ACIAR – The University of the South Pacific (USP) Scholarships-2015 The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is an Australian government authority and forms part of Australias international development cooperation program. ACIAR aims to enhance rural household incomes and broader economic growth by investing in international research partnerships that encourage agricultural development, sustainable use of natural resources and capacity building of benefit to partner countries and Australia. Areas of Scholarships The ACIAR Pacific Island Country strategy recognises the importance of the agricultural (including horticulture), fisheries, forestry and related sectors within these countries. It is committed to supporting research-and-development (R&D) and capacity building to address three main thrusts: improved food and nutritional security; integrated and sustainable management and development of agriculture, fisheries and forestry resources; and improved biosecurity and increased trade in agriculture, fisheries and forestry products. Important aspects of this strategy are the funding of collaborative R&D projects and a strong emphasis on capacity building for R&D within the region. Students in the areas of agricultural economics and agribusiness can also apply. As part of this commitment to R&D capacity building, ACIAR, in partnership with USP, have established the ACIAR-USP Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme. In addition to funding collaborative R&D work, this Scheme provides the opportunity for partner country scientists associated with these ACIAR-supported projects to obtain postgraduate qualifications. Under the newly expanded ACIAR-USP scholarship scheme, up to 12 awards will be provided for Post-graduate Diploma and Master’s degree, at USP beginning from Semester 1, 2015 each with field research to be carried out in association with an active ACIAR project under way in the Pacific. There are about 22 ACIAR projects active across the Pacific at any one time, so the ACIAR-USP scheme will provide a significant number of new opportunities for both students and staff to become involved in collaborative, problem-solving research. ACIAR and USP will use the scholarship scheme to build new linkages between USP final-year students, USP staff and researchers working with ACIAR projects in the region. ACIAR-USP Scholarship Conditions 1. Students must be citizens of one of the ACIAR partner countries in the Pacific, namely Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu (and normally resident in that country). 2. It is a requirement of the awards that the student spend a substantial period working on research linked directly to an ACIAR project (currently 13 weeks for a Diploma candidate and 22 weeks for a Masters candidate. A short proposal for this work forms an important part of the scholarship application. The scholarship is provided continuously throughout the enrolment period, including the time of field work. In addition, a grant will be provided to cover necessary research and travel expenses for the student and his/her USP-based supervisor, based on a detailed proposal prepared by the student in consultation with his/her supervisors. 3. ACIAR is usually only able to support full-time study and to support field work related to the project as a means of obtaining practical work experience. 4. Scholarships are awarded on a 12-month basis for postgraduate diploma students and 18-month basis for Masters students, though additional courses may be required by the University (and the scholarship extended accordingly) depending on the academic record of the applicant. Students undertaking the PG Diploma normally undertake a course in research methodology (SC400 in FSTE and DG400 in FBE) and candidates are expected to use this opportunity to establish meaningful contact with an ACIAR project and to develop a relevant proposal (which, in most cases, will be used as the basis for the Masters thesis). 5. Awards are in line with conditions for the USP Graduate Assistantship program. Allowances would be paid on a 12-month basis for postgraduate diploma students and on an 18-month basis for Masters students. Tuition is covered at the Third-Country rate, as published in the USP Calendar for the relevant program of study. Allowances are: books (currently FJD 750); living allowance (currently FJD 13,143 single, and FJD 24,026 married, per year); medical insurance (at prevailing rate); and establishment allowance (currently FJD 1,942, as a one-off payment, if applicable). Allowances for students based at the School of Agriculture at Alafua, Samoa, are paid in local currency as follows: living allowance (WST18,006 single or WST30,508 married, per year); and establishment allowance (WST3,924 one-off, if applicable). Some expenses may also be covered for travel needed between a student’s country of origin and location of study. 6. As Graduate Assistants of the University, scholarship holders are expected to contribute (without additional payment) up to eight hours of work per week to the department hosting their research, normally in areas relating to their field of study, providing them with useful experience of university activities. 7. For students already in employment, a letter confirming release of the applicant, if successful, from their respective employers is required. 8. A senior ACIAR staff member or representative will visit USP to work in collaboration with USP staff on student selection and project matching. 9. Successful candidates will, in normal circumstances, be expected to take up their place in the semester immediately following the award of a scholarship. 10. Students receiving a scholarship must provide a progress report to the Scholarship Officer via their university supervisor, at the end of each semester and are expected to participate in various workshops and seminars intended to further the aims of the scholarship scheme. The award may be terminated and all allowances forfeited if the student fails to maintain adequate progress in academic courses or project research. For further information about the ACIAR-USP Scholarship scheme, list of current active ACIAR projects in the Pacific region (with contact persons for the development of research proposals) and to obtain an application form and proposal template please contact Mr Viliamu Powell ([email protected])or Ms Marieta Suliana (e-mail: [email protected]), Research & Graduate Affairs (FSTE) or visit the link provided: usp.ac.fj/gascholarship. For those not currently enrolled in a postgraduate program at USP, the scholarship application must be accompanied by an Application for Admission to the USP Postgraduate Program, with the required documentation. For those applicants who are currently enrolled in postgraduate studies at USP, their scholarship application must be accompanied by a copy of their academic transcript. MSc candidates should submit a brief (approximately three-pages describing background, aim, objectives, methodology, research outcome, implications) proposal in the template available at the link provided above for their thesis research along with the application. Preference will be given to those candidates who have prepared the proposal in consultation with their prospective supervisor at USP and corresponding ACIAR project leader. The proposal should indicate at least one supervisor from USP and a co-supervisor from the ACIAR project hosting the research. Successful candidates will prepare a full proposal for their thesis research in the first 3 months during their first semester of study. If you have any difficulty in identifying the suitable supervisor please contact Dr. Sushil Kumar ([email protected]), Associate Dean-Research and Graduate Affairs, FSTE or Dr. Gurmeet Singh ([email protected]), Associate Dean-Research and Graduate Affairs, Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE). Completed applications should be sent in hard copy to Dr Sushil Kumar, Associate Dean-Research and Graduate Affairs, Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, The University of the South Pacific, Private Mail Bag, Suva, FIJI, by registered mail or courier TO ARRIVE NOT LATER THAN 10 January 2015. Viliamu Powell Graduate Assistant Officer| ACIAR-USP Scholarship Officer Research and Graduate Affairs| Faculty of Science Technology and Environment University of the South Pacific| Laucala Campus Ph: (+679) 32 32804| Mobile: (+679) 9286 900
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 00:17:25 +0000
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