Application Deadline: January 29, 2015 | Application and Fellowship Details

IIE is pleased to announce the launch of the Confucius China Studies Joint Research Ph.D. Fellowship. Applications are now open and will be accepted until January 29, 2015, for awards starting in the fall of 2015. The Confucius China Studies Program (CCSP) Fellowship offers generous funding to students in doctoral programs at U.S. institutions who are pursuing China-related research across a broad range of fields in the arts, education, humanities, and social sciences. Successful applicants will be supported for a period of at least six months to up to two years as they pursue research at one of 15 designated universities in China. 60 grants will be available in 2015.

 

With approximately 500 days until the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target date, IIE President Allan Goodman reflects on priorities beyond 2015 in an Op-Ed published by Devex. Noting the success of MDGs in increasing global access to education at the primary level, Dr. Goodman argues for a greater priority on tertiary education capacity. "More students than ever are going to be ready for secondary and then higher education in the period ahead," writes Goodman. "In today’s global economy, a primary education is not sufficient to avoid extreme poverty."

 

 

A recent post in ICEF Monitor looks at student transition to the labor market in order to understand how it relates to international student recruitment. Various polls and studies are provided to illustrate how understanding the global market of students and employers can be a source of strategic advantage for education marketers.

 

 

Lian Zi reports for China Daily USA about efforts by the Chinese government and economic development zones to attract young talent abroad back to the mainland. Talent hunting programs and policy support, such as preferential corporate tax deductions, research funding, and investment subsidies, have succeeded in bringing back higher numbers in recent years. 

 

 

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will partner with the online platform CollegeWeekLive to deliver a series of virtual college fairs over the next three months. According to the article in The PIE News, "CollegeWeekLive aims to reach nearly 90,000 international students through its seven fairs over the course of the 2014-15 academic year."

 

Diya Nijhowne discusses in GCPEA News a recent study, "Protecting Education Personnel from Targeted Attack in Conflict-Affected Countries." The study, by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), describes how teachers have been targeted in armed conflicts around the world and documents various strategies to keep them safe. "When teachers and professors are intimidated, injured, killed, or forced to flee, the short-term impact goes well beyond the victims ... education access and quality also suffer," writes Nijhowne.

The Institute of International Education (IIE), in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry and the US-India Business Council, invites you to interact with the high-profile business delegation from the State of Gujarat in India. 

The purpose of this discussion is to explore the potential for Gujarat to become a knowledge hub and the need for more educational and scientific exchange with the United States. The delegation is visiting the United States in advance of the "7th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit," which will take place from January 11-13, 2015 in Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.  This summit brings together business leaders, investors, corporate, thought leaders, academicians, policy and opinion makers and diplomats from around the globe. The delegation is led by Mr Bharat Lal, Resident Commissioner of Gujrat and includes prominent industrialists, academicians, and senior government officials.

8:30–9:00 AM: Networking Breakfast

9:00–9:15 AM: Welcome and Introductions

Daniela Kaisth, Vice President for Strategic Development, Institute of International Education

9:15–9:30 AM: Address

Bharat Lal, Resident Commissioner, Government of Gujarat

9:30–10:20 AM: Roundtable Discussion 

Moderated by Rajika Bhandari, Deputy Vice President, Research and Evaluation

10:20–10:30 AM: Concluding Remarks

Daniela Kaisth, IIE

Considering an MBA? The MBA Tour will be hosting an MBA Conference on Monday September 1 at the Westin Grande Sukhumvit in Bangkok. Meet with admissions directors and alumni from top business schools. The MBA Tour hosts a series of international events connecting prospective MBA students and admissions representatives from top business schools worldwide. It is an independent and high quality information source regarding MBA admissions. Events emphasize personal interaction between prospective MBA students, business school admissions representatives, alumni and other like-minded education enthusiasts.

The Language Flagship seeks proposals from U.S. Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) with existing Arabic language programs and demonstrated experience delivering high-quality undergraduate Arabic language instruction to develop and implement an Undergraduate Domestic Arabic Flagship Program. 

Undergraduate Arabic Flagship Program applications must describe in detail how the proposed Flagship

Program will attract and recruit students across the university from a variety of majors and disciplines.

Proposals must also demonstrate a clear curricular program and learning pathways for multiple student types, from novice to advanced learners. The proposal must make evident a plan that will enable students to graduate within a four- or five-year period with ILR 3/ACTFL Superior proficiency in Arabic.

The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance (PSSCRA) will open applications for its 2015 Prize on October 1st, 2014. At least five New York based scientists will each be awarded $200,000/year—for up to three years—to enable them to pursue groundbreaking research at a stage when traditional funding is lacking. As part of the program created around the Prize, winners will be introduced to a mentor in the pharmaceutical industry and will present their work to scientific and business audiences.

In May 2014, PSSCRA awarded the inaugural Prize to six winners. Prize winner Emily Bernstein, PhD said, "I would absolutely encourage other scientists to apply for this Prize. Unlike most funding agencies, a high risk-high reward proposal is encouraged. Moreover, the application process is straightforward, with a very fast turn-around time. Winning the prize has substantially boosted my research capacity and increased my academic and industry networks."

Applicants must have between 2 to 8 years of experience running their own laboratories and must have a PhD, MD or MD-PhD (or equivalent). The deadline to submit the Letter of Intent is November 12, 2014. For more details on the application process, including the full eligibility criteria, and for more details on the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance, please visit: www.psscra.org.

The outcomes from IIE’s Generation Study Abroad Think Tank, have been documented in the IIE green paper, "What Will it Take to Double Study Abroad?" This paper lays the foundation for an ongoing discussion around how to increase the number of students studying abroad in the short term and to shift the paradigm over the long term. We encourage you to share your insights and best practices with the community by commenting on the 11 Big Ideas outlined in the paper.

The free and open environment of brainstorming sessions often encourages radical ideas, which are needed to shift the paradigm and go beyond the status quo.

Share your insights and best practices on this topic: Submit a comment on our blog.

James King, Senior Research & Program Officer at IIE’s Scholar Rescue Fund, shares in University World News about a recent trip to Turkey to research the current educational challenges faced by Syrian refugees—many of whom have had their university education and academic work interrupted indefinitely due to the conflict in their homeland. "We simply cannot afford to let these future leaders of Syria fall through the cracks" writes King, who recommends a greater commitment by the international community to support higher education during the crisis.