Competition for 2 Best PHD Thesis

Deadline: 15 March 2014 Open to: all young PhD graduates from all countries within the Geographical Area of UniCredit's operations. Awards: Prizes will be awarded to 2 outstanding doctoral dissertations. The topic of the dissertation research must be in the fields of economics or finance.

Description

UniCredit & Universities Foundation enables young European students to reach their true potential by financing their ongoing studies and research through several scholarships and awards. Its mission is to plan and sustain academic initiatives in the fields of economics and finance and to promote studies in economics/finance through grants and scholarships. UniCredit & Universities Foundation is a private Foundation established by UniCredit Group in March 2009. The UniCredit & Universities Best PhD Thesis Award is aimed at all young PhD graduates from the countries belonging to the geographical scope of UniCredit.
UniCredit & Universities Foundation is launching the Best PhD Thesis Award competition for the fourth time to award two outstanding doctoral dissertations in Economics or Finance.

Eligibility

The competition is aimed at all young PhD graduates from all countries within the Geographical Area of UniCredit's operations.
1. Applicants must be citizens of any country* where UniCredit is present 
2. Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. in economics, finance, political and social sciences in any accredited European or non-European University
3. The PhD dissertations must be written in English and have been examined within the 18 months period up to 15 September 2013 (i.e. from 15 March 2012 up to 15 September 2013)
4. The submitted dissertations shall be of outstanding scientific quality
5. If the dissertation has been submitted for other prizes or grants, this circumstance shall be mentioned in the application
6. Applicants shall indicate whether – and if it is so, when and in what form – the submitted dissertations or parts thereof have already been published.

Awards

Prizes will be awarded to 2 outstanding doctoral dissertations. The topic of the dissertation research must be in the fields of economics or finance. The 2 best dissertations will receive € 5,000 gross each and will be published on the Working Paper  series of the Foundation.

Application

​
Candidates must only Apply Online, using the application available on the Foundation’s website at http://www.unicreditanduniversities.eu . Documentation accompanying the application must be submitted exclusively
online in PDF format and must be written in English. Applications must be received by the compulsory deadline of March 15, 2014. Failure to do so may result in exclusion from the competition. As soon as
the procedure will be considered completed, the candidate will receive a confirmation message to her/his e-mail address confirming the full acceptance of her/his application. Applications must be accompanied by the following documents (failure to do so may result in exclusion from the competition): 
1. Curriculum Vitae
2. a copy of a current identity document (in the original language)
3. documentation attesting possession of Ph.D. diploma (self-certification is also allowed)
4. a copy of the dissertation  
5. at least two letters of reference, one of which from the PhD supervisor and the other ones from teachers who have good knowledge of the candidate’s research work. All the letters must be sent by the teachers via e-mail to the Foundation addresses specified below
6. a declaration of consent to handling of the candidate’s personal data pursuant to Italian Legislative Decree 196/2003 (using the specific declaration which can be found in the aforementioned internet site).

Submissions for the UniCredit & Universities Best Thesis Award shall be treated confidentially. To be eligible to the competition applicants must be citizens of: Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine. 

Selection Process

The Foundation’s Scientific Committee will be responsible for the selection procedure and will identify the winners of the competition. The Scientific Committee is appointed by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and is
composed of eleven members among experts in economics and finance from the main European countries (http://unicreditanduniversities.eu/en/membri.html). The review process shall assess the quality and originality of the thesis as well as its suitability for publication in the international economics literature. In assessing candidates, the Scientific Committee will also take into account their letters of reference and academic curriculum. The  Scientific Committee may invite candidates for an interview or seminar. The final decision shall be taken by the Board of Directors of the Foundation based on the Scientific Committee proposal. The decision of the Board of
Directors of the Foundation shall be final and shall not be subject to appeal. Authors of awarded dissertations will be notified by 30 April 2014. The winners might be asked to present their main findings at a workshop to be held
at UniCredit by the end of 2014. UniCredit & Universities Foundation as well as UniCredit shall have the right to inform the public about awarded dissertations through press releases or other channels of communication (e.g. the Foundation and UniCredit websites). By submitting their dissertations, applicants consent to the above terms and conditions. The granting of awards shall entail no further obligations for the Foundation and UniCredit.
Acceptance of Terms and Conditions Taking part in the competition entails unconditional acceptance of all the articles of this notice. 
Milan, October 1, 2013

For any further information:
Internet web-site www.unicreditanduniversities.eu or contact UniCredit & Universities Foundation at Piazza Gae Aulenti Tower A – 20154
Milan - Italy. Tel.+39 02 8862 4339/4340.
e-mail: unicreditanduniversities@unicredit.eu, giannantonio.deroni@unicredit.eu or
annalisa.aleati@unicredit.eu

Summer Academy Challenges of Sustainable Development in Poland 2013

Sendzimir Foundation invites students and professionals interested in sustainable development to apply for the XVI Summer Academy Challenges of Sustainable Development in Poland 2013. The course, held entirely in English, consists of two phases: an e-learning phase (March-June) and the 3-week long Summer Academy that takes place on 7-27 July in Torun, central Poland. Participation in the e-learning phase is open to applicants from anywhere in the world. Participation in the Summer Academy will be open to selected participants that proved the best alumni of the e-learning course and are residents of Central Eastern Europe and Baltic Sea Basin region. Participation in both the e-learning and the Academy is free of charge (Sendzimir Foundation covers all the related costs except travel to Torun).

Three-week Summer Academy the Challenges of Sustainable Development is one of the most important educational events connected to sustainability in Poland. More than 410 people took part in it since 1998. Since the 12th edition we accept also participants from abroad. The Academy enjoys growing interest from participants from different countries - In 2012 around 400 people applied to take part in it. The competition is high but those who do get accepted praise the high standard of the training.

Who can take part in the course?

The course is addressed to students and PhD students, researchers as well as representatives of the business, administration and NGO-sector from the Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea Region. Students represent different areas and specialties, especially they were: nature protection and environmental engineering, architecture, management, economic sciences, agriculture, biology, ecology, arts, history, journalism. We encourage participants from all over the world to apply for the e-learning phase, however only applicants from Europe will be considered eligible to participate in the Academy. This is due to the local focus of the practical component of the training and excessive carbon footprint caused by long-distance travels. If you feel your case needs exceptional, please write us an e-mail before the end of the second stage of the e-learning course.

The additional criteria taken into account will be:

• fluency in English,
• country of the applicant (approximately 60% of participants will be from Poland, from other CEE and Baltic countries we will accept up to 3 participants from a certain country taking into consideration the number of application from a given country). Please note: due to excessive carbon footprint generated by long-distance travels participants from countries outside Europe will not be admitted to participate in the Academy. 
• specialization (the course has an interdisciplinary character and we try to create a diverse group of participants to share knowledge and experience in their fields).

How can I take part in this course?

If you want to take part in 16th edition of our Summer Academy or the e-learning alone, you should send an application form, that is available on our website. The applications will be received between 11th of February and 4th of March 2013. 

An integral element of the recruitment process for the Academy is a two-step e-learning course that we will provide from 9th March 2013. Those who do not complete it will not be eligible to take part in the Academy, however you may decide to participate in the e-learning stage alone, without applying for the Academy. If that should be the case, please indicate it in the application form.

What is the subject of the course?

Sustainable development: explanation of the concept, theory from different perspectives and practical workshops and projects. The course includes also additional activities which integrates the group such as dance classes or hiking.

 

What can I expect from this course?

The Academy programme includes: lectures, debates, workshops, simulation games, country activities and practical projects in the domain of sustainable development. Guided by experienced instructors from Poland and abroad, the participants work on two important practical projects. First concentrates on the implementation of sustainable development principles into the municipality; the other into the companies or institutions.

Read more about the application process here.

World Perspectives: Minority Voices

World Perspectives: Minority Voices – a conference for young media makers that will take place in Budapest, Hungary, on 22-28 April, 2013 – will bring together 26 young media makers, from across Europe, to study how the international news media portrays issues affecting minorities, migrants and refugees. Participants will learn through practice based training, to critically analyse different forms of news media and also to further develop their own skills to more effectively participate in the creation of responsible media. In particular, the study session will motivate and enable young media makers to develop strategies to ensure minorities, migrants and refugees are themselves able to influence how issues affecting them are portrayed in the news.

Project Aim

The project aims to support civil society in the participants’ countries by raising their awareness about biased information presented in mass media and developing their competences as young media makers.

After the study session, participants will:

• Have greater awareness of issues affecting minorities, migrants and refugees in Europe.
• Know how to recognise and quantify biases that appear in the media and in political discourse.
• Be able to apply improved media and journalistic skills to develop responsible and balanced news media.
• Be able to develop improved strategies to ensure the participation of minority, migrant and refugee communities within mainstream media.

The study session will also seek to work with participants to establish a platform for young media makers in Europe, working on issues relating to minorities. As well as develop networking opportunities between young media makers.

Participant Profile

The study session is planned for 26 participants. This call is open to legal residents in countries which are members of the Council of Europe. We aim to give priority to participants from the following countries: Belarus, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine. Young media makers of minority backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply. Participants should be between 18-30 years old. Participants should be active or able to show a demonstrated interest in any of the following; journalism and media, working with young people, human rights, issues relating to minority, migrant and refugee communities and also the Middle East and North Africa. These can include, for example:

• Young journalists and media makers, working in the field of news media
• Representatives of civil society and youth organisations, working to involve young people in different forms of media
• Representatives of civil society organisations working on human rights issues, especially those related to minority, migrant and refugee rights
• Young leaders from minority, migrant and refugee communities, who wish to learn how to better represent their community in the media

Priority will be given to those applications from participants, who, as well as showing an active commitment to the study sessions topics, can demonstrate they are able to act as multipliers and are able to develop effective strategies to share their learning with the organisations and communities they represent.

Selection of participants will take into account both geographical and gender balance, and will seek to ensure a diverse range of participants. We actively encourage applications from participants from minority, migrant and refugee communities, in particular those from Middle East and North African backgrounds.

The language of the study session will be English; therefore participants should feel confident in working in English, including drafting articles and other media.

Financial Information

The study session is supported financially by the Council of Europe and will be held at the European Youth Centre in Budapest. International travel costs will be covered 100% and reimbursed to participants during the training. Accommodation, all meals and local transport will also be provided for in Budapest.

A 50-Euro participation fee will be charged by the European Youth Centre and will be deducted from the participant travel reimbursements. Although travel costs will be reimbursed, participants will be expected to make and book their own travel arrangements.

Application and Deadline

Deadline: February 3rd, 2013, 24:00.

Please submit the following:

• Your CV
• 2 media clips (of any type) (media clips that are not in English should have an English summary).

to Katarzyna Mortoń at k.morton@youthpress.org 

The study session is organised by European Youth Press - www.youthpress.org, Minority Rights Group Europe – www.minorityrights.org, and Concordia International in cooperation with the Youth Department of the Council of Europe.

Journalism grants

Accepting applications for creative reporting to cover international development issues

More information: http://journalismgrants.org/

2013/2014 The William T. Grant Scholars Program, USA

The William T. Grant Scholars Program supports promising early-career researchers from diverse disciplines, who have demonstrated success in conducting high-quality research and are seeking to further develop and broaden their expertise.

Description
The candidates of the William T. Grant Scholars Program are nominated by a supporting institution and must submit five-year research plans that demonstrate creativity, intellectual rigor, and a commitment to continued professional development. Every year, four to six William T. Grant Scholars are selected and each receives $350,000 distributed over a five-year period.

Eligibility

• Be employed at a nonprofit institution, either in the United States or abroad. In most instances, these organizations will have 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, set up to receive and process grant awards. However, in rare cases, colleges or universities (such as Arizona State University) will not have 501(c)(3) tax exemption. If your institution fits into this category, we can instead accept an IRS determination letter which states that it is classified as a school under sections 509a1 and 170b1Aii of the IRS Code;
• Submit a project that is consistent with the Foundation's Current Research Interests;
• Address issues that have compelling relevance for theory, and policies or practices, affecting the settings of youth ages 8 to 25 in the United States or a vulnerable subpopulation of those youth; and
• Have received their terminal degree within seven years of submitting their application. In many scholarly disciplines this translates to a maximum of seven years following the award of the doctoral degree and includes time spent as a post-doctoral fellow. In medicine, the seven-year maximum is dated from the completion of the first residency. Please note, those applying in 2012 must have received their terminal degree in 2005 or later. The award may not be used as a post-doctoral fellowship.

Application Procedure
The Foundation uses an online application system for all our funding programs. Application instructions and required forms are available in the How to Apply section, which can be accessed by clicking below. Please note, all applicants should read the most recent William T. Grant Scholars Program Brochure before beginning any application. We recommend beginning your application 4 to 6 weeks before the deadline to give references and mentors adequate time. Please visit the official site to find the online application link.

Submission Deadline
Around July every year

Website Link
http://www.wtgrantfoundation.org/funding_opportunities/fellowships/william_t__grant_scholars

Rotary: Global grants

R otary Foundation Global Grants support large international activities with sustainable high-impact outcomes in one or more of the six areas of focus  and have a long-term impact. Clubs and districts can either create their own activities or sponsor packaged global grants  that are developed by The Rotary Foundation in cooperation with its strategic partners.   

Club- and district-developed global grants 

Clubs and districts can use District Designated Fund (DDF)  or cash contributions to fund global grant activities and get matching funds from the Foundation. When developing activities, clubs and districts should consider the following: 

• Activities must be sustainable  and measurable. For example:
  • ‎‎How will a project benefit the selected community in the future, after the grant has been spent?
  • How will a scholar's studies support one or more of the areas of focus?
  • How will a vocational training team project support capacity building, either for the team or the benefiting community?
• Activities should stem from real community needs. Community needs assessment tools  are available to help identify community needs.  

• Global grants must be sponsored by two Rotary clubs or districts: a host partner in the country where the activity takes place and an international partner outside the country. Both partners must be Future Vision pilot members.
• Both partners must be actively involved in the planning and implementing of all global grants. This includes maintaining communication and developing plans for the shared responsibilities in all of the grant's stages.  

Funding

The minimum award amount from the World Fund for a global grant, regardless of activity type, is US$15,000, which results in a minimum total financing of $30,000. The World Fund award is based on a 100 percent match of DDF ($1.00:$1.00) or a 50 percent match of cash contributions ($0.50:$1.00).  

Business cycle

All Rotary Foundation Global Grant applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. A two-step online application process is accessible via Member Access . Additional documentation for scholarships  and vocational training teams  must be completed by non-Rotarian participants; the grant sponsors will upload these items electronically to the application. 
Proposal For club- and district-developed global grants, Rotarians will submit a brief online proposal before submitting a formal application. The proposal should provide an overview of the grant activity's objectives and demonstrate how the activities fit within an area of focus. This process is designed to increase the acceptance rate of grant applications. 
Application Once a proposal has been accepted, Rotarians will submit an online application that provides the Foundation with more detailed grant activity and budget information. (Depending on the award amount or complexity of the project, the Foundation may request additional details.) Applications requesting a World Fund award (match) of more than US$100,000 will be reviewed by the Trustees quarterly. The following dates will be used to determine at which Trustee meeting applications will be reviewed:
Complete applications received by

• 1 June will be reviewed by the Trustees in September
• 1 October will be reviewed in January
• 1 December will be reviewed in March
• 1 February will be reviewed in May

Payment Once an application has been approved by the Foundation, both sponsors have authorized the agreement, and all associated cash contributions have been received, the Foundation will issue a payment.  
Reporting Reports showing measurable success of the grant activity will be due to the Foundation every 12 months from the first issued payment. A final report is due when the grant funds have been completely spent and the objectives of the activity have been met. 

Types of activities

Global grants support a variety of activities based on the needs of the benefiting communities or participants. All grant-funded activity must follow the eligibility requirements in the Terms and Conditions for Rotary Foundation District Grants and Global Grants . The grant structure is designed to allow clubs and districts more flexibility in creating grants that will further the mission of The Rotary Foundation  within the areas of focus. 
Humanitarian projects: Global grants may be used to fund humanitarian projects, provided that they

• Support the goals of one or more of the areas of focus
• Produce measurable outcomes in the benefiting community
• Achieve results that can be sustained after the grant funds have been expended
• Have been developed in conjunction with the benefiting community to address their most pressing needs
• Seek to address community needs in an integrated manner  

Scholarships: Global grants may be used to provide funding for academic studies provided that they

• Fund graduate-level study that relates to one or more of the areas of focus
• Fund studies for a term of one to four academic years 
• Sponsor the academic studies of an individual traveling from the international sponsor district to the host sponsor district

Vocational training opportunities: Global grants also may support vocational training teams, which are groups of professionals traveling abroad to either learn more about their profession or teach local professionals about a particular field. They

• May build the capacity of either the team itself or a specific benefiting community
• May be carried out in conjunction with a humanitarian project or scholarship   
• May be multivocational but must share a common purpose in support of the selected area of focus 
• Must consist of a minimum of one Rotarian team leader and three non-Rotarian team members with no maximum limit of participants
• Have no restrictions on participant age or length of time for training
• Permit one or more teams to travel under each grant

More information:  http://www.rotary.org/en/Members/RunningADistrict/FutureVisionPilotProgram/Pages/fv_global_grants.aspx

UNDEF - projects for democracy

UNDEF opens its annual window for project proposals for its Seventh Round of Funding on 15 November 2012, following the green light given by UNDEF Advisory Board. Project proposals may be submitted on-line between 15 November and 31 December. Only on-line proposals in either English or French will be accepted.

Applicants can find guidelines, lessons learned, and examples of previous application forms here. Those who plan to submit a proposal are strongly encouraged to visit this page as soon as possible to familiarize themselves with what is required.

UNDEF supports projects that strengthen the voice of civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes. It is the only UN entity that has the word “democracy” in its name; the only UN body with the primary purpose of supporting democracy through empowering civil society; and one of the youngest entities in the UN system. UNDEF projects exist in developing countries, in societies in transition and in challenging environments, and are in six main areas: Community development; rule of law and human rights; tools for democratization; youth; empowering women; and media.
UNDEF grants range from US$50,000 to US$400,000. So far, UNDEF has funded more than 400 projects in over 100 countries, bringing total disbursement to almost 140 million dollars. The large majority of funds go to local civil society groups. In this way, UNDEF plays a new and unique role, complementing the UN’s traditional work with Governments to strengthen democratic governance around the world. It targets the demand side of democracy, rather than the supply side.
In 2011, UNDEF received a record high almost 3000 project proposals. Only some 70 were selected for funding. Project proposals are subject to a highly rigorous and competitive selection process, quality vetting, due diligence and lessons learned from previous Rounds. A team of international assessors score each proposal against 10 set criteria and produce a long list. To narrow down the list further, UN Resident Coordinators and Experts of the UNDEF Advisory Board are invited to provide comments, quality vetting, and views on how proposed activities would fit in the overall context of existing UN work in the countries and fields proposed. The same comments are sought from the UNDEF Programme Consultative Group, making use of the specific expertise of each of its entities: the Department of Political Affairs, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Peacebuilding Support Office, the UN Development Programme, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and UN Women.
Based on this collective input, the UNDEF Secretariat produces a first short list, expected tol be completed only in mid-2013, after which the process moves into the next stage. Each short-listed applicant will be contacted with a request for a draft project document, which is in effect the contract between UNDEF and the grantee. The project document negotiation requires the applicant to provide a more elaborated project design, and involves detailed input from both UNDEF and the applicant, as well as scrutiny and due diligence enquiries by UNDEF. Only upon successful conclusion of the project document, and its approval by the United Nations Controller, will the project proposal formally be approved for funds disbursement. This is expected to happen after September 2013.

More information: http://www.un.org/democracyfund/News/NFU09Nov12.html
Apply: http://undefapplication.org/

Global Change Leaders program for women

In 2011-2012, the International Centre for Women’s Leadership launched the Global Change Leaders program – a certificate course for emerging women leaders from the global south.
Through campus-based education, field visits, mentorships and linkages to a global network of other women leaders, the program enables the women to strengthen their leadership capacities to contribute to change in their organizations and communities. Program participants engage in learning themes grounded in real world experiences. Topics covered include transformative leadership concepts, practical leadership skills, citizen-led and asset-based development, and oral and written communications. Through a shared learning environment with other emerging women leaders from around the world, participants are exposed to a range of experiences and the beginnings of a potentially lifelong network of support.
The overall Program Objective is to enable Global Change Leaders to take on more powerful and dynamic leadership roles in their organizations and communities. Specific outcomes for participants include:

• Practical understanding of leadership concepts and application within their own context
• Enriched knowledge and experience in essential leadership skills
• Expertise in organizational learning and change management
• Strengthened capacity to realize sustainable, citizen-led and asset-based development goals
• Effective and compelling oral and written communications, and presentation skills
• Ability to apply strategies and tools that underpin innovative social and economic initiatives
• Active participation in a global network of like-minded women leaders

The Global Change Leaders program is led by a core team of Coady International Institute staff and supported by other Coady faculty and associates.

More information: http://coady.stfx.ca/women/change-leaders/

Youth Entrepreneurship Training Course, Serbia

Deadline: 17 November 2012
Open to : young people age 18-30 from Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Moldova, Slovenia, Latvia and Serbia.
Venue : Bela Crkva, Serbia from 22-29 November 2012

Description

“Izvor mladosti – Source of youth” is seeking applications from young people from the age of 18 to 30 interested in taking part in the international training course “Young European Entrepreneurs on the Go” on the topic of youth entrepreneurship, which will be held from 22 to 29 November 2012 in Bela Crkva, Serbia.
The training course will gather together young people coming from eight different European countries (Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Moldova, Slovenia, Latvia and Serbia), with the aim to highlight the problems that young people face in the job market and research the possibilities of entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship to reduce youth unemployment.
Through non-formal and interactive learning methods, all participants will work in a pleasant atmosphere with the aim to acquire new knowledge, teamwork skills, critical thinking skills, time management and flexibility.
The working language is English. The project is supported by the European commission through the Youth in Action programme. Accommodation costs and food are covered by the organizers, and 70 percent of the travel costs will be refunded.
FOR ALL QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT THE ORGANIZERS AT tatjana.jankovic@izvormladosti.org.

Eligibility

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and from Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Moldova, Slovenia, Latvia or Serbia.

Application

If you are interested in applying, please send your application form by 17 November 2012 to tatjana.jankovic@izvormladosti.org
Download the application form HERE. In addition to your contact information, you will need to write some short essays explaining how you define entrepreneurship, suggestions for lowering youth unemployment, what you hope to learn at the training course, and how you can apply the lessons learned to your life after the course.
NOTE: The application form says applications are due 10 November, but the website explains the deadline is 17 November.
More information is available in Croatian language at the official website HERE.
FOR ALL QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT THE ORGANIZERS AT tatjana.jankovic@izvormladosti.org.

Charlemagne Youth Prize for EU Consciousness

Deadline: 28 January 2013
Open to : people aged 16-30 who have undertaken projects fostering understanding, promote the development of a shared sense of European identity, or offering practical examples of Europeans living together as one community.
Prizes :  First: €5000; Second: €3000; Third: €2000. The three final laureates will be invited to visit the European Parliament (in Brussels or in Strasbourg). Representatives of all the 27 national projects selected will be invited to a four-day trip in Aachen, Germany.

Description

The European Charlemagne Youth Prize aims to encourage the development of European consciousness among young people, as well as their participation in European integration projects.
The prize is awarded to projects undertaken by young people which foster understanding, promote the development of a shared sense of European identity, and offer practical examples of Europeans living together as one community. The projects can focus on the organisation of various youth events, youth exchanges or internet projects with a European dimension.
The European Charlemagne Youth Prize  is awarded jointly and annually by the European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen.

Prize

The prize for the best project is €5000, the second, €3000 and the third, €2000. As part of the prize, the three final laureates will be invited to visit the European Parliament (in Brussels or in Strasbourg). Also, the representatives of all the 27 national projects selected will be invited to a four-day trip in Aachen, Germany.
The prizes for the best three projects will be presented by the President of the European Parliament and representative of the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen.

Eligibility

• Applicants should be 16-30 years old.
• The participants must be citizens or residents of one of the 27 member states of the European Union.

Application

The application deadline is 28 January 2013. Application forms are available through the web sites of European Charlemagne Youth Prize AVAILABLE HERE and national Information Offices of the European Parliament. For more information regarding the competition please contact the national Information Offices.
Application Guidelines
Fill in the personal details for an individual or a group. Add or remove names if necessary. Important! Each group or individual must fill in their own form. Forms filled in by other people (e.g. teachers, people older than 30 years, etc) will not be accepted.
Download the Declaration by the Applicant Form (Declaration on EU Funding) AVAILABLE HERE, fill it in, sign it, and upload it as an attachment.
For project details, please note that you will need to upload your full description as an attachment. Important! If you attach your project as a pdf, please also include a Word file of the same document or the document will not be taken into consideration. If necessary, attach more than one file. Supported formats are: doc(x), pdf, xls(x), ppt, odt, txt, jpg, gif
Please submit your project in one language only.
Please do not forget to submit a summary of your project in English (EN), French (FR) or German (DE). The summary should be short but exhaustive, covering the main aspects of your project. Often, the summary is the first element the jury observes when evaluating the project.
Please note that in the case of group and multinational projects, the project can only be submitted in one country.
After you have filled in all required information, click on the SUBMIT button and wait for the confirmation message. Afterwards you may print a copy of the application for your records.
The final winners will be announced on 7 May 2013.
For more information, see the original call for applications AVAILABLE HERE.

Social Entrepreneurship Program in Stockholm, Sweden

Deadline: 16 November, 2012
Open to : Social entrepreneurs coming from all over the world. There are no limitations in terms of age, background, nationality or citizenry
Venue : Stockholm, Sweden between 28 January and 22 March 2013

About SE Outreach

The SE Outreach program aims to support and facilitate the emergence of social entrepreneurs from all over the world, whose innovations and ideas have the potential to meet the Millennium Development Goals by tackling societal and environmental challenges facing developing and emerging markets. The program is made possible through a partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).SE Outreach AcceleratorThe SE Outreach Accelerator is currently the main program component of SE Outreach. The program helps social entrepreneurs accelerate their businesses so their innovative ideas turn into high-impact solutions to the world‘s social and environmental problems. The Accelerator offers an 8-week boot-camp-like experience filled with seminars and workshops as well as coaching and mentoring sessions. The program will be held in Stockholm between 28 January and 22 March, 2013.

Eligibility

The SE Outreach Accelerator is open for most social entrepreneurs:

• No limitations in terms of age, background, nationality or citizenry.
• No need to have a registered enterprise prior to the Accelerator.
• Both for-profit and non-for profits are welcome to apply (but a plan for long-term financial sustainability must exist).
• A written business plan is not a prerequisite to apply.
• Current revenue streams/profitability is not a prerequisite to apply.

However, the participating social entrepreneurs are expected to:

• Have the ability to commit full-time during the Accelerator
• Are able to read, write, speak and comprehend English sufficiently, since the language of instruction is English.
• Are committed to the social enterprise after the Accelerator.

Costs

The program is free of charge. You will however need to pay and arrange your own accommodation and travel.  The organizers encourage you to apply even though you do not currently have a place to stay in Stockholm as we are hoping to be able to provide accommodation free of charge to a selected few participants.

Application Process

You can access the application HERE. Please first review the questions in the application and prepare your application off-line. When you have collected the information, paste the answers below and upload your CV, web links, etc. You can have more insight in the selection process here.
Applications must be submitted no later than 16 November 2012 to be considered.
For more information please visit the official website.

How to Apply for a Grant and Get Awards and Funding for Your Project

You may have a project that you want to put out there but don’t have the means and funding for it. You may also like to join exhibitions and competitions to build your portfolio and expand your network. Fortunately, there are ways you can get the funding you need. There is probably a local competition or opportunity for you to gain awards. Several international organizations also offer grants and awards for outstanding projects and concepts. Here are some tips on how you can take advantage of a great opportunity.

Search Online

Find out what are offered by various organizations. Search online. If you can subscribe to newsletters and magazines related to your project or field of expertise, this will help you be up to date with any kind of opportunity. Social networking sites may also help. Join forums and expand your affiliations to easily be updated and informed of any open calls or grant applications. There are a lot of organizations willing to give funding to any deserving individual. Your researching skills will be put to good use here.

Be Eligible

It’s not enough that you apply and join every time. You have to “dress” to impress. While waiting for any opportunity, build your portfolio, gather more info, come up with more great ideas, and create more projects. If you want funding for your full-length film, for example, at least be able to provide samples like screenplays, scripts, or short films that can show your capacity, experience, and skill. Any individual has the chance to get grants and funding. Competitions are also a good way to build a name in an industry or land an awesome job. A travel blogger, writer or photographer can join competitions to be featured in a magazine.

Have a bank of ideas and concepts that you can later use when the opportunity comes. When organizations or groups look at your portfolio and application, they must be impressed and convinced that you are a great candidate for their grant or award.

The Bigger Picture

To increase your chances of being awarded a grant or provided funding, let your project or concept have a humanitarian cause or leaning towards community development and awareness. Try not to always lean towards self-motivation or to further your career. Yes, it’s all part of your personal goals, but the project can always be for the greater good of the community, public, and the organization, too. And, let's face it. Many organizations really prefer a good cause.

Article from: http://applytostudy.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-apply-for-grant-and-get-awards.html

The European Award for Technology Supported Learning

Deadline: 31 October 2012
Open to:  Users, managers and developers of successful and innovative concept for technology supported learning of any organisation within Europe (geographically)
Prize:  All winners will recieve the eureleA Knot – a unique figur with high symbolic, artistical and material value, as well as monetary or material prizes

Description

The eureleA – European Award for Technology Supported Learning – is a contest to identify outstanding projects from the whole spectrum of technology supported learning and teaching. Since 2004 the winners of the eureleA have been made well known to the community as best practice examples. Projects covering recent trends like technology supported knowledge and talent management, serous games, shared virtual training worlds and the usage of social media in education are especially encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

Users, managers and developers of successful and innovative concept for technology supported learning of any organisation within Europe can apply for the two prices: eureleA Didactics and eureleA Technology.
The criteria for the eureleA Didactics are:
Appearance and aesthetics, use of multimedia, interactivity, adaptation to the target group, sustainability as well as evaluation of project impact to the target group
The criteria for the eureleA Technology are:
Technical innovation, compliance with standards for education modules and implementation, usability and accessibility as well as controlling and documentation of the eLearning project.

How to entry

Entrants must register themselves at the official website and follow the particular steps described there. It is necessary to fill out a project questionnaire. Besides basic information about the submitter, information on the environment, the project itself and the project’s success shall be included. A declaration of consent must be submitted by fax or e-mail. All necessary documents can be found HERE.
All other documents must be submitted in German or English. Please use the PDF file format for texts and images and cross-platform formats (RealMedia, QuickTime, MPEG, WAV). The submitted documents should make it clear where do you see your project’s good performance in the four dimensions of evaluation.
The jury might ask for additional material. The candidates will be informed individually. If it is not possible to contact the person in question or if the additional documents are handed in too late, the requested documents will not be considered.

Selection process

The projects will be assessed by a top-class jury represented by experts from industry and sciences. Legal recourse is excluded. It is assured that the jurors are not biased against projects or candidates and that all persons having notice of the submitted projects do only avail themselves of these projects within their activities at eureleA.

Deadline

Submissions are only online possible till the closing date of 31 October 2012.  Electronically submitted projects can be handed in until 24:00. After 24:00 access to the system is blocked. Completeness of the documents rests with the applicant.

Prize

All winners will recieve the eureleA Knot – a unique figur with high symbolic, artistical and material value, as well as monetary or material prizes. Here you can see the eureleA Knot.
The official webpage

Using Social Media to Find Grants and Scholarships

When it comes to obtaining grants and scholarships, you want to use every resource at your disposal to the best of your ability. Regardless of whether you’re looking for grants and scholarships for school, a social work organization or something totally unrelated, many of the same strategies apply.

One set of tools that you can’t afford to overlook in your search is social media. Social media has become a powerful and pervasive communication tool that can help you or your organization locate and qualify for the funding you need. And if you don’t use this tool to your advantage, you should at least realize that potential funders may use it to check you out.

1.  Groom your profiles. 
If you’re not already thinking about your social networking presence as part of your professional image in general and part of your grant applications specifically, it is time to wake up. Employers, grad schools and organizations offering scholarships will all be looking at your Facebook and Twitter feeds. At the very least, you should edit them to prevent embarrassing yourself or your professional associates. But while you’re at it, why not begin highlighting your professional accomplishments and connecting them to your personal values?
2. Ask your network for leads.
The simplest and most obvious place to begin your social networking search for funding is to broadcast the message that you’re doing just that. Start by posting public messages on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn asking contacts to point you toward relevant resources or offer tips on the application process. Then reach out specifically to relevant, high-value contacts you haven’t heard back from.
3. Search for grants and scholarships on Twitter.
It is fairly easy to use the advanced search tools on Twitter to eavesdrop on the buzz about any subject, and funding is no exception. Search keywords related to funding and your field to find out what colleagues are talking about. Tweeting about your funding search and pointing out resources to other professionals is also a great way to contribute to the conversation.
4. Follow and friend prominent organizations.
Most prominent organizations offering funding will also have active social media outlets, and you should be sure to pay attention to them for news about scholarships and the organization’s work in general. Pointing others toward these organizations or using their profiles as an additional point of contact with the organization aren’t bad ways to make an impression, either.
5. Get personal.
One of the fundamental tenets of social networking that people often forget is that it is about relationship building, not just reading the news. This means that you should be engaging personally with your contacts as well as with strangers during this funding search, becoming part of a larger conversation. When appropriate, arrange face-to-face meetings or phone calls as well, and try to build lasting relationships rather than asking for favors. Don’t forget to send thank-you notes and updates after you receive a grant or scholarship.

Article from: http://applytostudy.blogspot.com/2012/08/using-social-media-to-find-grants-and.html