Since 2001, JICA has been supporting a south-south cooperation scholarship program in ASEAN, providing opportunities for university faculty staff from less developed ASEAN countries to study higher degree programs in more advanced ASEAN counties, under its support for ASEAN University Network/Southeast Asian Engineering Education Development Network (AUN/SEED-Net). This paper evaluates the Program in comparison with “traditional” scholarship program supported by developed countries in which students study in so-called developed countries. Analysis of questionnaires collected from management team of the member institutions of AUN/SEED-Net and from faculty members who studied in ASEAN under the Program or in developed countries under the traditional program indicates the followings:

Firstly, no significant difference is found in outputs between the two programs, which are measured by assessing how much two major objectives of the programs, namely (1) educational and research capacity enhancement of faculty staff and member institutions and (2) strengthening of ties between the countries, have been achieved. In addition, the Program, as a south-south cooperation, has developed capacity of the more advanced developing countries through the support activities for the less advanced countries and increased resources available for assistance for developing countries.

Secondly, students who studied at a receiving institution with better educational/research environment tend to have produced outputs at higher level. Graduates whose home institutions offer better work environments after their return also tend to have produced outputs at higher level. No relationship was observed between level of outputs and other factors such as qualification before the study, living environment or age.

In conclusion, the Program is as effective and efficient as the traditional program, especially when cost is also taken into consideration, as the cost for the Program is much lower than that for the traditional program. It is also important to improve the educational/research environment of the receiving and sending institutions, which is still relatively low in several aspects at the AUN/SEED-Net member institutions, in order to further enhance the outputs.