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.

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

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.

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.



European Academy for Intellectual Entrepreneurs

The Lithuanian Free Market Institute runs the independent program - European Academy for Intellectual Entrepreneurs - for finding and training talented young people in Europe, to encourage undertaking innovative activities for principles of individual freedom, responsibility, free market and limited government. They invite those people who want to promote ideas of liberty to apply for funding. Up to USD 5000 per project will be provided. The application deadline is October 30th 2010.

Who is eligible for this grant?
We are looking for new intellectual entrepreneurs: individuals, groups, recently established organizations. We aim to support and strengthen the newcomers, encourage new activities or to expand existing projects, which would serve ideas of liberty in Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.

Criteria for evaluation of application
Idea -25%. These criteria will assess how well the aims of your project correspond to the ideas of liberty.
Feasibility -25%. This criteria will assess how likely it is that you will achieve what you trying to achieve with your project. Here we shall look for realistic plans, sound expenses, reasonable timelines and other information that would convince us that you are really able to complete the project successfully.
Sustainability- 25%. These criteria will evaluate the likelihood that the project will continue in the future without the financial support of the Academy.
Impact -25%. These criteria will access the possible impact your project is going to have. We understand that the true impact of certain projects may be hard to foresee. Having this in mind we shall be very sympathetic during the evaluation.

Dates
Projects should start: December 1st 2010;
Application deadline: October 30th 2010;
Questions and Answers session with selected candidates: mid-November;
Duration of the project – up to 1 year.

Grant size
- up to USD 5000 per project;
o up to 80% from Academy;
o at least 20% from other sources

Project size
It is completely acceptable to create projects of various sizes: from very small to very big (e.g. from USD 100 to USD 1,000,000). But the Grant must not make up more than 80% of the total cost of the project. This means that if the total cost of the project for example is USD 2000, you can get up to USD 1600 from Academy; if your project is USD 200, you can get up to USD 160 Academy. If the total cost of the project is USD 12,000 you can get up to USD 5000 from Academy, because USD 5000 is the maximum grant available from the Academy for a single project. This means that you will have to find USD 7000 somewhere else.

Expenses
We provide financial support for the implementation of projects. Therefore the grant is designed to cover the expenses related to the project. When describing the amount of money necessary for the project please try to avoid incorporating expenses related to routine costs of running your organization. We strongly urge you to concentrate on the expenses related to the actual project.

The applications should be sent to edita@freema.org.
 
For more information please click here : European Academy for Intellectual Entrepreneurs

IHS Journalism Internship Program, USA

The IHS Journalism Internship Program (Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University, USA) places aspiring journalists who support liberty at media companies and non-profit investigative newsrooms. Talented writers and communicators have the opportunity to learn or improve their journalism skills and expand their professional network. Opportunities are offered year-round, during the spring, summer, and fall.

Journalists can advance liberty by producing balanced stories incorporating the ideas of individual rights, free markets, and peace. Journalists can draw on these ideas when choosing which stories to cover and how to report breaking stories. An IHS intern who understands spontaneous order and public choice theory will produce stories far different and more unique than a journalist steeped in the notion of central planning by altruistic, government officials.

If you have an eye for news and want to get the story and if you believe individual rights precede government, then start or enhance your journalism career with an internship through the IHS Journalism Internship Program. Past interns have worked at 20/20, the Orange County Register, Reason.TV, Fox News, and many other companies and organizations.

A Comprehensive Program

Program elements include:
* Eight-week internship with a $3,200 stipend and a travel allowance (interns must obtain their own room and board)
* Participation in our weeklong, summer workshop, Journalism & the Free Society, including travel assistance
* Mentoring and job placement assistance from IHS program staff.

Once accepted into the program, our program director will match you with a host based on your goals and experience and a host’s needs. You can also apply for funding for an internship you secure on your own, such as at a local paper or TV station.

During your internship, you’ll learn core reporting skills: how to identify compelling stories, secure sources, research facts, and ask the right questions. Plus all interns, from throughout the year, meet and network at the weeklong IHS Journalism Career Workshop during the summer—a great complement to the internship experience.

Previous experience is a plus but not required. We're looking for skilled writers and communicators passionate about liberty and who support individual rights and free markets. We encourage students from all disciplines, including political science and economics, to apply. You don’t need to be a journalism major. Undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates of all majors are eligible. The program is open to students of all nationalities. However, almost all internships are in the U.S., and American media outlets require all candidates to speak and write English fluently. In addition, candidates must meet all visa requirements. 

Journalism Career Workshop

As part of the program, all interns (fall, spring, and summer) attend our weeklong journalism workshop during the summer. At the workshop, experienced journalists share career stories and advice, and outstanding professors explain the foundations of a free press and economic tools for understanding political and economic issues. You can network with other interns and the faculty during meals, discussion groups, and nightly receptions. IHS provides travel assistance to the workshop.

Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market

Editors and producers seek individuals with work experience, and an IHS internship gives you the chance to publish stories in local or city newspapers, investigate political controversies, or help produce a live, talk-oriented program.

Application Deadlines
Spring: November 15, 2010
Summer: January 31, 2011
Fall: TBA (application online in 2011)

To learn more and apply, click here.

Humane Studies Fellowships at IHS, USA

Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University, USA, awards Humane Studies Fellowships of up to $15,000 for graduate or undergraduate study to graduate students and outstanding undergraduates planning academic careers with liberty-advancing research interests. The fellowships are open to students in a range of fields, such as economics, philosophy, law, political science, anthropology, and literature.

The program began in 1983 as the Claude R. Lambe Fellowships, and in 2010 we awarded more than 180 fellowships ranging from $2,000 to $15,000.

Past fellows have researched a variety of topics that explore historical and contemporary ideas that maximize freedom of action and support the rule of law:
  • market-based approaches to environmental policy
  • the legal development of privacy and property rights in 18th-century England
  • the role of patient autonomy in bioethics
  • impediments to economic growth in developing countries
  • the relationship between U.S. presidential politics, fiscal policies, and economic performance
Research and Discussion Colloquia
 
Selected winners are invited to present and discuss their research at the annual Research Colloquium and to attend the Friedrich Hayek Discussion Colloquium.

Fellows also join a network of more than 10,000 IHS academics committed to the ideas of liberty and intellectual freedom.

Eligibility
 
Applications for the Humane Studies Fellowship will be considered from those who will be full-time graduate students or undergraduate juniors or seniors in the 2010-2011 academic year and have a clearly demonstrated research interest in the intellectual and institutional foundations of a free society.

Awards are based on academic or professional performance, relevance of one's work to the advancement of a free society, and potential for success.

Application Process

The deadline is December 31, 2010. Applications must be submitted through online application system.  If you have not already registered on TheIHS.org, the application requires a short registration process.

Supporting documents must be uploaded to the application as electronic files. We no longer accept supporting materials by mail. Please begin collecting supporting materials early, as certain items may take time to compile. Instructions for how to submit supporting materials are listed at the end of the online application.

You can list your recommenders on your application. We will send requests to these recommenders for their letters of recommendation only after you submit your application. The deadline for your recommenders to submit recommendations back to IHS is January 21, 2011.

There is a $25 application fee that you may pay by credit card or check. Payment instructions appear at the end of the application.

Read more about IHS and this scholarship: http://www.theihs.org/node/447

Symposium on Continuity and Change in Southeastern Europe, Harvard University

The Kokkalis Program on Southeastern and East-Central Europe, John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the Southeastern Europe Study Group, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University, invite scholars, researchers, university faculty, public policy practitioners, and graduate students at advanced stages of research to submit 500-word proposals for papers to be delivered at the symposium “Continuity and Change in Southeastern Europe” on February 4, 2011, at Harvard University.

Proposals must fall into one of the below thematic units:

I) Institutional Legacies: Tracing Historical Continuities.
Over the last century and a half, Southeastern Europe has been marked by a large number of critical junctures: from the collapse of multinational empires to the long period of wars form 1912-18 and World War II to the emergence of Communist states and their collapse.
Chair: Dr. Florian Bieber, Editor-in-Chief, Nationalities Papers

II) Domestic-International Relationships in Political Reform in Southeastern Europe
What do case studies of political reform in post-socialist Southeastern Europe tell us about the conditions under which international actors can work together with domestic actors to develop institutions that are responsive to and valued by ordinary citizens? How have domestic actors in Southeastern Europe been able to incorporate domestic values and traditions into new institutions in the face of pressure to adopt Western models? Under what conditions are international actors who promote reform sensitive to local knowledge?
Chair: Dr. Paula Pickering, Associate Professor, Department of Government, College of William and Mary

III) Gender, Nation and Globalization
The last two decades have been a time of tremendous upheaval for the nations of Southeastern Europe, which have variously weathered the storms of sudden economic change, political disintegration, social instability, increasing crime and corruption, massive out migration, violence, and war.
Chair: Dr. Kristen Ghodsee, Associate Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies, Bowdoin College

Deadline for submission is November 15, 2010. Proposals should be submitted along with a recent CV to Andrew Hall at Andrew_Hall@hks.harvard.edu.

Travel and accommodation
Small stipends for travel and accommodation will be available for selected participants.

Areas of focus: Albania * Bosnia-Herzegovina * Bulgaria * Croatia *Cyprus * F.Y.R. of Macedonia * Greece * Hungary * Kosovo * Moldova *Montenegro * Romania * Serbia * Slovenia * Turkey

For more information on the Kokkalis Program, visit the official website.

OAS/UPEACE Scholarships for Professional Development Courses in Costa Rica

The Organization of American States (OAS) and The University for Peace through the UPEACE Institute have decided to support outstanding individuals of the Americas by offering OAS/UPEACE scholarships to further their education through the following Professional Development courses:
One Week Course:
* Fundraising for Sustainable Development
Two Weeks Courses:
* Sports and Peace
* Arms Control and Disarmament Today
* Environmental Security Assessment: Principle and Practice
* Gender and Human Trafficking
Three Weeks Courses:
* Curricular Design for Peace and Conflict Studies
* Hunger, Famine and Food Security

The courses will be held from January 17th to 04th February 2011, in Ciudad Colón, Costa Rica. The scholarship will cover 100% of the tuition cost and a complementary subsistence amount of $150 per week. In order to apply for the OAS/UPEACE Scholarship, participants must be admitted to the course.

Eligibility
* Applicants must have a four or five year undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 85/100, 3.5/4 or equivalent,
* Minimum of 3 years of work experience in the field of social sciences
* Excellent command of English
* Citizens or permanent residents of an OAS Member State, except Costa Rica
* Unconditional admission to one of the above-mentioned UPEACE Institute courses
* Applicants who are Staff members of the OAS General Secretariat, persons under performance contracts with the General Secretariat, staff members of the permanent missions to the OAS, members of the Academic and Technical Studies (ATS) Scholarship Selection Committee, and their relatives are not eligible for OAS academic or technical studies scholarships

Application
# Applicants should complete and submit the OAS Scholarship Application Form and the required documents in PDF format via e-mail to Ana Maria Ortiz Senior amortiz@oas.org and Leyla Cortes lcortes@oas.org. Please indicate in the subject “OAS/UPEACE” and your name.
Please attach the following required documents:
* Copy of the transcript of the highest university degree obtained (Bachelor’s, Master’s, etc)
* Updated Curriculum Vitae or Résumé
* One letter of recommendation of current employer
* Standardized English test results (TOEFL or IELTS)

Scholarship selection criteria
The following scholarships are offered: 1 week course - US $ 700; 2 week courses - US $ 1,400;3 weeks courses  -US $ 2,100 (covers 100% of the tuition cost, and a complementary subsistence amount of $150 per week)
Scholarships shall be granted based on the following criteria:
1. The overall academic merit of the candidate.
2. The professional experience and achievements of the candidate.
3. The candidate’s potential impact upon completion of the course of study and return to the country of origin.
4. An extensive and equitable geographic distribution for the benefit of all Member States that takes into account the greater needs of the smaller and relatively less developed economies.
5. Gender equality and equity.

The official deadline to apply for this scholarship is 15th November 2010.

Contacts
Rosario Gutiérrez
UPEACE Institute Coordinator
Department of Academic Administration
University for Peace
E-mail: upeaceinstitute@upeace.org
Telephone: (506) 2205-9000

Winter School on Cross-Border Cooperation

The second edition of the Winter School on Federalism and Governance will take place from 31 January until 11 February 2011 in Austria and Italy (sessions: 31 January – 4 February – Innsbruck; 7 – 11 February 2011 – Bolzano) and will focuse on the topic of Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC). The Winter School was honoured by the patronage of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Thorbjørn Jagland.

Topics of the Winter School
The development of cross-border institutions, policies and instruments between neighbouring regions is a recent phenomenon of increasing importance. How to manage cross-border issues from a legal point of view? How to develop a transnational, cross-border civil service? How to create a common legal framework and cluster economies? The Winter School addresses these and other issues both from a theoretical and practical perspective.

Eligibility
The Winter School welcomes an international audience:
· young researchers and academics
· post-graduate or undergraduate students with basic knowledge on federalism, multi-level governance, constitutional issues and CBC
· civil servants from a local, regional or national government
· employees of international organizations or NGOs, dealing with CBC .

Program
Exciting academic 10-day programme on both sides of the Alps that offers:
· lectures by distinguished academics from different European countries;
· discussions, roundtables and case studies with experts from various administrations at local, regional, international and supranational level;
· institutional study visits, debates and public lectures with politicians and civil servants.

Successful participants of the programme are awarded 10 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System). The working language is English.

The first week (31 January – 4 February) takes place at the Faculty of Law and School of Political Science and Sociology, Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, Austria; the second week (7 – 11 February 2011)
at the Institute for Studies on Federalism and Regionalism, European Academy Bolzano/Bozen (EURAC), Italy.

Accomodation
Accomodation for all participants of the Winter School will be booked in good standard guesthouses (in Innsbruck) and in modern students’ halls of residence (in Bolzano/Bozen) both quietly and centrally located. Both single and twin room accommodation are available on a first-come-first-serve basis upon enrolment.

Costs and Scholarships
The participation fee for the Winter School, to be paid upon enrolment in November 2010, is:
Option 1: € 600 – includes 13 nights-accommodation in a single room with breakfast.
Option 2: € 450 – includes 13 nights-accommodation in a twin room with breakfast.

The participation fee covers: accommodation as specified above, tuition fee, materials, guided tours, bus transfer from Innsbruck to Bolzano on Saturday, 5 February 2011, welcome coffee and farewell party, access to the library and internet access on both venue sites (EURAC Bolzano/Bozen and Faculty of Political Science, University of Innsbruck).

Depending on external funds, scholarships covering accommodation costs and/or travel reimbursement will be awarded. Holders of such scholarships are requested to pay the participation fee of €100 upon enrolment. Everyone is welcome to apply for scholarship. However, scholarships are limited as they depend on external funding.

Application process
Application runs through an online form. You will be requested to submit your:
- personal data
- academic and professional education
- work experience (if applicable)
- motivation
- abstract of 500 words on one of the below topics which will be further discussed and analyzed in small working groups on policy studies during the Winter School.

The topics for the essays and group works are:
A. CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION AND MINORITIES
B. CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
C. CROSS-BORDER CLUSTERS AND REGIONAL ECONOMICS
D. SPATIAL PLANNING

Please choose the study-group you would like to participate in the Winter School and write an abstract of max. 500 words answering one of the question related to your favourite topic.

The application deadline is 31 October 2010.

Read more about application process and apply here.

Master Scholarship in Insurance and Risk Management

MIB School of Management of Trieste, Italy is pleased to announce a scholarship competition for applicants to the eleventh edition of the Master in Insurance and Risk Management. The scholarships will cover tuition fees to attend the Master in Insurance and Risk Management program (January 2011 – December 2011).

Tuition Fees
The scholarships will cover up to 100% of the tuition fees (equivalent to 20.000,00 EUR 20% V.A.T. included). The amount of the scholarships will be discounted from the overall tuition fees. In case of course abandonment or exclusion for any reason, no amount of the scholarship will be paid or reimbursed.

Eligibility Requirements
Candidates must meet the following requirements:
  • Academic degree (or equivalent qualification).
  • Good working knowledge of English (TOEFL certificate is recommended).
MIB School of Management will award scholarships to the best candidates on the basis of educational qualifications, professional skills and motivation shown during the entrance interview. To be considered for a scholarship, the application form for the programme must be completed on-line at www.mib.edu.

In order to finalize the application, the following documents must be received:
  • Degree certificate
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • If available a certificate which demonstrates an adequate knowledge of English such as TOEFL (alternatively, verification will be made directly by the School);
  • If available a deductive reasoning test score such as GMAT (alternatively, verification will be made directly by the School).
Application Deadline
The documentation must be received by November 16, 2010 at the following address:
Ms. Barbara Sepic
Admissions Officer
MIB School of Management
Largo Caduti di Nasiriya 1
34142 Trieste – Italy
e-mail: sepic@mib.edu
fax: +39 040 9188122
      More information and application : http://www.mib.edu/c/d/p/000064.aspx

      Balkan Youth Sport Democracy Training

      The International Sport and Culture Association, in cooperation with Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations and Sport For All Serbia, has the pleasure to invite you to the Balkan Youth Sport Democracy Training that will be held on November 22-28, 2010 in Serbia.

      The main themes of the training are:
      - intercultural dialogue through youth and sport activities
      - democratic youth participation.

      The objectives of the training:
      - Develop the skills of Balkan youth leaders in promoting inter-ethnic dialogue through youth and sport activities;
      - Support Balkan youth leaders to discover and develop innovative ways of participating in democratic decision making processes in their local communities;
      - Establish a network of youth leaders that are actively pursuing and implementing cross-cutting initiatives in the youth and sport field in the Balkans.

      Eligibility
      Participants should be:
      - aged between 15 – 30 years
      - involved in local NGOs
      - have experience from other related events
      - show motivation to be part of an international learning experience
      - residents of one of the following countries: ALBANIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA, KOSOVO, MACEDONIA, MONTENEGRO, SERBIA, SLOVENIA AND DENMARK.

      The working language will be English, therefore each participant is required to have good communication skills in this language.

      Financial conditions and financial support
      ISCA and DGI will cover all costs related to accommodation and food. The participants should arrange their own travel to and from Serbia. Participants will receive a travel reimbursement of 70% of the total costs, up to the amounts mentioned below. The organizers will need to see all original tickets and receipts to be able to enable a refund. We encourage participants to make use of the cheapest methods of travel possible.

      Maximum reimbursement of travel costs:
      - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia € 70
      - Croatia and Montenegro € 100
      - Albania, Macedonia and Slovenia € 120
      - Denmark € 200

      The participation fee for the seminar is 30 euro and will be deducted from the travel reimbursement.
       
      Application procedure
      Please complete the online application form before 20th October 2010. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted. On the basis of the applications received ISCA and DGI will take a final decision on accepted applicants.The results of the selection process will be sent to all applicants on the 25th October 2010.


      Euro–Arab Training Course for Cooperation Youth Projects

      Council of Europe and the League of Arab States are aiming to develop the capacity of youth organisations active in Euro-Arab cooperation, in the areas of non-formal learning, training and intercultural dialogue.

      Background for the course
      Euro-Arab youth cooperation was initiated more than 15 years ago by the Council of Europe with a series of activities in the area of Euro-Arab Dialogue. Nonetheless, the most important area of cooperation in the recent years has been in the Euro-Mediterranean region, in particular through the human rights education and intercultural dialogue of the partnership between the Council of Europe and the European Commission in the field of youth.

      Aim of the course
      The course aims at supporting Euro-Arab youth cooperation by developing the competences of thirty leaders of youth organisations from the Council of Europe and the League of Arab States as well as to support the development and the implementation of innovative projects for youth policy development, youth participation and intercultural dialogue through non formal learning and by youth organisations.

      Participants’ projects criteria
      During this course, each participant will have to develop a concrete project to be implemented with young people, based on non formal learning and intercultural dialogue. The projects should start after the first residential seminar in Strasbourg (5th – 13th December 2010).

      Profile and selection of participants
      The course is organised for youth leaders of youth organisations and of youth projects in member states of the Council of Europe and of the League of Arab States who are:
      • Having some experience in running youth projects and intending to engage further in Euro-Arab youth cooperation ones;
      • Supported by their organisations for participating in the course and in their intentions to contribute to increased Euro-Arab youth cooperation;
      • Motivated to learn and to share their experiences on youth work and youth policy;
      • Able to act as trainers or multipliers within their organisations;
      • Committed to develop and implement a cooperation project;
      • Able to work in Arabic or/and English (if needed, simultaneous interpretation Arabic-English will be provided for the duration of the course)
      • Available to attend the full duration of the course including the e-learning and project development phases;
      • Aged between 18 and 30 years (preferably).

      Working languages
      The course will be held in English and Arabic. If needed, simultaneous interpretation will be provided for the residential seminars. Documents for the seminars and for the elearning phase will be made available in both languages where possible and if necessary.

      Financial conditions
      Board and lodging as well as the travel expenses for the seminars will be covered. The co-organisers will not cover the costs of using the Internet during the e-learning phases. Participation in these phases will not require the purchase of extra software by the participants.

      The Council of Europe and the League of Arab States will not directly fund or co-fund projects to be developed by participants, as this is a responsibility of the latter and of their organisation. However, both institutions are committed to provide participants with the necessary educational and institutional support needed for the development of their projects.

      Procedure for applications
      All applicants from European countries should apply using an Internet-based application form. The form is available, after registration on the website. In case of technical difficulties, please contact Ms. Viktoria Karpatska at Viktoria.Karpatska@coe.int. Applications must be submitted in English.

      All interested persons from Arab states should contact the office of the League of Arab States by email: youth@poplas.org for receiving information about the application procedure.

      The support letter for the candidate should be presented by their sending organisation. The recommendation letter can either be uploaded on the website mentioned above, or sent separately by email to the respective person in charge of receiving the application. Applicants without recommendation letter will not be considered. 

      The applicants must provide also a brief outline of the project that they intend to develop and implement during the course. The project outline is important to illustrate what the applicant has in mind and the social context within which the project is placed. The possible acceptance of an applicant does not imply, for the Council of Europe or for the League of Arab States, automatic support or acceptance of the project.

      Deadline for applications
      All applications must be completed, validated and sent by the 15th of October 2010. Selected candidates will be informed of their selection by the 22nd of October 2010. A waiting list may be drawn up.

      'Empowering Women' Seminar in France

      French National Agency in cooperation with SALTO EuroMed, with the support of SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus, and SALTO South East Europe organize a building seminar "Empowering Women"  that will take place on 13-18 December 2010 in France. 

      The seminar will deal with the empowerment of women: it will deepen what empowering means (liberty and power, knowledge and capacity for taking decisions and the opportunity for fulfilling them) and how it is searched in various sectors of life (economy, politics, education and health). Participants will have a direct touch with the empowerment of women in the seminar venue, by visiting places and organisations active in the field. All this in order to let participants build partnerships and draw draft ideas of future common projects, which will be monitored with an impact evaluation after 6/12 months.

      Aims and objectives
      1. facilitating the networking process among participants and promoting new common projects
      2. letting participants deepening the topic and its corollaries
      3. deepening the analysis of the fields where empowering it’s needed in the four regions (EU + MEDA + SEE + EECA)
      4. getting a direct touch with the external environment, with organizations and bodies with strong connections with the thematic
      5. sharing experiences in the field
      6. facilitating the networking process among participants and promoting new common projects.

      Eligibility
      1. Youth workers, trainers belonging to organisations or bodies dealing with the thematic.
      2. Coming from EU and the three regions (MEDA + SEE + EECA)
      3. A gender balance would be REALLY appreciated (or at least a significant male participation)

      Working language: English/French. Group size: 24

      Application
      You have to fill in the application on-line. Only the application forms submitted and correctly filled-in will be taken into account. Deadline for applications is 16 October 2010.

      Selection process
      Programme countries: pre-selection through sending National Agencies for the YiA programme Mediterranean Partner countries: Salto-Youth EuroMed with support of EuroMed Youth Units. Other partner countries: Salto-Youth EuroMed with support of SALTO SEE and SALTO EECA

      Costs and scholarships
      Travel, boarding and loading of participants will be covered. The selected participants will be contacted by the organisers about their travel’s cost.

      International Autumn Academy in Georgia

      International Autumn Academy will conducted by New Economic School - Georgia in cooperation Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) in hotel “Tbilisi”, resort Bakuriani, on October 25-31, 2010. It covers the classical liberal philosophy, principles of market economics and applied economics. The aim of the Academy is to encourage and challenge free and critical thinking of the young generation.

      NESG is a not-for-profit institution oriented towards creation of public opinion, based on classical liberal economic thoughts (mainly Austrian and Public Choice schools). Its main ideas are methodological individualism, personal freedom and limited government. Main directions of NESG activities: dissemination of economic knowledge through seminars, conferences, publishing, translations, public lectures etc; influencing on the political decisions though involvement in public policy development process organizing r/t meetings, seminars, participating in debates, government commissions, inviting international experts, famous reformers etc.

      Lecturers:
      1. Avigdor Jardeni, Associate Scholar, New Economic School - Georgia
      2. Gia Jandieri, Vice-President, New Economic School - Georgia
      3. Paata Sheshelidze, President, New Economic School – Georgia
      4. Vadim Novikov, cato.ru, Russia
      5. Martin Mensic, Hayek Foundation, Slovakia.

      Working language - English (advance level required).

      Who can apply? 
      Young leaders with economic-related experience from Georgia.

      How to apply? 
      To apply for the event you simply need to send your CV to the following email address: ninogorgadze@gmail.com before October 22, 18:00.

      NESG contact information:
      Nino Gorgadze, Project Manager of NESG
      Address: Sanapiro street 4, Tbilisi, Georgia
      Tel.: 995 32 990046
      Fax: 995 32 204321
      Cell: 995 58 676730
      Email: ninogorgadze@gmail.com

      AAUW 2011-2012 International Fellowships for Women

      AAUW (formerly known as the American Association of University Women) is a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institution partners. AAUW has a long and distinguished history of advancing educational and professional opportunities for women in the United States and around the globe. One of the world's largest sources of funding for graduate women, AAUW is providing more than $3 million in funding for more than 200 fellowships and grants to outstanding women and nonprofit organizations in the 2009-10 academic year. Due to the longstanding, generous contributions of AAUW members, a broader community of women continues to gain access to educational and economic opportunities — breaking through barriers so that all women have a fair chance.

      For more than a century, AAUW has helped more than 10,000 women from more than 130 countries break through barriers and pursue their dreams of obtaining graduate degrees or making an impact in their communities.

      Fellowship and grant recipients perform research in a wide range of disciplines and work to improve their schools and communities. Their intellect, dedication, imagination, and effort promise to forge new paths in scholarship, improve the quality of life for all, and tackle the educational and social barriers facing women in the United States and around the globe.

      Fellowship and grant recipients undergo a highly competitive selection process. Academic excellence, commitment to improving the human condition, and the promise of continued impact are cornerstones of the rigorous criteria. Respected scholars, researchers, teachers, and practitioners review the fellowship and grant applications. These reviewers are either experts in specialized fields of study or community leaders who recognize the power of collaboration at the local level.

      The following grants and scholarships are offered for 2011-2012 academic year (July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012):
      - Master's/Professional Fellowship: $18,000
      - Doctorate Fellowship: $20,000
      - Postdoctoral Fellowship: $30,000

      Application deadline is December 01, 2010. All supporting documents must also be received by this date. If an application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, supporting documents must be received the next business day.

      International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not United States citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate study at accredited institutions are supported. Several fellowships are available for study outside of the U.S.

      Questions about applications must be directed to the Iowa City office. Please do not contact the AAUW office in Washington, D.C., or local branches for application information. Please call 319/337-1716 ext. 60, e-mail aauw@act.org, or write to the customer service center at
      AAUW
      Dept. 60
      301 ACT Drive
      Iowa City, IA 52243-4030

      Learn more about AAUW,  its fellowship programs and application process: http://www.aauw.org/learn/fellows_directory/index.cfm

      Young Innovations Europe Magazine Contest

      Young Innovations Europe (YIE) is a new magazine showcasing youth-led best practices in Europe across a variety of fields,  including Politics, Economy, Arts, Science, Social Sector and many more. It main aim is to inspire and engage young people to become active change makers in their field of interest, while inform the adults of what young people are up to and the impact their projects are having throughout Europe.

      As a way to collaboratively shape our path and the next steps for the upcoming year, we invite you to fill in the survey and compete for the chance to win Euro 1,000!

      Eligibility Criteria
      - Up to 35 years of age
      - Currently living in one of the countries of the Council of Europe
      - Interested in launching a local initiative

      Application
      Fill in the survey at  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CHZZYZW until October 25th, results will be announced in early November.

      For further information, do not hesitate to get in touch with us at info@younginnovationseurope.org and have a look at our website www.younginnovationseurope.org

      Odessa National University Model UN 2010

      9th Odessa National University Model United Nations will take place in Odessa, Ukraine, on November 26-28, 2010. ONUMUN gives a unique and interactive opportunity for university students from all over the world to become familiar with international issues and to enhance their understanding of the institutional and political in-workings of the UN organization. At this role-playing game participants assume roles of diplomats representing various member-states of the UN and simulate the debate happening in several bodies of the UN and one regional organization, following the corresponding rules of procedure. We have a great traditional support from the General Consulates accredited in Odessa and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

      Participation is open to anyone interested in international affairs and aged 18–30.

      Purpose of the conference:
      * building knowledge about the United Nations and European structures;
      * bringing understanding of multilateralism and multilateral diplomacy;
      * raising awareness about democratic values;
      * promotion of International Education;
      * making valuable and potentially fruitful international contacts with peers, professors, guests.

      During the conference the work will be in the following committees:
      * Security Council – (Topic to be discussed: Situation in Iran)
      * Human Rights Council – (Topic to be discussed: Domestic Violence)
      * Economic and Social Council- (Topic to be discussed: Economic Crimes)
      * United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change- (Topic to be discussed:Climate Change and its Influence on Human Security).

      Participation fee
      Citizens of Ukraine – 15 euro (150 hrivnas)
      Citizens of the CIS states — 20 euro
      Citizens of the EU, the USA, Canada and Switzerland — 40 euro
      Citizens of other states — 30 euro

      Participation fee includes free lunches during 3 days of the conference. No travel grants are available.

      Please, take into account that you should pay for your accommodation, but our team will do its best to arrange the cheap hostel for all participants.

      Deadline for registration: November 01, 2010.

      You can register and read more here
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