Voice From Alumni
Ms. Geethika Savindhi Liyanage
- From
- Kalutara
- Degree
- 3rd year Ph.D. student, Master's degree in Applied Biological Chemistry at the University of 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 Geethika Savindhi Liyanage from Kalutara, Sri Lanka. After completing 13 years of school education in Sri Lanka, I joined University of Pune in India as an undergraduate student. In 2013, I completed my Bachelor's in Biotechnology and returned to Sri Lanka. After that I worked in a food company as a quality assurance executive for about an year. During that time, I continuously looked for scholarship opportunities to study abroad and continue my graduate studies. That is when I came across the MEXT scholarship or the Japanese government scholarship. I applied to it through the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka and after a yearlong selection process I was successful in obtaining the MEXT scholarship. I came to Japan in 2015 and joined the prestigious University of Tokyo as a research student. Then I received my Master's in Applied Biological Chemistry in 2018 and started my PhD soon after that. Currently, I am a 3rd year PhD student.
What is your favorite thing about Tokyo?
When we hear the name Tokyo, what instantly comes to our minds is a busy city full of skyscrapers. But you can find a lot of places full of nature not only in the outskirts of Tokyo but also in the heart of Tokyo. So, my favorite thing about Tokyo is that whenever we need to get away from our busy lives, we can easily find places to have a nice relaxing time.
In what ways has your impression of Japan changed since coming here?
I had a very positive impression of Japan before coming here from what I had heard from my father who was also a scholar in Japan long ago. He has a collection of photos that he took during his stay and those pictures were engraved in my mind. I always envisioned going to Japan someday and visiting those places. Although I knew how developed Japan is in terms of technology and innovations, I did not know about the social values of the Japanese people. I was truly amazed to see how polite and honest the people are. After indulging in the unique Japanese culture and customs for over five years, I feel that I have learned them and have become a better person.
What attracted you to choose the University of Tokyo as a place to study?
In the MEXT scholarship application we had to mention the names of three universities, and the University of Tokyo was my first choice. When I was looking for research groups who were working on my field of interest; "functional food sciences", I came across the website of my current laboratory. The theme of the laboratory and the research work they had published were very interesting and perfectly matched with my research proposal. Looking back, I am really happy about the decision I made to study at the University of Tokyo because of the invaluable opportunities I got. Exposure to advanced technologies, research grants, international conference opportunities, meeting world renowned researchers like Nobel Laureates are some them.
What attracted you to stay and work in Japan afterwards? In what ways, do you like your work?
After graduating in 2021, I am planning to work in a Japanese food company. My current laboratory has a lot of collaborations and is funded by some of the top food companies in Japan. The decision to work in Japan came after the opportunities I got to visit some of those companies and meet their managerial staff. Japanese companies are becoming more internationalized and are readily recruiting foreigners. I believe that being a graduate from a Japanese university and having some Japanese language skills will be some plus points for me when joining a Japanese company. I want to make use of my research knowledge in the industry and get exposed to the cutting-edge technologies. Also, I am excited to experience the work culture in Japan, especially the unique job rotation system, through which we get to experience working in different departments.
How did you learn Japanese language before coming to Japan?
I wanted to learn some survival Japanese before coming to Japan. There are many private Japanese language tutors in Sri Lanka. So, I took a few lessons from one of those tutors and was able to pass the N5 level (Beginner level) of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), before coming to Japan. During my first year in Japan as a research student, I joined an intensive Japanese language course at my university which enhanced my language skills significantly. It is recommended to study a bit of Japanese before coming to Japan, as it will help you to adapt to the life in Japan soon.
Please write a message to students or researchers in your home country who may be thinking about studying in Japan.
Two main concerns most students who wish to study in Japan have are the language issues and the high living costs. The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has launched a project called the top global university project to support the Japanese universities on enhancing internationalization. Many universities have now started several English medium degree programs in various fields. So, you do not have to worry anymore about having to do your degree in Japanese medium. Also, there are many scholarship schemes available for international students such as the Japanese government scholarship, internal scholarships from the universities, scholarships offered by private foundations etc. You will get a monthly allowance that is sufficient to cover your daily expenses. Moreover, your tuition fees will also be covered by some of those scholarships. There are many opportunities for international students to study in Japan. All the information that you require, including course details and scholarships are available online. You can also contact the UTokyo office in Sri Lanka for more information about studying in Japan.