for Japanese Studies), UCD President, Prof. Orla Feely, Mr Ciarán Micheál Maher and the Japanese Ambassador, H.E. Mr Norio Maruyama.