Introduction

The PEACE Programme is a network of European and North American universities, committed to promoting international co-operation with, and extending assistance to the Palestinian universities in various forms, including scholarships for study abroad. Although it is not a foundation with a substantial budget of its own, the PEACE network has been able, with the strong support of its member-universities, to provide opportunities for study abroad for a number of Palestinian graduate students and young academics.

PEACE Programme targets Palestinian higher education because human resources are the main asset in Palestine: since natural resources are scarce, their main chance for sustainable development lies in the ability to develop a knowledge-intensive economy, to acquire, master, and apply the knowledge and skills required by rapidly changing technologies, and to cater for a broad spectrum of products and services. Consequently, a high-quality system of tertiary education, tuned to the realities and needs of the Palestinian people and competitive on a regional and international scale is a recognized priority for national development. So PEACE contributes to invest in Palestinian HR through the scholarships opportunities.

Palestinian higher education institutions are facing serious difficulties at present. While enrolments have been growing at high rates, financial and material means to sustain that growth have diminished considerably, especially after the second Intifada. Allocations for higher education in the PNA budget have been reduced because of the urgency to meet other priority needs. External donor support has also tended to go down, especially after the switch in donor agency policy from capacity building to meeting humanitarian and immediate relief priorities. Reliance on tuition fees (expected to cover about 60% of costs for higher education) did not materialize because of the dramatic drop in revenues of the Palestinians. Lack of finances and material means has resulted in serious difficulties in maintaining quality of programmes. The student/ teacher ratio has been seriously affected. Library resources are lacking and research needs to be seriously reinforced.

It is obvious that these enormous needs cannot be met without considerable support from the international community. The PEACE Programme has been established precisely with the purpose to assist Palestinian universities to enhance the quality, relevance and efficiency of their teaching and research through the benefits of international cooperation.

For more information about PEACE Programme please visit: (http://www.peace-programme.org)

Guidelines

The guidelines below indicate the conditions to be met by Palestinian applicants in order to be considered for assistance, the procedures to be followed in submitting requests, the selection process by the PEACE Programme and further requirements to be met by Palestinian graduate students during their period of study abroad.

Candidates' conditions of eligibility

1. Applicants:

   1. Must be officially nominated by their universities and approved as candidates for a PEACE grant.

   2. Must have successfully completed a graduate programme with GPA of at least very good or more than 80% and meet the requirements to apply for studies at a higher graduate level.

   3. Must not be more than 35 years of age for MS/MA studies and 40 years for PhD.

   4. Must have a good GMAT/GRE scores.

   5. Must have a good command of a foreign language.

      • For universities where English is the language of teaching, a TOEFL (or other equivalent; IELTS test) test is required with a score of at least 500-550 (or according to the university requirements.)

      • For French-teaching universities, the level of French language test, DELF (may be taken at the French Consulate in Palestine) is required for MA/MSc or PhD in Humanities or Social Science. For PhD in Science (math, Physics, chemistry, biology, computer science) a TOEFL or equivalent in English is acceptable.

      • For any other language (i.e. Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, etc.) preparatory language courses are to be taken at Palestinian institutes or universities if available. The receiving institutions usually provide opportunities to pursue further language training after arrival in the respective country.

   6. Must attach the following documents :

      • Certified copies of all educational certificates, diplomas/transcripts and study records, other relevant certificates, etc.

      • A copy of valid passport or ID-card

      • A copy of TOEFL or IELTS results (if applicable)

      • a copy of GMAT or GRE results (if applicable)

      • Two letters of recommendation

      • The Curriculum Vitae

The University should then officially submit the request to the Chairman of PEACE .

2. The PEACE office in Palestine will collect all application forms along with the (***) documents and send it to the PEACE office at UNESCO for circulation to European member universities.

Application deadlines

1. Applications with all the required documentation, should reach the PEACE Programme Executive Office, represented by the Chairman of the PEACE Programme Steering Committee, not later than 31 December of the year.

2. Applicants will be notified about the decision concerning their applications and the type of scholarship he or she will receive as soon as possible, but not later than mid May of the following year.

Contacting the Receiving Institutions

Successful applicants (and their institutions) are then requested to immediately contact the appropriate units or departments of the receiving institutions, in order to settle all the necessary arrangements: scientific supervisor, detailed programme of studies to be pursued, any other special requirements of the respective university, as well as technical arrangements concerning visa, housing, meals, library and laboratory facilities, exact time of arrival at the receiving university, etc.

Records of Study Progress

The PEACE Programme Office keeps records of the academic standing of the Palestinian students, which receive assistance to study abroad. For that purpose, it requests the receiving universities to send adequate information, allowing the Steering Committee to decide on prolongation or cessation of such assistance.

Financing

1. PEACE Programme member-universities are the main source for assistance to Palestinian students and young academics to pursue studies abroad. Contributions have also been received in the past from the European Commission, from UNESCO and from AGFUND Campaigns to receive donations from foundations, agencies, NGOs and from individual contributors are launched repeatedly.

2. Assistance for study abroad may be in the form of a full scholarship, covering the whole period of study (which may vary from one to four years). All receiving universities agree to exempt Palestinian students from any fees. Those who cannot offer a full scholarship, cover accommodation costs medical and dental care, provision of other facilities (such as library and laboratory use, reference books, access to PCs, etc.)

3. If the grant value from the University is more than 1000 Euros per month, PEACE does not contribute anything and it will be an intermediary only in this case, but if the grant from the University less than 1000 euros monthly, the program will contribute an amount not to exceed 300 Euros per month, in addition to the expenses of departure and return to the home country for a one-time only.

Agreement

Each grant recipient signs a statement stipulating his / her acceptance of the conditions of the grant offered, and undertaking the obligation to return to his / her university upon completion of studies abroad.

To whom it may concern

I the undersigned, Mr./Ms. ----------------------------------------------- from--------------hold ID Number ----------------------------- accept and abide to the conditions offered to me by the University of ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- snd by the PEACE Programme within the frame of the PEACE Programme assistance , during the ( one , two , three , or four) years of study granted to me to fulfill the requirements of a MA/MSc or PhD degree.

I hereby pledge that, upon completion of studies at the University of--------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

I will return in due time to my home University -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have taken note of the fact that, in case I fail to return, I am under obligation to pay the full expenses of the grant.

Signed (Student) Signed (Reference)

Fichiers joints:

Return Agreement.doc

[ ]

63 Kb