A LOCAL Solomon Islands student from the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan accompanied by his Professor Kosuke Ito are currently in the country on a weeklong visit.
Edward Maru is a master’s degree student and is also working at the Solomon Islands Meteorological Office, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, & Meteorology (MECDMM).
He is a Solomon Islands Government, MET candidate for the JICA’s Pacific Leaders’ Educational Assistance for Development of State (Pacific-LEADS) 1st Batch program dispatched last August 2016.
The Pacific-LEADS program is implemented as part of the Official Development Assistance of the Government of Japan based on bilateral agreement between both governments.
Pacific LEADS also offers opportunities for young government officials to study at Masters’ courses in Japanese Universities.
In this program, participants will be accepted in any of the master’s courses at Japanese Universities for the programs in disaster risk reduction; climate change; the environment; sustainable development; oceans; maritime issues; and fisheries; trade, investment, and tourism; and economic policy.
Main target participants are government officials/civil servants of the target countries. In some cases, persons from the private sectors and educators are also considered.
Mr. Edward Maru’s visitation accompanied with his professor to Honiara is to observe and conduct some research related activities to his Masters Research program on Tropical Cyclone in liaising with the MET office.
The duo was in Honiara since the 16th of March, and their assignment ended yesterday.
On Tuesday, they have a courtesy visit to JICA’s Solomon Islands office.
By RONALD TOITO’ONA
