A generous gift from the Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education has enabled the creation of a new scholarship programme for Japanese postgraduate students at Oxford.
The Oxford-Uehiro Graduate Scholarship Programme has been inspired by the story of the Chōshū Five, a group of young Japanese Samurai who undertook the treacherous sea journey to England in 1863. The group spoke little or no English but were determined to learn from the West, enrolling at University College London during their stay. On their return to Japan the men went on to form the heart of a new Japanese government and academic community, greatly contributing to the modernisation of Japan.
In recognition of their endeavour, the Oxford-Uehiro Graduate Scholarship Programme will provide full funding for up to five Japanese students studying at Oxford each year, with the chosen scholars to be known informally as the ‘Uehiro Five’. It is hoped that, through the knowledge and experience gained during their studies, they too will go on to become leaders in their respective fields.
Mr Tetsuji Uehiro, Chairman of the Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education, said: ‘I am delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to allow more Japanese students to study overseas and I hope that they will go on to contribute to Japan’s efforts to promote peace, stability and sustainable development in the international community.’
Scholarships awarded through the programme, which begins in the 2023/24 academic year, will cover the course fees and living costs of students undertaking any postgraduate course in any subject (except for the MBA) at Oxford. The foundation’s gift has been matched by the University, enabling the endowment of the programme.
Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: ‘The University greatly values its long history with Japan and we are delighted that this new opportunity will allow some of the brightest Japanese students to pursue their graduate studies at Oxford. We are enormously grateful to the Uehiro Foundation for this generous support.’
The Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education was established in Japan in 1987 with the aim of contributing to the development of society through the promotion of ethics-related academic research, and educational and socio-cultural activities. The foundation has supported Oxford for over two decades, enabling the establishment of the Oxford Uehiro Chair for Practical Ethics in 2002, followed a year later by the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics.