THE LANE KIRKLAND SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM 2008

March 3, 2008

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THE LANE KIRKLAND SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM

Polish-American Freedom Foundation
Founder of the Program

and

Polish – U.S. Fulbright Commission
Program Administrator

announce an open competition for candidates from

Ukraine, Belarus, Russia,

as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Moldova

for
THE LANE KIRKLAND SCHOLARSHIPS

in the 2008/2009 academic year

The purpose of the Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program is to share Polish experiences in economic, social and political transformations, within the framework of a two-semester supplementary study program (for MA degree holders) in Polish schools of higher education and 2-4 week professional internships in governmental and private institutions.

FIELDS:

* economics and management
* public administration (including local government administration)
* business administration
* law
* social and political sciences

CANDIDATES:

The 2008/09 Kirkland scholarships are addressed to individuals who are able to apply the knowledge and skills obtained in Poland to economic, social and democratic changes in their home countries, and who represent the following professional groups:

* academic teachers, researchers
* civil servants, politicians, experts and employees of central and local government institutions
* entrepreneurs, managers
* leaders of non-governmental organizations, animators in culture and civic activity
* journalists

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

* Citizenship and permanent residence in one of the targeted countries
* Individuals with a permanent residence card in Poland are ineligible
* Master’s degree
* Up to 35 years of age (in special cases up to 40)
* Polish language proficiency adequate to effectively attend lectures and seminars and prepare a diploma thesis; alternatively English – for those candidates who select a specific study program with English as language of instruction (in such cases only basic Polish is required).
* minimum 2 years of professional experience

PREFERENCES:

* candidates actively working in their professional and social fields
* candidates who have significant achievements in one of the fields listed above
* candidates who have not studied in Poland yet

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

1. Application form

1. detailed personal questionnaire with one current photograph of the candidate

2. proposed program of study in Poland explaining the purpose of participation in the Kirkland Program and including the future plans connected with its completion (not exceeding 4,000-5,000 characters)
3. Curriculum Vitae (CV) including a list of publications

2. Two letters of reference (in Polish, English or Russian), describing the achievements and qualifications of the candidate as well as the expectations connected with the candidate’s further development and work in her/his profession.

3. Copy of diploma

SELECTION PROCESS:

Approximately 50 best individuals will be selected in a
3-stage evaluation process of candidates:

I – Review of applications with regard to eligibility

criteria

II – Review of candidates’ proposed projects of study

by independent experts

III – Interviews

The candidates advanced to the third stage will be notified by e-mail or phone. Information on the final nominations will be mailed to the candidates in the end of May 2008.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Monthly stipend paid to Kirkland grantees in Polish currency: 600 USD. In addition, the scholarship covers the following costs: university fees; accommodation; insurance; one return ticket to Poland; public transportation tickets; purchase of research materials. Laptop computers and printers, provided to the grantees for the period of scholarship, can become the property of the grantees only after all the scholarship program requirements have been fulfilled.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:

1. Inauguration of the Program (middle of September 2008)
2. Orientation (10 days)
3. Classes at universities (two semesters) in leading Polish academic centers, such as Warsaw, Kraków, Pozna?, Lublin or Wroc?aw
4. Preparation of two semester papers and one diploma paper
5. Integration seminars for all Kirkland grantees – presentation of the grantees’ experiences
6. Professional internship (2-4 weeks) usually upon completion of the academic program
7. Closing ceremony – final diplomas (end of June 2009 in Warsaw)

CANDIDATES’ APPLICATIONS:

Application forms can be found at: www.ProgramKirklanda.engo.pl, www.fulbright.edu.pl, www.civicportal.org and should be fulfilled on-line (preferential way) or can be e-mailed to:

Kirkland2008@fulbright.edu.pl

Detailed instruction of applying – at the above websites.
APPLICATION DEADLINES

Application form and relevant documents should be sent not later than:
March 10, 2008

Applications received after the above deadline will not be considered.

INFORMATION:

Description of scholarship program, questions regarding the process of applying and other relevant
information can be obtained through the Internet: www.KirklandProgram.engo.pl, www.fulbright.edu.pl or by post, e-mail or telephone from the Polish – U.S. Fulbright Commission.

POLISH-AMERICAN FREEDOM FOUNDATION (Founder of the Program)

The Foundation launched its activity in 2000. The main goal of the Foundation is to advance democracy, civil society, equal opportunities and market economy in Poland, as well as share Polish experiences in transformation with Central and Eastern European countries. PAFF finances its activities from revenues generated by its endowment ($216,5 million), the source of which are assets of the Polish-American Enterprise Fund.

The Foundation’s programs are administered by various Polish non-governmental organizations in line with the Foundation’s principles and procedures. All these initiatives are carried out within the framework of the following programmatic fields: Education; Support for Local Communities; Citizen in a Democratic State of Law; Sharing of Polish Experiences in the Transformation.

The Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program, launched in 2000 and administered by the Fulbright Commission in Warsaw since 2001, is a long-term endeavor of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation.

Additional information: http://www.pafw.pl

THE PROGRAM PATRON

The Program is named after Lane Kirkland, who passed away in 1999, the legendary trade union leader (AFL-CIO), member of the Polish-American Enterprise Fund Board of Directors and promoter of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation. In the 1980’s, he wholeheartedly supported the Solidarity movement and backed it during the underground years. He also supported the aspirations for freedom of other peoples of Central and Eastern Europe. He was awarded the highest distinctions, including the American “Medal of Freedom” and the Polish “Order of the White Eagle”.

POLISH – U.S. FULBRIGHT COMMISSION

(Program Administrator)

The Commission was established in 1990 by the bilateral agreement between the governments of the United States and the Republic of Poland. The Polish Fulbright Program is the largest in Eastern and Central Europe as well as the most prestigious and continuous academic exchange between Poland and the United States. The general objective of the Commission is to conduct educational and cultural exchange between the two countries. Through its 15 exchange scholarship programs, funded by both governments and by corporate sources, the Polish Commission supports studies, research, instruction, and other educational activities of American and Polish educators, scholars, and institutions; it also administers visits and exchanges between the United States and Poland of students, trainees, scholars, teachers, instructors, and professors. In this way the Polish – U.S. Fulbright Commission contributes to the central goal of the Fulbright Program: to increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and Poland through the sharing of ideas, knowledge, skills, and individual experiences by means of educational and cultural exchange.

Additional information: http://www.fulbright.edu.pl

Scholarship Tags: American, Belarus, KIRKLAND, LANE, Poland, Polish, Program, Russia, scholarships, Ukraine