Stipendija za budućnost 2010/2011

NAPOMENA: Tekst natječaja imamo samo na hrvatskom jeziku!

Competition Announcement and Notes for Applicants

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Croatian-American Foundation for Education and Training is pleased to announce the open competition for the Fellowship for the Future program, offering funding for graduate study in the United States beginning in the academic year 2010-2011. The fellowship is intended to support highly competitive Croatian citizens who are applying to one-year or two-year Master's degree programs at U.S. universities, in preparation for assuming leadership roles in their career field. 

Candidates should have excellent academic qualifications, demonstrate leadership potential and have fluent command of the English language. Pending availability of funds, the Fellowship for the Future will cover university tuition and fees for a Master's degree program, room and board (monthly stipend) for up to two years and a return airfare.

ELIGIBLE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

The fellowship supports professional degree programs that award a Master’s degree and last one or two years. The fellowship does not support research degree programs that focus on a narrow subject and use solely theoretical or scientific methods of study.  Degrees which teach analytical skills for policy-making are also eligible.

Professional degree programs are academic programs which prepare students for careers and positions in business, government, nonprofit organizations, international agencies, media, industry, education, etc.  They are often interdisciplinary, and they develop both academic and professional skills.  By merging theory and practice, professional degree programs teach analytical and leadership skills which are needed to assume leadership positions in a career field. Through their fellowship application and choice of academic program(s), candidates should demonstrate their commitment to serving in positions of responsibility, leadership and wide impact within their area of work upon their return to Croatia. 

Fields of study for this competition are not limited. Priority will be given to the following fields, but strong candidates from any field will also be considered: law; economics; business; journalism/communications; environmental studies; public policy; public administration; public health policy/administration; political science; international relations; security studies; educational policy/administration and agricultural policy/administration.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Candidates must have Croatian citizenship and permanent residency in Croatia.
• Candidates must hold at least an undergraduate degree (either through 3-year or 4-year degree programs), or expect to obtain the appropriate degree(s) no later than August 2010.
• Candidates must have a strong academic record.
• Candidates should demonstrate leadership potential in their field and a commitment to making a positive impact as decision makers, policy makers or opinion formers in Croatia. This requirement will be given careful consideration in the selection process. Candidates should include relevant information in their essay question.
• Candidates must be proficient in English.
• Candidates must have applied or plan to apply to at least one academic program in the U.S. by the deadline set by that academic program, and must complete the application independently.
• Prior relevant work experience and/or engagement in initiatives, activities and institutions related to the candidate's field will be considered an advantage. 
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously studied or lived abroad for an extended period of time.
• Applicants should be planning to return to their home country at the end of the period of study.

INELIGIBILITY

Candidates already living in the United States or individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residence status are not eligible to apply for the fellowship.

The following representatives of the Croatian-American Foundation for Education and Training or the Institute for the Development of Education are not eligible to apply for the fellowship:

• Members of the Board of Trustees and their relatives
• Current employees and their relatives

FINANCIAL TERMS

Pending availability of funds, the Fellowship for the Future will cover university tuition and fees for a Master's degree, room and board (monthly stipend) for up to two years and a return airfare. Reimbursement of application fees and standardized testing fees, as well as additional allowances for living and school expenses, may also be available, subject to availability of funds. The Fellowship for the Future does not provide for dependents, nor is it in any way responsible for dependents accompanying fellows to the U.S.

Candidates should apply for financial aid, scholarships, grants or fellowships they qualify for, if any, which are offered by the universities they are applying to. The Fellowship for the Future will cover remaining costs in case the successful candidates obtain a financial aid package with their offer of admission.  

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

IMPORTANT:Candidates applying to the Fellowship for the Future program must also apply directly to at least one eligible degree program at accredited U.S. universities of their choice by the deadline set by the academic program(s) the candidate is applying to. Candidates should list up to four Master's programs at U.S. universities to which they are applying for admission in the academic year 2010/2011 on their Fellowship for the Future application. Only those programs will be considered for funding. It is the responsibility of the candidates to identify their institution/program(s) of choice, familiarize themselves with the specific requirements of the program(s) they are applying to, and to meet these requirements. 

All candidates applying to U.S. universities will need to meet the standardized test requirements for international students as specified by the U.S. program(s) of choice (tests such as TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, etc.). The deadline for receipt of test scores by the admissions office is often the same as the application deadline. Candidates should take the tests in time for the scores to reach the admissions office by the application deadline.

In parallel to applying to U.S. universities, candidates should complete the Fellowship for the Future program application package as described below and submit it by the application deadline.

If you need additional information or assistance regarding standardized tests and educational opportunities in the U.S., please contact the Institute for the Development of Education (www.iro.hr).

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Candidates for the Fellowship for the Future program must submit an application package consisting of the following (hard copy):

• One original copy and one photocopy of the completed application form
• One original copy and one photocopy of candidate’s university transcript(s). 
• Two photocopies of the certified English translation of your university transcript(s)
• Two photocopies of candidate’s university diploma(s) (send-later option for students currently in final year of degree program)
• Two photocopies of candidate’s official standardized test score report(s) (sent by January 20^th, 2010)
• Two photocopies of candidate’s passport photo page
• Three letters of reference (and three photocopies)written in English (academic and/or professional; minimum one academic reference required)
• A CD containing the Word file of the completed application form. 

Please note: Submitted application materials will not be returned.

Application form and instructions are available on the website www.haz.iro.hr.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

The competition is open from November 4th to December 11th, 2009. The complete application package must be posted by registered mail and must reach the Croatian-American Foundation for Education and Training by December 11th, 2009 at 5 pm the latest, at the following address:

Croatian-American Foundation for Education and Training
Preradovićeva 33/I
HR-10000 Zagreb

Contact: Ana Budin, abudin@haz.iro.hr, tel. +385 1 4817195 or +385 1 4555151

SELECTION PROCEDURE AND TIMELINE

All applications will undergo review by an independent selection committee nominated by the Foundation Board of Trustees. Candidates will be evaluated based on their academic record, references, test scores, curriculum vitae and essays. The essays will be treated as being of considerable importance in the selection process.

Pre-selected candidates will be invited for an interview to be held in Zagreb. Following interviews, successful candidates will be short-listed as finalists. Following acceptance into the U.S. program(s), the final decision regarding the awarding of fellowships will be made by the Selection Committee. The timeline of the program will be the following:

• Competition open: November 4 - December 11, 2009
• Pre-selection round results and interviews: early February, 2010
• Notification of finalists: late February, 2010
• Final selection: April, 2010