Voice From Alumni
Ms. Kumudumali Piyasena
- From
- Balangoda
- Degree
- B.Sc. Public Management at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Master's student at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo
Message
Please give a short introduction about yourself including your hometown in Sri Lanka and the degree you are seeking (or for alumni, the degree you obtained and your current job).
I am Kumudumali Piyasena from Balangoda, Sri Lanka. I completed my 13 years of school education, and I passed an advanced level examination with 3 A passes and the highest Z-score. I was fortunate enough to get admission from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, the best Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce in South Asia. I entered the Department of Public Administration in the Faculty and completed B.Sc. Public Management (Special) Degree with a Second Class Upper Division. Soon after graduation, I joined the Department of Public Administration at my university as a Temporary Tutor. When I was working as a Temporary Tutor, I was Promoted as a Lecturer (Probationary) from the competitive interview held in September 2017 based on my excellent academic performance and research publications.
Meanwhile, I was working as an academic member, realized the importance of postgraduate qualification in the same field of public policy and economics. I deliberately search for scholarships and universities which offered graduate programs in public policy and economics and applied for the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo. After the three-round of the selection process, I won the Asian Development Bank scholarship to start the Two Year Master Program of Public Policy at GRIPS. Now I have successfully read my first year of my master’s program in public policy.?
Meanwhile, I was working as an academic member, realized the importance of postgraduate qualification in the same field of public policy and economics. I deliberately search for scholarships and universities which offered graduate programs in public policy and economics and applied for the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo. After the three-round of the selection process, I won the Asian Development Bank scholarship to start the Two Year Master Program of Public Policy at GRIPS. Now I have successfully read my first year of my master’s program in public policy.?
What is your favorite thing about Tokyo?
Even if Tokyo is one of the largest and busiest cities in the world, there are so many nature-based resources such as attractive flower gardens, parks, and human-made water resources. Not only that but also I like the transportation facilities, especially high technological trains and buses. Therefore, traveling around Tokyo is quite comfortable for everyone at any time.
In what ways has your impression of Japan changed since coming here?
I was dreaming of visiting Japan since my childhood because I used to watch the world-famous “Oshin” teledrama. As the same, I love the flower of Sakura very much. In our school in my country, there were flowering trees called Robarosiya. Both the Robarosiya flower and tree are somewhat similar to the Sakura flower and tree. So I was continuously motivated to visit beautiful Japan. Now I am experiencing the natural beauty of Japan, and I was fortunate enough to see the Cherry Blossom. At the same time, I am learning the best practices of Japanese people like discipline, patience, and how they dedicate to keep the environment pure clean and calm. I have a very positive impression of Japanese culture and the environment.?
What attracted you to choose the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) as a place to study?
I was attracted to choose the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) to start my postgraduate because this university offers graduate programs related to Public Policy and Economics. As well as GRIPS offers more analytical and quantitative courses that I need for my academic field. Further,? National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) has an excellent ranking in Japan and the world among Public Policy degree offering institutions. On the other hand, GRIPS has well-qualified professors in the field of Public Policy and Economics. The courses and thesis I am reading at GRIPS will be invaluable for me to future career advancement and obtaining future scholarships for my Ph.D. also.?
What will attract you to stay and work in Japan afterwards?
After I graduate the two-year master’s degree in 2021, I will look for opportunities to start a Ph.D. in Japanese university in the same field of Public Policy and Economics. Then just after my Ph.D., I will plan to apply for postdoctoral advancement opportunities because it will be very much needed for me to get research experience as an academic member and I wish to work in a research project in Japan.After I complete the postdoctoral program, I expect to return to Sri Lanka and served my university since I am a permanent academic member.?
How did you learn Japanese language before coming to Japan?
I realized the importance of learning Japanese before I arrive here. There are so many learning materials and youtube videos to learn Japanese. I followed those videos and reading materials and videos as a survival strategy in Japan. I already learned some basic conversation Japanese in my mother country, and it was very much helpful for me after I arrived here. I got many chances to use those basic conversation Japanese in the very first days in my new life. Then I read the Basic Japanese course offered from my university and passed with A grading.?
Please write a message to students or researchers in your home country who may be thinking about studying in Japan.
After I arrived in Japan to read my masters, I realized that there are many universities which offer degree programs in English medium. Also, there are so many fully funded scholarship opportunities to read undergraduate, master’s degrees, and Ph.D. for international students. My opinion is Japan is an excellent, knowledgable, technologically sophisticated, and safe country to pursuit degree programs for international students. Suppose the students dedicate to continuous studies, utilize their full capacity, and looking for in-depth opportunities. In that case, you will surely be selected for Japanese university admission and win a fully funded scholarship to start your invaluable degree in a world ranking university. After you graduate from a well-recognized Japanese university, there will be a large number of opportunities will be opened to you. You should dedicate and motivate continuously to learn from Japanese universities.?