OAS –Institute of Development Policy and Management 2015 REDUCED TUITION OPPORTUNITIES OAS Partnerships Program for Education and Training (PAEC) The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Institute of Development Policy and Management (IOB), through the OAS Partnerships Program for Education and Training (PAEC), are offering reduced tuition to qualified candidates of the Americas to pursue the following IOB graduate degree progams. PROGRAMS: MODALITY: LANGUAGE: 1. Master of Science in Globalisation and Development 2. Master of Science in Governance and Development  Track 1: Governance, Peace and Conflict  Track 2: Local Governance and Poverty Reduction 3. Master of Science in Development Evaluation and Management  Track 1: National Institutions, Poverty Reduction Strategies and Aid  Track 2: Development Interventions and Local Institutional Change Onsite in Antwerp, Belgium. English DURATION: 1 year Program application deadline (soft and hard copies): April 1st, 2015 OAS/IOB Reduced tuition application deadline: June 10th, 2015 IOB offers reduced tuition fees of: 1. 80 Euros in any of the above listed programs for candidates from OAS member states that are considered under the OECD’s Development Co-operation Directorate (DCA) list as: a. Least Developed Countries: Haiti; b. Lower Middle Income Countries: Belize, Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay; living in their country of origin at the time of application. and reduced tuition fees of: 2. 1,250 Euros for scholarship candidates living in other OAS Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela; living in their country of origin at the time of application. DEADLINES: BENEFITS: IMPORTANT DATES: April June June June 1st 10th 20th 27th 2015 2015 ABOUT IOB AND THE OAS Application deadline to program in IOB Deadline to apply to the OAS – IOB reduced tuition opportunity 2015 Official announcement of scholarship results and selected candidates 2015 Deadline to accept or to decline the reduced tuition offer September September 14th 2016 2015 Classes begin onsite in Antwerp, Belgium. s Approximate end-date of the study program 1 The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States GS/OAS is the central and permanent organ of the Organization of American States (OAS). Through its Department of Human Development and Education (DHDE), GS/OAS supports OAS member states in creating policies and executing programs that promote human capacity development at all educational levels. By enabling formative opportunities to citizens, DHDE strengthens democratic values and security under the framework of regional integration. DHDE does this: (i) by supporting the efforts of OAS member states to improve the quality of and equity in education; and (ii) by assisting the citizens of the Americas in realizing their full potential by giving them access to knowledge and skills through training that improves the standard of living for individuals, families and communities in the region. Institute of Development Policy and Management IOB is a multidisciplinary academic institution where people of different opinions, religions and nationalities feel at home. It has several decades of experience in organizing international training programmes in the field of development policy and management. The IOB is part of the University of Antwerp and is located on the University’s City Campus. Every year, the Institute is home to some 100 students of approximately 30 different nationalities and from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. This provides for an extraordinary multicultural and multidisciplinary learning environment. Our Master programmes and international training courses are organized in English, but special facilities are offered to students from other linguistic backgrounds. The IOB aims to offer policy-oriented training that combines the latest social scientific insights with relevance to the development challenge. Students are expected to learn from each other’s experiences as well as from their exposure to living and working in a developed country. The IOB focuses on student-centered learning, and its approach involves a mix of teaching methods (ex-cathedra lectures, individual and group assignments, discussions, student presentations, literature-based independent study, seminars, guest lectures, analysis of case studies, simulations, and individual tutoring). I. IOB PROGRAMS INFORMATION 1. Student/Applicant’s profile: For admission into the program, applicants must hold a university degree representing at least four years of study in the Social Sciences (Economics, Political Science, Sociology, International Relations, or related disciplines), preferably at Master’s level, with good study results. Although applicants with a four-year Bachelor’s degree can be admitted, priority will be given to those with a Master’s degree. Applicants with only a three-year Bachelor’s degree do not qualify for admission to Master’s programmes. Applicants with university degrees obtained under the European Bologna system must hold a Master’s degree. Applicants must demonstrate a serious interest in development studies, and relevant professional experience is also considered an advantage. 2. Study Location/Modality: Antwerp, Belgium 3. Study program start date: September 14th, 2015 4. Study program duration: 1 year 5. Approximate end date of the study program: September 2016 6. Language of instruction: English 7. Admission process: 2 7.1 Before applying for admission, we encourage applicants to read the program description, and ensure that the study area fulfills their expectations and interests. 7.2 Detailed information about the programs are available through the links indicated on page one (1) of this announcement. 7.3 For admission into the program, applicants must hold a university degree of at least four years of study in Social Sciences (Economics, Political Science, Sociology, International Relations, or related disciplines), with good study results. Applicants with only a Bachelor degree of three years of study will not be admitted to the Master’s programs. Applicants who obtained their University degree under the European Bologna system, must hold a Master’s degree. 7.4 For admission into the program, applicants must demonstrate a serious interest in development studies. Relevant professional experience is also considered an advantage. 7.5 The deadline to apply for admission to the program is: April 1st, 2015. Note that both the online application form and the requested hard copies must be submitted by this date. IMPORTANT: Please review all the information in your application before submission. 8. IOB contact information: Applicants can contact the IOB Admission’s Office at [email protected] for more information on the IOB programs. II. REDUCED TUITION BENEFITS AND PROGRAM COSTS 1. Benefits: 1.1 IOB offers a reduced tuition fee in any of the programs listed on page one (1) of this announcement, of 80 Euros for candidates from OAS member states that are considered Least Developed Countries, Low Income Countries and Lower Middle Income Countries; and of 1,250 Euros for scholarship candidates living in other OAS Member States or living in their country of origin at the time of application. Scholarship benefits are subject to the academic performance of the awardee. In order to receive these benefits, the awardee should not be reported with a low academic performance due to absences or failing courses. 2. Financial Responsibilities of Awardees: 2.1 The recipients of the reduced tuition will be responsible for payment of the following costs: - Tuition fees (80 € / 1250 €); - Costs related to application (certified documents, mailing costs, etc.) - Costs related to visa (estimated cost 250 €) - Study materials & study visits (estimated cost 500 €) - Living expenses (estimated cost 600 € monthly) - Accommodation expenses (estimated cost 350 € monthly) - Round trip airfare (estimated cost 1000 €) - Health insurance (estimated cost 80 €) 2.1.1 The remaining tuition fees; registration fees; immigration fees; research expenses; study visit; settling-in fees; study materials; health insurance premium including administrative costs; living expenses; round trip airfare; visa charges, etc. 3 2.1.2 The applicants will need to show they have funds in their bank account to cover their tuition fees and living expenses for the duration of the program and or stay in Belgium when they apply for their visa. 2.2 These above expenses shall be the sole and exclusive responsibility of the scholarship recipients and the scholarship recipients will be responsible for payment of the remaining tuition cost and any other costs as needed to IOB. 2.3 The scholarship awardees will be responsible for all costs not mentioned above. 3. Eligibility Requirements: 3.1 Eligible candidates for receipt of the OAS-IOB reduced tuition must first be admitted to the Program. Then the OAS and the IOB shall select reduced tuition recipients in accordance with the criteria and recruitment and selection process of unconditional admission to an undergraduate program of IOB. 3.2 The student must not have received other academic scholarships from the OAS or from the IOB for the same level of studies and/or programs as requested in the 2015 OAS/IOB application. 3.3 Be citizens and/or permanent legal residents of any OAS member state 3.4 OAS staff, individuals who maintain employment contracts with the OAS, the staff of Permanent Missions to the OAS and their immediate relatives are not eligible to receive OAS/IOB scholarships. 3.5 No type of employment or commercial relationship shall be established between the OAS or IOB and the PAEC OAS/IOB scholarship recipients. Similarly, the OAS and IOB shall not assume any type of liability, whether civil, contractual or non-contractual, during the entire scholarship period 4. Process to apply for reduced tuition: The candidate should begin the admission process to a degree program of IOB. For more information STEP 1 on the application procedure, see click here. First the IOB online application form should be duly completed. After having done this you will automatically receive a confirmation email, giving an overview of all the required documents that should be sent in hard copy directly to the admission office of the IOB/University of Antwerp. These documents include: a. A recent CV b. A motivation letter c. An authenticated photocopy of the applicant’s university degree. d. An authenticated photocopy of the applicant’s transcript of academic records for each academic year. *Note: ‘Authenticated’ means that the copy must be authenticated by the Belgian diplomatic office in the applicant’s country of origin or by the educational institution that issued the degree or by the Ministry of Education of the applicant’s country. Translations of documents must be authenticated by the Belgian Embassy in the applicant’s country: information about these authentications, grouped per country, is available on http://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/services/legalisation_of_documents/ e. A document explaining the grading system (marks system) of the applicant’s home country or university. f. A document proving the applicant’s knowledge of English g. Two letters of recommendation, preferably from (former) academic staff or from the 4 applicant’s superiors in the organization h. If applicable, an employer’s certificate stating the applicant’s present position within the organization along with a description of the applicant’s professional responsibilities. i. One recent passport size photo. j. A photocopy of the applicant’s international passport. Note that documents in English, French, German and Dutch are accepted. Documents in other languages must be officially translated into English or French by a sworn translator and authenticated by the Belgian Embassy. The hard copies of the documents must be sent to: Admission office IOB / University of Antwerp Prinsstraat 13 B - 2000 Antwerp Belgium The stamp of the postal office will be used as a proof for timely submission of your hard copies. All applicants will receive an acknowledgement of receipt of their application by e-mail. The selection procedure starts by the end of April 2015; results of academic selection will be announced by e-mail at the latest by the mid-May. If admitted academically to the program, candidates can request for a provisional admission letter. In order to be fully accepted candidates should provide evidence of having sufficient financial resources to cover the cost of the programme (minimum 800 Euros per month). A duly completed and signed document ‘Means of subsistence’ (available upon request), should be submitted to the IOB Admission’s office in order to receive an admission letter. This admission letter should be submitted to OAS before June 10th, 2015 at the latest in order to be eligible for the OAS-IOB reduced tuition fee. STEP 2 Gather the following documents which must be included with the completed OAS/IOB application form to request reduced tuition, and in the following order: 1. Letter of (provisional) admission/proof of application to IOB; 2. Copy of government issued identification document; and 3. Curriculum Vitae or Resume, without attachments. NOTE: Applicants must ensure that all information provided as part of the OAS Application for reduced tuition is accurate, true and correct. While documents are sent electronically, applicants must be able to present physical and original copies of these documents. STEP 3 Draft the following essays: (each essay should have a minimum of 800 characters and maximum of 2900 characters)  Essay 1: Describe how acquiring this academic degree will directly impact and enhance your professional skills in your current job position or career.  Essay 2: The OAS – PAEC Scholarship requires recipients to return to their country of citizenship or legal residence for 2 years upon completion of the studies. Please explain how you intend to apply the acquired knowledge and experience in the specific field of study that you pursue to the development in your country or region. 5 STEP 4 Complete and send the OAS/IOB Tuition Reduction Application Form, along with the above indicated documents, which should be attached in pdf format and in one document in the order specified in Step 2. STEP 5 The evaluation process, selection, and announcement of results will take place. During this period, the candidate should await the announcement of the results, which will be published at www.oas.org/scholarships in June 2015. STEP 6 Acceptance of the tuition reduction will take place. Only the selected candidates will be contacted via e-mail, which will include the official offer and the instructions on acceptance of the tuition reduction. STEP 7 Awardee should prepare for the beginning of the study program: preparation of travel, visa application, among others. The IOB student secretariat will provide all the required information. 5. Selection Criteria 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Acceptance of the tuition reduction The merits and overall credentials of the candidate, including his/her academic and professional background; Geographical distribution of the applicants, taking into account the greater needs of the smaller and relatively less developed economies; Applicants whose proposals portray the highest potential for impact upon return to their countries of origin; and Gender diversity. 6. Duties and Responsibilities of the Student: 6.1 The tuition reduction will be formally awarded only after the selected awardees have signed the Form to formally accept the reduced tuition offer and agree to its terms and conditions. 6.2 Awardees shall pay the remaining tuition fees and any other fees to IOB at registration before the program start. 6.3 Neither the OAS nor the University shall assume any responsibility arising from the acceptance or rejection of degree or diploma awarded by the University at educational institutions in the country of origin of the scholarship recipient. 6.4 Applicants should take at least 4 weeks into account for their visa to be processed. APPLY NOW! For more information: www.oas.org/scholarships 6