Date September , 2019

STATEMENT OF MOTIVATION

I am Kelali Mehari from Ethiopia, currently working in Haramaya University (the then
Alemaya University), Institute of Technology as Graduate Assistant II in the department of
Food Science and Post harvest Technology.

I am a graduate of Haramaya University, Ethiopia holding a degree in Food Science &

postharvest technology, with the very great distinction by winning a Gold medal from Haramaya
Institute of Technology with CGPA of 3.94/4.00. I joined the department in october 2014 as
undergraduate student. This is because I am very interested in the field of study. I grown in
scenery of the country where many Agricultural food products are produced, but due to shortage
of technological advance, almost sixty percent of the products are lost annually. The people
could not get good quality, healthy, safety and nutritional food. The way of handling products,
processing, keeping the quality, marketing, nutritional value and safety maintaining is too poor.
Due to these, the country has fallen in the problem of famine, as their eating diversification even
is traditional dependent rather than technological innovation. Different age groups could not get
diet of their interest with good quality; safety and shelf life because of food processors are not as
such trained in this area. All these situations make me wholehearted to change the problem of
Food Chains and Development, Food Science & Technology, Nutrition and security and Post
harvest Technology by studying further in the field.
During my study of Bachelor of Science (BSc.), I used to make a group and discuss on how to
discharge the knowledge we got on the area of Food Science and Technology and Food Security.
I believe that before implementing a technology, trained individuals in an area is imperative and
that is why I have been working hard with the aim of being one of the department’s assistant in
educating people in this professional area. Fortunately soon after graduation, I recurited by
Haramaya University as Graduate assistant on September 14, 2017/18, because I fulfilled all the
requirements of academic excellence and language proficiency. Since I became a collaborator in
the department, I have been teaching undergraduate students the courses like Food Quality
control, Assurance & Legislation, Unit Operation in Food Processing, Principles of Food
Processing and Preservation, Beverages processing Technology,Suger processing Technology,
Food Drying Technology, and assisting laboratory practical works. Besides these extracurricular,
I have been coordinating the students in visiting the near by located food industries to depict
them for the practical aspects too. These all exposures instigated me to broaden my scope in the
Food Technology area of study in Master of Science. The juvenile department of Food Science
and Post harvest Technology, being young and having a shortage of skilled individuals in the
area (especially in Food Security) need trained manpower to meet its mission for implementing
the Science and Technology of food which is the burning issue of the country’s policy entitled as
‘Agriculture-Led-Industrialization’.

Co-operation and mobility programmed in the field of higher education, which promotes the
Japan as a center of excellence in learning to which I am applying is very appreciated by your
courses and manner of offering detailed knowledge. I preferred this programme to study Master
of Science in Food Technology to broaden my knowledge in the area at Keio University Joint
Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) from which is a very known and
among leading higher and international institution especially in area of technological
innovations. My study duration at the Partner University will believingly provide me with the
experience of European culture and I will introduce their interesting customs to my home
country.

The field for which I am applying is directly related with my professional experience. I have
held my BSc. degree which is almost the same field (Food Science and Post Harvest
Technology) and have been dwelling and working with it up to now which had broaden my
scope of interest in the area. I am factual that I will successfully complete my Master of Science
study without any difficulty and impenetrability. I consider myself a good candidate for this
scholarship because I am young, energetic, hardworking, intelligent, visionary and motivated
person who believe that I can do something for the benefit of my country to which I have been
working.

Sincerely,

Kelali Mehari Araya

Dr. P. Selvakumar; Assistant Professor in Food Science and Post Harvest Technology
Department, Haramaya University, Ethiopia; Tell, +251920168944/+251255530374;
Email, pskmicro@gmail..com