The Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF) of the Institute of International Education (IIE) is honored to have been selected as "Charity of the Year 2011" by Times Higher Education, and to have been recognized at the THE Leadership and Management Awards Ceremonies on June 16th and November 24th. These awards represent a unique opportunity to celebrate the excellence and achievements of UK higher education institutions and partnering organizations.

The November 24th event was an outstanding occasion with over 1,200 chancellors, vice chancellors, and other high level UK higher education sector representatives in attendance. The IIE Scholar Rescue Fund received recognition for its nine years of commitment to rescuing threatened scholars from around the world whose lives and careers are in danger. The award was accepted by a close friend to IIE, Dr. Joanna Newman, Director of the UK Higher Education International Unit (IU). Dr. Newman is also Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Southampton and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. SRF Scholar Grantee Dr. Sawsan Assaf joined Dr. Newman at the podium and spoke to the audience about her experience as an SRF grant recipient.

The awards event reaffirmed the UK higher education sector’s commitment to the mission of the Scholar Rescue Fund. Donations that evening, and at the June 2011 ceremony where IIE Trustee and SRF Board Member Denise Benmosche accepted the award on behalf of SRF, totaled more than $25,000. With this overwhelming response from the THE community, the event has also ignited the interest of potential new SRF host institutions in the UK.

For more information, please visit: www.iie.org/Who-We-Are/News-and-Events/Press-Center/Press-Releases/2011/2011-12-12-Scholar-Rescue-Fund-Charity-of-the-Year

 

IIE recently established an Emergency Student Fund, aimed at providing emergency grants to postsecondary students enrolled at accredited educational institutions outside their home countries and whose sources of support have been impacted by natural disaster or crisis.

Currently, IIE would like to focus funding on students who were affected by the Arab Spring. We are conducting a survey to assess the impact of the Arab Spring on international students currently enrolled in your institutions, as well as their immediate financial needs. Please assist us in this effort by completing the following short survey by Monday, December 19th.

https://www.iiefeedback.org/se.ashx?s=61250225130DCC1F

About the IIE Emergency Student Fund

In response to a large-scale crisis, IIE will issue a call for applications to the Fund. Students must be nominated by their host universities, which are also encouraged to provide as much support to students as possible. This support may be in the form of tuition waivers, reduced meal plans, and/or direct financial assistance. Over the past eight years, IIE has provided emergency grants to international students following the Southeast Asia tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti, the earthquake in Japan, and the crisis in Libya.

Last week, we announced a special Emergency Student Fund for Thai students, who are currently enrolled at U.S. institutions and whose families have been affected by recent record-level flooding.

International Student Advisers or other campus officials are invited to submit applications to IIE by December 19, 2011. See more at: www.iie.org/thai-esf

 

An article in USA Today reports that both the U.S. Department of State and the Government of Iraq are making efforts to enroll thousands of students in U.S. colleges and universities. According to IIE’s Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, the number of Iraqi students studying in the U.S. was up 45 percent for the 2010-11 school year. In order to encourage Iraqi students to study in the United States, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad sponsored an EducationUSA University Fair, which was implemented by the Institute of International Education, in the northern city of Erbil (Iraqi Kurdistan Region) from October 14-15, 2011. At that fair, over 20 U.S. colleges and universities spoke directly with approximately 1,500 students.

To read the full article, please visit: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-12-11/american-universities-iraq-students-withdrawal/51818478/1

To learn more about the EducationUSA University Fair in Erbil, please visit: www.iie.org/Who-We-Are/News-and-Events/Press-Center/Press-Releases/2011/2011-10-18-EducationUSA-University-Fair-Iraq

 

An article in the Chronicle of Higher Education reports on how a recently released report, "Classifying Higher Education Institutions in the Middle East and North Africa: A Pilot Study," attempts to develop a system for classifying higher education institutions in the Middle East and North Africa. The report, which was based on a survey carried out by the Institute of International Education and the Lebanese Association for Educational Studies, with support from Carnegie Corporation, surveys higher education institutions in Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates in order to provide a framework for a regional classification system. According to Rajika Bhandari, deputy vice president of research and evaluation at the Institute of International Education and one the report's authors, "We hope institutions in the region—the ones who responded and, most importantly, the ones that didn't—will really look at this information and start thinking about what types of institutional data they need to start collecting in order to be recognized."

To read the full article, please visit: http://chronicle.com/article/Information-Gap-Hinders/130093/?sid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

To purchase the report or download the Executive Summary, please visit: www.iie.org/en/Research-and-Publications/Publications-and-Reports/IIE-Bookstore/MENA-Institutional-Classification-Study

 

Deadline: December 16, 2011

IIE is requesting photos for use in our printed and Internet-based communications that tell the visual story of IIE and the students/scholars that participate in our programs. Our goal is for the viewer to communicate the breadth of our work and the impact of our programs.

IIE is seeking a well-rounded group of images that represents the international scope of our work, not only geographically, but also in ethnicity, age, and the multidisciplinary aspect of their work. It is important that photos show participants in professional situations that are representative of their field of study.

Only valid contestants will be considered. Valid contestants include any grantees since 2008 from any of IIE's 200+ programs. The deadline for submission is 12 PM ET December 16th, 2011. Winning photos may be used in IIE-related communications such as the Annual Report, marketing materials, websites, and videos.

For more information, including the contest rules and how to enter, please visit: www.iie.org/en/Who-We-Are/News-and-Events/Photo-Contest

 

April 4-6, 2012
Bangkok, Thailand
Deadline to Register: February 15, 2012

EducationUSA will host the EducationUSA Pavilion to promote U.S. higher education at the Asia Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Annual Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 4-6, 2012. This conference will bring the U.S. higher education community to the forefront in building institutional partnerships with this important world region. The EducationUSA Pavilion will provide a cost-effective platform for accredited U.S. colleges and universities to showcase their institutions and connect with higher education institutions in East Asia and the Pacific.

For more information or to register, please visit www.cvent.com/events/educationusa-pavilion-at-asia-pacific-association-for-international-education/event-summary-9c6c9db3b01c43408e1568cc79629af6.aspx or contact educationusa@iie.org.

 

March 31–April 2, 2012
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Deadline to Submit Conference Session Proposals: December 15, 2011
Deadline to Register for the Conference: February 15, 2012

The EducationUSA East Asia and Pacific Triennial Conference will bring together over 70 EducationUSA advisers from 25 countries with over 100 representatives from the U.S. higher education community. The Regional Educational Advising Coordinators (REACs) from the EAP region invite representatives from the U.S. higher education community to submit proposals by December 15, 2011, to present sessions on topics related to advising prospective international students on U.S. higher education and support U.S. colleges and universities.

Participating international admission staff from U.S. colleges and universities will have the opportunity to learn from EducationUSA advisers and REACs on effective strategies to reach and recruit prospective EAP students. The event will also include a U.S. Higher Education Fair for prospective students from Malaysia.

For more information or to register, please visit www.cvent.com/events/educationusa-east-asia-pacific-triennial-conference/event-summary-6b9929ff67ac4697957b305646ff86be.aspx, or contact kl2012@educationusa.info

 

Between the Mountain and the Sea: Positioning Indonesia
July 9-10, 2012
Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Deadline for Submission of Abstracts: March 31, 2012

The Fifth International Indonesia Forum Conference sponsored by Yale University and Gadjah Mada University will be held at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta on July 9-10, 2012. As an interdisciplinary conference bringing together scholars from Indonesia and many other nations, the conference seeks to provide a platform for scholars who keenly follow developments in Indonesia to discuss the various ways and contexts by which the state, scholars, individuals, civil society organizations, and other interest groups have re-created, redefined, or reimagined Indonesia's past, present, and future in response to, or along with, its changes: political, environmental, climatic, religious, conceptual, geo-strategic, social, pop cultural, and intellectual. Papers that deal with the various aspects of positioning Indonesia in the global or regional stage, in the increasingly fragile natural environment, as well as positioning Indonesian citizens and communities within this multicultural nation are welcome.

Persons wishing to present papers at the conference are invited to submit a one-page abstract in electronic form (PDF or MSWord), as well as a brief CV to Frank Dhont: frank.dhont@yale.edu. All papers will be presented in English. Deadline for submission of abstracts: March 31, 2012.

For more information, please visit: www.yale.edu/seas/IIF-GadjahMada2012.htm

 

The University of California Washington, DC Center
January 23-24, 2012

The Washington International Education Council (WIEC) is pleased to invite your participation in the conference taking place at the University of California Washington, DC Center and Embassies throughout Washington. The 10th Annual Conference will take place on January 23-24, 2012.

The WIEC is recognized as the premier event on international student recruitment, bringing together universities from throughout the United States with sponsoring organizations. Conference participants will hear from key Embassy and sponsoring organization personnel, including representatives from Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Saudi Arabia on programs that fund international students in the United States. In addition to the Embassy meetings, conference sessions will include practical information that can immediately enhance your international recruitment program at minimum cost to your institution.

Distinguished presenters from the Institute of International Education (IIE) will provide information on the latest trends in international student enrollment. Government representatives will discuss the latest developments on visa issuance and regulations governing international students while they are in the United States.

For additional information and registration forms, please contact inquiries@washcouncil.org or www.washcouncil.org.

 

Application Deadline: January 31, 2012

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies provides funding to Japanese students pursuing an advanced degree in economics abroad. Funded by the Government of Japan and administered by the Institute of International Education and the IMF Institute, the scholarship covers expenses for two years of graduate study in macroeconomics or a related subject and includes a summer internship at the IMF. The deadline for the 2012-2014 Japan-IMF Scholarship Program is January 31, 2012.

For more information, please go to www.iie.org/jisp or contact japanimfscholarship@iie.org.

 

Request for Applications (RFA): Pathways to Cleaner Production
Western Hemisphere Regional Initiative
Deadline: December 14, 2011

Higher Education for Development (HED), in cooperation with the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) at the U.S. Department of State, is issuing a request for applications for the Pathways to Cleaner Production Initiative.

HED expects to make one (1) award of up to $759,000 for three (3) years for a regional higher education partnership between one U.S. institution and three to four Latin American universities. Two to three of the partner universities will be selected from among the member countries of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR): Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Additionally, one university will be selected from among the countries of Chile, Panama or Peru. This multi-country partnership will increase and utilize the capacity of higher education institutions to contribute to cleaner production practices in the region.
This partnership activity is under the broader Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas Initiative, which the Department of State leads. U.S. Pathways to Prosperity links 15 Western Hemisphere countries committed to democracy and open markets in a policy-level dialogue to promote inclusive growth, prosperity, and social justice.

Please contact HED Program Specialist Emily Gartner via email at egartner@hedprogram.org with any questions. You may also reach her by phone at (202) 939-9337. For more information, please visit: www.hedprogram.org/tabId/66/itemId/239/Pathways-to-Cleaner-Production.aspx.

Request for Applications (RFA): Tunisia: Job Opportunities for Business Scale-Up (JOBS) 2011
Deadline: February 15, 2012

HED anticipates making two (2) awards of up to $500,000 each for three-year higher education partnerships. The first award will be for a partnership with the Institut Supérieur des Etudes Technologiques de Sidi Bouzid (ISET Sidi Bouzid). The second award will be for a partnership with the Institut Supérieur des Etudes Technologiques de Médenine (ISET Médenine) and the Institut Supérieur des Etudes Technologiques de Tataouine (Tataouine). The two partnerships will focus on improving higher education and workforce development programs at these Tunisian institutions to produce a workforce with the relevant skills to support the country development goals.

Please contact HED Senior Program Specialist Marilyn Crane via email at mcrane@hedprogram.org with any questions. You may also reach her by phone at (202) 243-7685. For more information, please visit: http://hedprogram.org/tabId/66/itemId/244/Tunisia-Job-Opportunities-for-Business-ScaleUp-.aspx.

Request for Applications (RFA): Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA)/Caribbean Region Climate Adaptation (CRCA) Partnership Initiative
Deadline: February 22, 2012

Higher Education for Development (HED), in cooperation with USAID and the Office of Economic Policy and Summit Coordination at the U.S. Department of State, is issuing a request for applications for the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA)/Caribbean Region Climate Adaptation (CRCA) Partnership Initiative.

HED expects to make one (1) award of up to $770,500 for three (3) years for a higher education partnership between one U.S. institution and the University of the West Indies/Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (UWI/CERMES). This partnership will build additional permanent, local capacity in the area of climate adaptation at UWI/CERMES. The partnership will focus on research and policy and will result in tangible products such as expanded research, outreach to policy makers, short-course development for academic, public, and private sector audiences and strategic planning to secure long-term funding. It is expected that during the next three years UWI/CERMES will be internationally recognized as a Caribbean center of excellence in climate adaptation research and data collection and that this partnership initiative will help UWI/CERMES down that path. Through its academic offerings, expanded research, and graduate level degree programs and continuing education offerings for professionals, UWI/CERMES will lead the way for the region in utilizing the latest data collection and analysis techniques to inform policy and address the many climate adaptation challenges facing the Caribbean region.

Please contact HED Director of Programs Roy Zimmermann via email at rzimmermann@hedprogram.org. with any questions. For more information, please visit: www.hedprogram.org/tabId/66/itemId/246/Energy-and-Climate-Partnership-of-the-Americas-EC.aspx

 

Application Deadline: January 27, 2012

Rice University is now accepting applications for the 2012 NanoJapan: International Research Experience for Undergraduates program. Generously supported by an NSF Partnerships for International Research & Education (NSF-PIRE) grant, the program seeks to cultivate interest in nanotechnology among young U.S. undergraduate students, especially those from underrepresented groups, and encourages such students to pursue graduate study and academic research in the physical sciences. Recognized as a model for international education programs for science and engineering students, NanoJapan will provide U.S. undergraduates with structured research opportunities in Japanese university laboratories with Japanese mentors focused on the study of THz dynamics of nanostructures.

The program includes: a pre-departure orientation at Rice University; a three week orientation program in Tokyo that includes Introductory Japanese Language Classes, Introduction to Japanese Society & Culture Seminar, and an Introduction to Nanoscale Science and THz Dynamics Seminar; a nanotechnology research internship with leading nanotechnology laboratories in Japan; and a re-entry program.

To be eligible for the NanoJapan International Research Experience for Undergraduates (IREU) program you must be:

• Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking undergraduate student in your freshman or sophomore year at a U.S. institution of higher education;
• A U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
• In good academic standing and not currently under any academic suspension or other disciplinary action at your home university;
• Able to express a demonstrated interest in the field of nanotechnology as it relates to THz dynamics of nanostructures

Benefits: Selected participants will receive international airfare to Japan (departing from Houston), a $4,500 stipend to be used toward living costs during the research internship period along with language class and seminar costs, some meals, and lodging. In lieu of a program fee, students will be responsible for enrollment in a one-credit research course through the Rice Summer School and payment of all applicable tuition and fees.

Online applications must be submitted by January 27, 2012, and two letters of recommendation must be received by February 1, 2012. For more information on the NanoJapan program and to access the online application please see http://nanojapan.rice.edu. For questions please email nanojapan@rice.edu or call (713) 348-6362.