Fellowships, Scholarships for studying all over the world

A friend of mine who had pursued the dream of studying overseas and is now living it forwarded this information to me. Hope it will serve as a good resource for those who are looking and dreaming.

TWAS Fellowships

TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world is an autonomous international organization founded in Trieste, Italy, in 1983. TWAS represents the best of science in the developing world. Its principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in the South. Since 1986, TWAS has been supporting scientists and institutions in developing countries through a wide range of programmes that focus on scientific capacity building largely through South-South cooperation.

The administration and financial operation of TWAS is undertaken by UNESCO in accordance with an agreement signed by the two organizations.Each year, the TWAS Fellowship Programme, which operates under agreements with governments and national organizations in developing countries.
Readmore:
http://cambodiajobs.blogspot.com/2010/04/twas-fellowships-for-postgraduate.html
  

EURIAS Fellowships

The European Institutes for Advanced Study (EURIAS) Fellowship Programme is an international researcher mobility programme offering 33 fellowships for the 2011/2012 academic year. It proposes 10-month residencies in one of the 14 participating Institutes: Berlin, Bologna, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Cambridge, Helsinki, Jerusalem, Lyons, Nantes, Paris, Uppsala, Vienna, Wassenaar. The Programme builds on the strong reputation of the Institutes for Advanced Study for promoting the concentrated, self-directed work of excellent researchers within the stimulating environment of a multi-disciplinary and international group of fellows.

Researchers from all countries are eligible for the programme. They cannot apply for an institute located in their country of nationality or residence.

Readmore:

http://cambodiajobs.blogspot.com/2010/06/eurias-fellowships.html

Fall 2011 EWC Graduate Degree Fellowship

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship provides Master's and Doctoral funding for graduate students from Asia, the Pacific, and the U.S. to participate in educational and research programs at the East-West Center while pursuing graduate study at the University of Hawai‘i. Through East-West Center affiliation, awardees become part of a growing network of students and alumni forging the shape and substance of the world's most vibrant region.

Center fellowships are provided for degree study at the University of Hawai‘i and participation in the Center's international and intercultural programs. The Center and the University of Hawai‘i, located in a unique island setting with a distinctive multicultural heritage, offer premier resources for studies on Asia, the Pacific, and the U.S.

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship invites applications from:

• Citizens or permanent residents of the United States
• Citizens of countries in the Pacific and Asia, including Russia

Readmore:

http://cambodiajobs.blogspot.com/2010/06/ewc-graduate-degree-fellowship.html

You can also check the website of these following organization. They do have scholarships and/or fellowships for students from developing countries.

Rotary Foundation www.rotary.org
World bank www.worldbank.org
ADS
Ford Foundation
IMF
ANZ (in cooperation with Lee Kuan Yew school)
ngocenter.org.vn 

US Guide

US Guide is one of the most helpful, on-going, and updated resources for Vietnamese students who are seeking to study in the U.S. It has a large database of books and ebooks to prepare for standardized tests like TOEFL, SAT, GRE, and GMAT. It provides an online forum where you can get information from postings and ask your own questions. When I was preparing for my application, I downloaded some books myself. I joined the forum myself. And now I am still subscribed to the mailing list of US Guide. I can post my questions and wait for the "veterans" to respond. A lot of times, I see questions of newcomers having the same concerns as I did a few years ago. And I provide the answer to my best knowledge.

I wish they had had the offline meetings when I started looking into studying in the States. Obviously they hadn't done that until the year I was leaving. I went to one of their annual offline meetings in Ocean Park. It was very interesting to listen to success stories from amazing people. They were those who have been there, have done that (years) before then finally got it. They talked about how to score high on the test, how to apply for school, how to "bargain" for scholarships and financial aid, and other how-tos. Again, it was kinda late for me to know all that because I couldn't wait another year and do all that and see how it would turn out. So I hope the information I am posting here will serve you better than it did to me. You will have better motivation and more effective tactics to achieve your goals. And more importantly, you will have a self-support group to back up yourself any time.

Best of luck!



USGuide là một tổ chức phi lợi nhuận được thành lập từ năm 1997 trên cơ sở tự nguyện đóng góp bởi các sinh viên Việt Nam đã và đang du học sau đại học tại Hoa Kỳ. Sứ mệnh của USGuide là hỗ trợ, cung cấp thông tin về du học sau đại học tại Mỹ, giúp đỡ các bạn trẻ phát triển và hoàn thiện bản thân về mặt nhận thức và kỹ năng nhằm khuyến khích các bạn nâng cao học vấn để phát triển nghề nghiệp, trở thành nguồn nhân lực chất lượng cao đóng góp vào sự thành công của bản thân cũng như sự nghiệp xây dựng đất nước.


You Can Do It là một chương trình được tổ chức thường niên của USGuide tại Hà Nội kể từ năm 2003, với mục tiêu gợi mở, khích lệ các bạn trẻ Việt Nam tìm hiểu cơ hội học tập, tu nghiệp tại nước ngoài và xây dựng hình ảnh Việt Nam trong mắt bạn bè quốc tế. Thông qua việc truyền tải thông điệp này từ những câu chuyện thật của những con người thành đạt, USGuide mong muốn các bạn trẻ sẽ có được một cảm nhận trực quan và sâu sắc nhất, từ đó thay đổi nhận thức, tầm nhìn về sự nghiệp và con đường phát triển bản thân cũng như phát triển cộng đồng.


Khác với những năm trước, năm nay chương trình You can do it sẽ được tổ chức tại cả Hà Nội và thành phố Hồ Chí Minh. Bên cạnh sứ mệnh cung cấp thông tin và truyền lửa cho các bạn trẻ trên con đường hoàn thiện bản thân và chinh phục đỉnh cao tri thức, chương trình You Can Do It 2010 sẽ đề cập đến những điểm mới và quan trọng liên quan đến việc đi học có định hướng, đặc biệt là định hướng về nghề nghiệp. Chương trình không chỉ bao gồm những sinh viên vừa trải qua một chặng đường dài trong cuộc hành trình đến với nước Mỹ, mà còn có sự góp mặt của những người đã ra đi và trở về nhằm cung cấp cho khán giả cái nhìn đa chiều và toàn diện về du học sau đại học tại Mỹ.



USGuide Annual Meeting – You can do it 2010!!!



Hà Nội

Thời gian: 8:00 - 12:00 ngày 18/07/2010

Địa điểm: Hội Trường Lớn, Tầng 3 - Ocean Park - Số 1 Đào Duy Anh – Hà Nội



TP HCM

Thời gian: 8:00 - 12:00 ngày 24/07/2010

Địa điểm: Tòa nhà Thông Tấn Xã Việt Nam, 120 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai – TP HCM



Con tàu USGuide đã sẵn sàng chào đón bạn trên hành trình chinh phục nước Mỹ. Du học sau Đại học ở Mỹ là trong tầm tay nếu bạn thực sự muốn!



Thông tin chi tiết và đăng ký tham gia chương trình, xin truy cập website:


www.usguide.org.vn



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Các bạn có thể xem thêm thông tin về You can do it 2008 & 2009 tại đây:

You can do it 2008

You can do it 2009

Culture Shock

Prepare yourself for whatever is coming is important for a sea change in your life - study and live in another country for at least one year. You may have read this from my own blog or somewhere else, but it is still interesting to bring the topic up because it will generate thousands of funny stories and awkward situations that you have ever been in. I will share some of mine and hope you guys will share yours. There were embarrassing times but there is no embarrassment to talk about it. We LEARN from all that. Here it goes!

(Picture)
Culture shock refers to the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation, uncertainty, confusion, etc.) felt when people have to operate within an entirely different cultural or social environment, such as a foreign country. It grows out of the difficulties in assimilating the new culture, causing difficulty in knowing what is appropriate and what is not. This is often combined a dislike for or even disgust (moral or aesthetical) with certain aspects of the new or different culture. The term was introduced for the first time in 1954 by Kalvero Oberg.
Phases of culture shock The shock (of moving to a foreign country) often consists of distinct phases, though not everyone passes through these phases and not everyone is in the new culture long enough to pass through all three[1] :

• The "Honeymoon Phase" - During this period the differences between the old and new culture are seen in a romantic light, wonderful and new. For example, in moving to a new country, an individual might love the new foods, the pace of the life, the people's habits, the buildings and so on.
• The "Negotiation Phase" - After a few days, weeks, or months, minor differences between the old and new culture are resolved. One may long for food the way it is prepared in one's native country, may find the pace of life too fast or slow, may find the people's habits annoying, etc.
• The "Everything is OK" phase - Again, after a few days, weeks, or months, one grows accustomed to the new culture's differences and develops routines. By this point, one no longer reacts to the new culture positively or negatively, because it no longer feels like a new culture. One becomes concerned with basic living again, as one was in their original culture.
• Reverse Culture Shock - Returning to one's home culture after growing accustomed to a new one can produce the same effects as described above.

In some cases, it may be impossible to deal with culture shock. Some people will give up on assimilating into the newer culture and return to their own culture, and some become so magnetized to the foreign culture that feel they must permanently move there to relieve the stress.
Coping with culture shock
Experienced travelers tend to cope much better with the difficulties of travel. Some common strategies used to make the transition easier are:[2] :

• Reading about the country and its culture before departing. This way, the country and its people are more familiar upon arrival. They then become aware of differences in the new country and are thus better prepared to deal with them when possible (e.g., differences in hygiene, culture, the water).
• Avoiding being offended, offending locals, or being engaged in any more general cultural misunderstanding; they familiarize themselves with local customs and language.
• Being open-minded about the culture they visit.
• Taking a 'time out' or rest apart from cultural exchange in order to reduce the 'shock' of adjustment.

Religions play an important part in this case. The culture shock feeling, in many circumstances, grows because of the different religions.
Some intercultural communication researchers claim that culture shock has many positive effects on intercultural sojourners, like increasing self-efficiency[3] and helping improve self-motivation.[4]
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_shock
Further reading: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/CGuanipa/cultshok.htm

To Readers and My Dear Friends!

As a little kid, I always dreamed about studying in a more developed countries like the United States, the UK, or Australia. People say it is a golden chance to open your eyes, make the best out of yourself, and optimize your opportunities. It is true in most cases. I am lucky enough to have lived that dream of mine. So are many of my friends. I know there are millions of Vietnamese young students pursuing the same dream. That is why I think having them sharing their experience with a different education system will be helpful for themselves and for other students who want to follow the path. Writing about your own experience is a good way of reflection. It makes you put things in the chronological order and possibly realize the momentum and the outcomes. For me, it makes me realize how hard I have been working to go through all this and become kinda proud of myself. In other works, it is a little ego booster!

To my friends:

I am sure you are busy with your studies and work as you have always been. But for the good cause, I am asking you to sit down and think and write about your experience with your school and life in another country. I bet you can write a novel out of it if you have time. You can always write a short blog one at a time and send it to me. I will post it up on your behalf and give you the credit, of course! You may have many people contacting you asking the same questions, you can point them to this blog. I open the blog for non-googlers and non-members also.

Thanks for your support! I will keep you updated with the postings and comments.

Cheers, my friends!