By Adia Jildo
Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has launched its first co- chair project in the learning at the University of Juba.
The 5 years’ project will focus on enlightening the steps of modernization and economic development of Japan and how South Sudan can use the experience to develop the country.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba Prof. John Akec said the Japanese initiative targets a group of young learners to develop from the knowledge and skills of the Japanese recovery from the world war to a second developed country.
He said that students in the University will be having lectures by Japanese academia both through direct lectures and videos recorded or online.
“We want to equip the young people with state building knowledge and the University of Juba has a mission of economic empowerment and social transformation,” he said.
Prof. Akech said Japan is ready to train the South Sudanese on how to develop the country from the experience of Japanese.
“The best way to benefit the future is to learn from others. Japan itself was ruled, he said, “what is happening in South Sudan now, if we have energy, those energies with education can be redirected to productive use that will benefit the world”.
He said the Japanese corner in the University of Juba has the historic background on the Japan and can be accessed by those who need it.
“It’s not about borrowing; it is about borrowing and contextualizing. People are your protection. It’s the people whom you train who will make policies. They are the ones to craft and make policies for South Sudan’s people in the world,” Akec said.
The Japanese representative Sagara Fuyuki said the online program is aimed at promoting Japanese educative programs to higher and leading institutions.
He said Japan become second developed country because of the quality of human resources got through education.
Rachel Ayen Bol Dak, a student at the University of Juba in the school of social and economic studies in the department of statistics and democracy has learnt a lot from the techniques Japanese had to restore their economy despite their collapse on Second World War.
“We as South Sudan, we should acquire different knowledge from people like the Japanese to restore the peaceful coexistence and economical restoration in the country,” she said.
Ayuen James Thon Malak, a student in the University of Juba said he is impressed since the program directly would impact on the thinking of the students on how to develop their country.
“Japan was in war and guns were in the hands of civilians but they managed to disarm them and they are now the second developed country,” he said.
He added that they as the leaders of tomorrow would change the future if a lot has been put to education of all to attain knowledge.