Summer Semester Scholarships in Slovakia

SAIA, n. o., was authorized by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic to hold an extraordinary selection of scholarship holders in the National Scholarship Programme for stays in the summer semester 2010/2011. The deadline for applications is 24 November 2010 16.00 CET (Central European Time).

The stays have to be carried out by:

• students: between 1 February 2011 (at the earliest) and 30 June 2011 (at the latest);
• PhD students, researchers and university teachers: between 1 February 2011 (at the earliest) and 31 August 2011 (at the latest).

The exact duration of stay must be specified in the acceptation/invitation letter.The selection result will be communicated to the applicant by e-mail by the end of December 2010.

Other administrative procedures associated with the scholarships in this call (issue of decrees on granting of scholarship/agreements on granting of scholarship, method of payment and reporting about the stay) will be handled by the Ministry (directly or through an authorised organisation) after the selection.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS, PhD STUDENTS, UNIVERSITY TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS

Establishment of the National Scholarship Programme for the Support of Mobility of Students, PhD Students, University Teachers and Researchers was approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic in 2005. The National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic is funded by the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic.

The National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic is intended to support mobility of foreign students, PhD students, university teachers and researchers to stay at Slovak universities, research institutions and non-governmental organizations conducting research on the basis of an invitation.

Types of scholarships

a)      Scholarships for foreign university students (enrolled at least in the 6^th semester) to take part in Master study over a period of 1 semester at Slovak universities.

b)      Scholarships for foreign PhD students to take a part of PhD study over a period of 1 to 7 months at Slovak universities or research institutes.

c)      Scholarships for foreign university teachers and researchers over a period of 1 to 7 months to carry out teaching or research at Slovak universities, research institutes or nongovernmental organisations conducting research.

Citizens from following countries can apply for scholarships

a)      European Union member states – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom,

b)      other countries participating in the Bologna process (listed are only countries that are not stated in item a) – Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Switzerland, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine,

c)      Belarus,

d)     Canada, Central American countries, Latin American countries, Mexico, the United States of America,

e)      Australia, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.

f)       Due to the mobility nature of the programme applicants cannot be considered if they have been studying, teaching or researching in Slovakia at the time of submitting their application.

The Scholarship Programme does not support:

a)      foreign students and PhD students intending to enrol or accepted for entire Master or PhD studies in Slovakia, specifically those who are already studying in Slovakia and would like to cover a part of their costs from the National Scholarship Programme;

b)      foreign university teachers and researches who are already teaching or researching at Slovak universities and research institutes;

c)      citizens of the Slovak Republic studying, teaching or researching at foreign universities or research institutes;

d)     foreign applicants accepted for other scholarship programmes in Slovakia (for example Visegrad Fund, Erasmus, CEEPUS, bilateral agreements, etc.).

Scholarship designation

The scholarship is designated to cover living costs (accommodation, boarding, etc.) of a study, research and teaching stay of foreign applicants at Slovak universities and research institutions. The applicants can ask their host institution to assist them to arrange their accommodation and necessary documents regarding the stay in Slovakia, or they have to arrange it by themselves. The Scholarship Programme does not cover the travel costs to and from Slovakia.

Amount of a monthly scholarship

a) university students	240 EUR
b) PhD students	470 EUR
c) university teachers:
lecturers with or without a PhD degree	670 EUR
associated professors	835 EUR
professors	1 000 EUR
d) researchers:
young researchers (< 4 years of experience)	670 EUR
PhD holders (or > 4 years of experience)	835 EUR
senior researchers (>10 years of experience)	1 000 EUR

Application procedure

The on-line application system at www.scholarships.sk opens 6 – 8 weeks before the deadline. The application form is accessible only after the on-line application system is opened. In order to submit the on-line application, it is necessary to fill in the on-line application form (in Slovak, English, French, Spanish or Russian version), attach all required documents (in .doc or .pdf format) and press the “submit” button.

Applications must be submitted on-line at www.scholarships.sk and documents marked with asterisk (*) (see the List of required documents that must be attached to the on-line application form) must be sent by post and received by the deadline at SAIA, n. o. The submitted documents must be originals.

 

Documents must be received by deadline at:

SAIA, n. o.

Námestie slobody 23

812 20 Bratislava 1

Slovak Republic

Applications deadline: 24 November 2010 (until 16:00 CET) – for summer semester 2010/2011

List of required documents that must be attached to the on-line application form by foreign students and PhD students applying for a study/research stay: 

·         structured Curriculum Vitae,

·         motivation letter,

·         detailed study programme in case of students (incl. date of arrival and period of stay),

·         detailed research programme in case of PhD students (incl. date of arrival, period of stay and detailed programme time schedule),

·         two recommendation letters provided by applicant’s university teachers in case of students, one recommendation letter provided by applicant’s supervisor in case of PhD Students,

·         confirmation letter from a sending university certifying that applicant is a full-time student enrolled in min. 6th semester, in case of a PhD student a confirmation certifying enrolment in a PhD study (*),

·         certified copy of a Bachelor’s diploma or Master’s diploma and a certificate of a state exam (if any),

·         admission or invitation letter from a host university or research institute in Slovakia proclaiming commitment that applicant will be enrolled in a study or research programme (incl. period of stay). The admission or invitation letter must be printed on official letter head paper of the host institution, including a signature of the person in charge and a stamp. (*)

  

List of required documents that must be attached to the on-line application form by foreign university teachers and researchers:

·         structured Curriculum Vitae,

·         detailed teaching and/or research programme (including date of arrival, period of stay and detailed programme time schedule),

·         invitation letter from a host university or research institute in Slovakia (incl. period of stay). The invitation letter must be printed on official letter head paper of the host institution, including a signature of person in charge and a stamp. (*)  

(*) The documents must be sent by post and received by the deadline at SAIA, n. o. The submitted documents must be originals. The original admission or invitation letter from the Slovak host university or research institute can be sent by post from the host institution in Slovakia directly to SAIA n.o.

Selection procedure of applicants from abroad

The selection committee, appointed by the Minister of Education of the SR, carries out the selection of scholarship holders.

SAIA, n. o. will send the e-mail notification of granting or refusing a scholarship to all applicants within 8 weeks after the application deadline.

Contact:

SAIA, n. o., Námestie slobody 23, 812 20 Bratislava 1, Slovak Republic

Jana Rehorovská, Programme Co-ordinator

Tel.: +421 2 544 11 426 (436)

Fax: +421 2 544 11 429 

E-mail: jana.rehorovska@saia.sk

Web: www.scholarships.sk

Gates Millennium Scholars Scholarship 2011

The 2011 Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) scholarship application is now available. GMS will select 1,000 talented students to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice. We provide Gates Millennium Scholars with personal and professional development through our leadership programs along with academic support throughout their college career.

Our program is more than a scholarship—it’s an opportunity to change your life! Putting in the effort now to apply can be a worthwhile experience for super special students like you!

Eligibility

Students are eligible to be considered for a GMS scholarship if they:

• Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American
• Are a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the United States
• Have attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on an unweighted 4.0 scale or have earned a GED
• Will enroll for the first time at a U.S. located, accredited college or university in the fall of 2011 as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student (with the exception of students pursuing a high school diploma while concurrently enrolled). First-time college enrollees can also be GED recipients.
• Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities 
• Meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria
• Have completed and submitted all three required forms: the student’s application (Nominee Personal Information Form), an evaluation of the student’s academic record (Nominator Form) and an evaluation of the student’s community service and leadership activities (Recommender Form) by the deadline

Gates Millennium Scholars Program

 

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS), established in 1999, was initially funded by a $1 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential by:

• Reducing financial barriers for African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American and Hispanic American students with high academic and leadership promise who have significant financial need;
• Increasing the representation of these target groups in the disciplines of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health and the sciences, where these groups are severely underrepresented;
• Developing a diversified cadre of future leaders for America by facilitating successful completion of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees; and
• Providing seamless support from undergraduate through doctoral programs, for students selected as Gates Millennium Scholars entering target disciplines.

The GMS Scholarship Award Provides:

• Support for the cost of education by covering unmet need and self-help aid;

• Renewable awards for Gates Millennium Scholars maintaining satisfactory academic progress;

• Graduate school funding for continuing Gates Millennium Scholars in the areas of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science;

• Leadership development programs with distinctive personal, academic and professional growth opportunities.

Program Accomplishment:

• Funded more than 13,000 Gates Millennium Scholars since the inception of the program

• Obtained a 79.9% graduation rate in five years*

• Supported Gates Millennium Scholars enrolled in more than 1,500 colleges and universities

• Supported Gates Millennium Scholars representing 50 states and five outlying areas

• Graduated over 5,000 Gates Millennium Scholars since the program's inception

• Five year retention rate of 87.7%*

*Reflects cohorts 1 through 4 

The GMS program is more than just a scholarship. The GMS program offers Gates Millennium Scholars with ACademic Empowerment (ACE) services to encourage academic excellence; mentoring services for academic and personal development; and an online resource center that provides internship, fellowship and scholarship information. 

The deadline for all submission is January 10, 2011 at 11:59p.m. EST. We look forward to reviewing your application soon. 

Official website: http://www.gmsp.org/publicweb/AboutUs.aspx

CEPR International Program Intern in Washington

The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), Washington DC, is currently looking for a full-time Research and Outreach Intern for Spring 2011. The internship will start in early-to-mid January and end in mid-to-late May, 2011. CEPR was established in 1999 to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people’s lives. It is an independent nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, DC. CEPR is committed to presenting issues in an accurate and understandable manner, so that the public is better prepared to choose among the various policy options.

The intern will assist with a variety of research, outreach, and communications activities related to the U.S. economy and domestic policy. This may include outreach to the press, advocacy organizations and Congress, along with some research on upcoming papers and economic opinion pieces. Other tasks may include communications duties such as generating website content and tracking CEPR’s appearances in the media. The responsibilities of interns vary based on their interests and experience, as well as the particular issues that CEPR is working on at the time. Interns will have the opportunity to attend relevant events around Washington, DC.

Eligibility and Qualifications

We are looking for applicants with:
* General understanding of economics, international relations, and democracy issues and an interest in economic justice.
* Previous research, data and/or outreach experience is considered as an asset
* Past interns with strong economics or foreign policy (including Master’s degrees) will have the opportunity to engage in serious research, and those with strong organizing or outreach experience will have event management opportunities
* Fluency in Spanish, including the ability to perform accurate written translations
* Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with limited management
* Self-starter and independent learner
* Excellent writing and communications skills

Scholarship: $1,415 per month, plus up to $200 for health insurance reimbursement per month.

Application 

Send cover letter, resume, and a brief (2 page) answer to the question “How can the US improve its foreign policy toward Latin America?” via email to jobscepr2010@cepr.net. The deadline is 12 November 2010.

Read more

Millennium Youth Camp in Finland

Young people have the key role in resolving global challenges in the future. The target of the international Millennium Youth Camp (MY Camp) is to find young people interested in mathematics, science and technology, and help them start up a career in these fields. MY Camp also aims to raise awareness of the educational and working opportunities available in Finland and promoting the Millennium Technology Prize, Finland's tribute to developers of life-enhancing technological innovations, awarded by Technology Academy Finland. The next MY Camp will be organised on 11 - 17 June 2011. 

The first-ever MY Camp was organised in Helsinki in June 2010. Almost one thousand applications were received from 62 countries and from all continents, and 30 talented young people from 14 countries were selected as participants. The camp got excellent feedback from all the MY Campers and organisers.

The main organisers of MY Camp are Technology Academy Finland and the Finnish Science Education Centre LUMA.

MY Camp is an inspiring way of offering young people aged 16-19 years (on the 2011 camp, young people born between years 1992-1995) an overview of Finnish expertise and top-level research in the natural sciences, mathematics and technology. Students network with each other, with individuals in Finnish companies and organisations, and with top scientists. During the one-week-camp, MY Campers are introduced to a number of Finnish companies and higher educational institutions. In addition to lectures, workshops and visits to MY Camp partners, the programme includes project work supervised by top-level experts and carried out in small multi-national groups.

MY Camp 2011 will be organised on Saturday 11 - Friday 17 June 2011. The camp is free of charge for the participants. The organisers will take care of all costs, including flight tickets and other travel costs.

The main themes of the 2011 camp are:
•Climate Change
•Renewable Natural Resources and Energy
•Water
•ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and Digitalisation and
•Applied Mathematics.

Application deadline is December 15, 2010.

Official website: http://www.technologyacademy.fi/millennium-youth-camp-fi.html

Training Course "Talk and Listen" in Romania

"Talk and Listen" is a training course on conflict management and communication aiming at exploring the concept of conflict on two sides: intra-personal and interpersonal level as well as understanding the mechanisms of communication.The event will be held on 19-24 March 2011, in Brasov, Romania.

Themes of the training course are:
* Sources and classification of conflicts
* Conflict and communication
* Types of personality (including personality tests)
* Meaning of body language
* Conflict resolution methods
* Negotiation techniques

Objectives
* To provide the participants with knowledge about conflict and negotiation
* To provide the participants with practical tools on conflict management and negotiation techniques
* To facilitate the cooperation between the participants in order to develop future projects within Youth in Action program
* To empower the participants to act as mediators in future conflicts.

Eligibility

*  Member of the 27 EU countries (it is a 4.3 action)
*  Able to stay focused throughout the whole training course
*  With  experience  in  managing  youth  projects  (writing  or implementing projects)
*  Able to make decisions in their organization
*  To have analytical skills

Target Group
* Youth volunteers working in conflict areas: social inclusion, ethnic minorities, refugees
* Young volunteers with disabilities
* Young volunteers belonging to minorities
* Young European immigrants
* Volunteers willing to improve their conflict management skills

Costs and scholarships

*  Transportation covered 70%
*  Food and accommodation covered 100%
*  Participation  fee:  20  euro  (will  be  deducted  from  the transport reimbursement)

Application

please send the signed and stamped Part III together with the application form before Tuesday 26th October 2010 to the following e-mail address: talkn.listen@yahoo.com

Afterwards you must send the original Part III at the following address:
ACDC Romania
Str. Paraului 38; Bl A-14; sc. B; ap. 14;
Brasov
Romania

Go to the official webpage

Sauvé Scholars Program for Young Leaders, Canada

The Sauvé Scholars Program (Montreal, Canada) has already welcomed 100 scholars from 45 different countries. Launched in 2003, the Sauvé Scholars Program has evolved from the Jeanne Sauvé Youth Foundation, created in 1991 by the late Jeanne Sauvé, the first woman to serve as Governor General of Canada, the country’s Head of State and Commander-in-Chief. The Sauvé Scholars Program exists for young leaders from across the globe who want to change the world. 

The Scholars are chosen above all on the basis of criteria laid out by the Right Honourable Jeanne Sauvé:
* Initiative
* Motivation
* Vision
* Imagination
* Demonstrated communication skills
* Awareness of international and domestic issues
* A strong desire to effect change

The Sauvé experience, a period of personal and professional growth, is founded on:

* Intense exchange of ideas and experience, supported by communal life
* Extensive intellectual freedom, allowing each participant to develop according to his or her needs and aspirations
* Focus on action accompanied by a clear commitment to the community —including the host community
* Commitment to dialogue among cultures, which allows participants to understand and assimilate viewpoints built within multiple frames of reference.

Eligibility
* Between 23 and 30 years old on December 31st 2010
* A highly motivated self-starter
* A committed agent of change
* Fluent in English
* A minimum of 2-3 years of professional and/or work experience (paid or unpaid). Experience may include positions in a volunteer or internship capacity
* Completed your undergraduate education, or the equivalent, by 31 July 2010 (advanced degrees are welcome but not a requirement)
* A record of accomplishment and ability to meet challenges
* Demonstrated leadership qualities
* Proven communications skills
* A highly developed curiosity about the world
* A strong interest in international and domestic issues
* An eagerness to engage with the complex issues of the day

  

Scholarship

* Round-trip transportation (one trip only) to and from Montreal is arranged for each Scholar and paid for by the Program (the Program also assists in securing and paying for visas to Canada for Scholars who are neither Canadian citizens nor residents)
* Monthly allowance of $1,000 (Canadian dollars) to cover meals and incidental expenses.
* “Welcome allowance” of $500 to be used by Scholars to purchase any necessary supplies, and winter clothing for Scholars arriving from warmer climates
* The Program covers the expenses related to activities developed during the nine-month Programm
* Accommodation at Sauvé House (modern individual compact bedroom/studies, all with cable TV and Internet access, and with private full bathrooms).

Deadline for applications is 01 November 2010.

More detailed information on the Programm Scholarship

Open Forum "Faces and Fakings of Volunteering"

The Open Forum Bruges "Faces and Fakings of Volunteering" on 26-28 November 2010 is the first part of the project v11 which consists of a series of events contributing to the European Year of Volunteering 2011. As a first attempt to approach the topic, this weekend event will provide a framework for discussing different understandings and meanings of the term “volunteering”. This project is supported by the European Union under the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme.

What is the OpenForum Bruges about?

2011 was declared the “European Year of Volunteering” by the European Union. All over Europe Institutions and organisations will highlight the importance of volunteering for individual development and for society. Together with partner organisations from all over the continent, Citizens of Europe will realise a series of events and activities dealing with volunteering. As a first attempt to approach the topic, the OpenForum in Bruges will provide a framework for discussing different understandings and meanings of the term “volunteering”.

The aims are in particular:

- to map different meanings of the term volunteering in different social environments and based on different cultural backgrounds

- to define voluntary work in contrastation with other forms of unpaid work

- to analyse different motivations of volunteers and their respective contexts

- to identify interesting questions, controversies and topics to be addressed during the coming phases of the project and the Workshop/Seminar day on 6 May 2011 during the European Days of Volunteering in Landau in der Pfalz.

What are OpenFora?

OpenFora are weekend debates. Their objective is to bring together people from all Europe – regardless of their age, social or professional background – in order to exchange views and experience on topics related with current social and political life in Europe. So far, we have realised nine of them (see http://www.openfora.eu).

OpenFora setup spaces where European diversity can be experienced in practice. They are not conferences where showmanship is the top priority. They do not target at a specific group – be it youngsters, academics, politicians, media professional, or whatsoever. Instead, OpenFora welcome all people that are willing to actively participate in a European debate on topics that are important to them.

OpenFora is part of the Citizens of Europe project portfolio. Each OpenForum is realized with the support of a local partner organisation. The OpenForum 10 in Bruges is part of the project cycle “v11”, Citizens of Europe’s contribution to the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

Whom would we like to meet in Bruges?

Every one willing to actively engage in a debate characterized by low hierarchies is welcome to this OpenForum. All opinions are valuable and will be considered. Academic and professional backgrounds are relevant for us only to the extend they allow for interesting contributions to the debate.

We are willing to meet participants coming from the public and private sector, the academic community, civil society, arts, etc. Involving people with a variety of personal backgrounds will contribute to a lively debate with substantial results. We are particularly interested in people and organisations interested also in contributing to future parts of our project v11.

What does the OpenForum Bruges offers?

The weekend debate will follow a three-phased schedule (opening audience discussion, workshop, and special closing event). Hierarchies are meant to be particularly low, everybody coming will be encouraged and expected to contribute with own thoughts, knowledge and experience. Citizens of Europe will present a framework, initiate the debates and involve the participants according to their personal profiles and the points of view expressed when applying.

What will you gain by participating in the OpenForum Bruges?

You will get to know people involved In voluntary work or dealing with it from different contexts and geographical backgrounds. You will network and exchange experiences among exciting people; you will appreciate mutual respect and recognition when initiating and participating in a transnational European debate.

What are the conditions for participating?

Participation requires the ability to take part in a debate held in English language.

Room and board are included. A participation fee of max. EUR 60,00 (according to your place of residence) needs to be transferred to our bank account after your application has been accepted.

Find out about the fee applicable to you on: http://wiki.citizens-of-europe.eu/images/c/c0/Participation_fees_OFBruges.pdf

On request, we can refund travel tickets (max 70 %, max. 125 EUR).

What do you need to do in order to apply?

1. Fill in our application form and motivational letter, downloadable at: http://wiki.citizens-of-europe.

eu/images/8/8e/Bruges_Application_Form.doc

2. Write a short text (up to 4.000-5.000 characters), or send us visual material produced by you, which may provide an answer to one of the following questions:

• Is volunteering a life style?

• Examples for a misuse of the term “volunteering”

• Why I am a volunteer

• Volunteering & Exploitation – where is the borderline?

We are happy to receive any additional material of yours on the general programme “Contemporary Challenges to Europe” or on the specific topic of OpenForum Bruges (e.g. Internet links, artistic works, publications, etc…).

Please send your application to the following address: office@citizens-of-europe.eu with the subject: OpenForum Bruges.

The deadline for applications is 30 October 2010.

You can find the project website at: http://projects.citizens-of-europe.eu/openfora/?page_id=331