The Foreign Service Institute hosted the Briefing on the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) Programs on 23 March 2015, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., at the Institute’s Carlos P. Romulo School of Diplomacy.

Dr. James Rhodes, President Advisor and Senior Professor of GRIPS presented the Master’s and Ph.D. programs, as well as the short-term training courses and the scholarship opportunities at GRIPS, for promising young and mid-career public policy professionals.

GRIPS, a Tokyo-based graduate university, promotes high-level policy research in response to various domestic and international needs based on international intellectual cooperation of leading members of Japan’s political, industrial, government, and academic circles.

Executive Director Alfonso A. Ver of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Office of Personnel and Administrative also shared his experiences and insights as an alumnus of GRIPS.

Also present during the briefing were Ms. Karin Hillen, Director of the Alumni Office, and Mr. Jinichi Fujisaku, Director of the Academic and Students Affairs Division.

The briefing was attended by officers from the Senate of the Philippines, Philippine Navy, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency as well as officers and staff from the DFA and the Institute.

Detailed GRIPS admission guidelines and programs may be accessed at www.grips.ac.jp/en or you may send an email to admissions@grips.ac.jp for further information.  Interested applicants may also contact the Institute’s Scholarship Programs Section at 834-4637 and 834-4771 or email Ms Rhoda R. Acosta at rracosta@fsi.gov.ph.

Dr. James Rhodes, President Advisor and Senior Professor of Economics, presents the various programs of GRIPS.
Executive Director Alfonso A. Ver of the DFA shares his experiences as GRIPS alumnus.
Attorney Arnel Bañas, Deputy Secretary at the Senate of the Philippines, asks a question during the open forum.
Left to right: Mr. Jinichi Fujisaku, Director, GRIPS Academic and Students Affairs Division; Ms. Sonia Diaz, Head, FSI Scholarship Programs Section; Ms. Karin Hillen, Director, GRIPS Alumni Office; Dr. James Rhodes, President Advisor and Senior Professor of Economics, GRIPS; Ms. Marichu C. Liwanag, Head, FSI’s Carlos P. Romulo School of Diplomacy; Mr. Alfonso A. Ver, GRIPS alumnus and Executive Director, DFA Office of Personnel and Administrative Services; Ms. Esmie Perez and Ms. Rhoda R. Acosta, FSI Scholarship Affairs Officers. The FSI Scholarship Roadshow was organized by the Institute’s Scholarship Programs Section.