Data Research Internship – Corporate Governance MSCI Inc. Brussels, Belgium

ABOUT MSCI Inc.
MSCI is a leading provider of investment decision support tools, we offer a range of products and services - including indices, portfolio risk and performance analytics, and governance tools - from a number of internationally recognized brands such as Barra, RiskMetrics, CFRA, FEA, ESG and ISS.
For further information on MSCI .

POSITION OVERVIEW
We offer a profound training in and exposure to the latest corporate governance developments in Europe. You will work in a truly international environment. As an intern, your job will be to help our team in assessing the corporate governance practices of European listed companies by screening their public documents (general meeting's agenda, annual report, etc…) and analyzing key governance indicators.

RESPONSIBILITIES
- Analysis and coding of resolutions proposed at the general meetings of publicly traded companies into a standardized format;
- Gathering information from the companies' public documents;
- Updating internal database with the collected information;
- Analysis of the companies' boards of directors and shareholding structures;
- Contacting companies to obtain proxy materials and other meeting related information;
- Monitoring vote results as published by the companies;
- Contribute to the research department through profiling of listed companies.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Must have fluent English writing skills and a fluent command of:
- Danish and/or, Swedish and/or Norwegian;
- Dutch;
- French;
- German;
- Russian and/or Polish and/or any other east European language.
Interested in corporate governance as well as capital markets, data collection and research;
A relevant bachelor degree (law, economics, finance, business, or political science), or in the process of obtaining such a degree;
A very good eye for detail;
Ability to work independently and take initiative while also being a team player;
An organized and structured mind to deal with large quantities of work and strict deadlines.

APPLICATION AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This internship is remunerated (€ 1000 monthly + lunch vouchers + bonus if appropriate), and will run for four to six months starting in February 2013. Applicants should email a cover letter along with a CV in English with reference “Data Research” using this FORM.
Due to the great number of applications we receive for each of our open vacancies, we are unable to respond on an individual basis.

Chevening-Weidenfeld Scholarships

In addition to the scholarships available for all Oxford graduate students, up to five fully-funded scholarships have been made available thanks to a partnership between the Weidenfeld Scholarships and Leadership Programme, administered by the London-based Institute of Strategic Dialogue, and the Chevening Scholarship scheme, funded by the British government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Chevening-Weidenfeld Scholarships will be open to Master of Public Policy (MPP) candidates from selected countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, India and Indonesia.  The aim of the scholarship is to reward candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic merit.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Chevening-Weidenfeld Scholarships, a candidate must -

1. be applying to the Master of Public Policy programme at the University of Oxford;
2. be an ordinary resident of one of the following countries: 

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, FYR Macedonia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mongolia, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Serbia, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen

Please note: if you have received Chevening funding previously, you will no longer be eligible for this award.

Assessment Criteria

Scholarships will be awarded to candidates who meet the eligibility criteria on the basis of their exceptional academic distinction. 

Amount of the Award

The Scholarship will provide all tuition and college fees, and a stipend to cover living expenses in Oxford for the full duration of the Master of Public Policy course.

Level and Mode of Study

Masters degree, 12 month programme, full-time

Application Deadline

18 January 2013

How to Apply

Candidates apply at the same time as making the application for the Master of Public Policy programme by ticking the Departmental Studentship Application section in the Funding Section of the University's Graduate Application Form (page 6). In this box candidates should enter  ‘Chevening-Weidenfeld Scholarships’.
Please note that there is not a separate application form for this scholarship.
In order to be considered for this scholarship, you must submit your application for graduate study by the January deadline(18 January 2013) and you must have secured a place on your chosen programme of study by the expected final decision date (13 March 2013).

Interview

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview.  This may take place via Skype or via an expenses-paid interview weekend in Oxford in late April 2013.

How will I know if I have been successful?

Successful candidates will be notified by email by summer 2013.

More information: http://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/chevening-weidenfeld-scholarships

Reuters Journalism Program

Multiple global locations

Want to cover the biggest news stories of the day? Fascinated by financial markets and economic fluctuations? We are offering the opportunity of a career in journalism with the world’s largest international multimedia news agency with 160 years’ experience and an enviable reputation for speed, accuracy and market impact.

At a time when many media organizations are cutting back or shrinking, our strength is increasing globally due to electronic subscriptions from professionals in the financial markets, accountancy, tax, legal and media worlds. This has allowed us to expand our journalism program to be a global scheme, offering new journalists the chance of a career with Reuters while earning an attractive salary and company benefits. 
The Reuters Journalism Program, operating out of London, New York and Singapore, seeks candidates with the drive to become first-rate journalists and the skill to connect news events with the dynamics of the international financial markets.

Students will take part in several weeks of intensive classroom training then work on reporting teams in our regional newsrooms in London, New York and across Asia. You will hit the ground running—reporting and delivering news stories to exacting Thomson Reuters standards.

After the nine-month program, those who meet the performance standards will move to staff positions. They will be placed in one of our 200 newsrooms dotted across the globe, subject to business needs and language skills, and assigned a mentor to help guide their career here.
Download a flyer regarding the program.  

Are you a good fit?

We’re looking for:

• Early-career journalists and financial professionals or final year students/recent graduates of journalism, economics, business or languages.
• A passion for journalism, with evidence of editorial work experience.
• Fluency in more than one language is a distinct advantage. Arabic, Russian, Mandarin or German are particularly welcome.  
• A proven interest in financial news and grasp of key economic trends.
• A strong academic record at the bachelor’s or master’s degree level.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to take part in interviews and half-day assessment events. The number of students offered positions will depend on the quality of the applicants and the business needs of Thomson Reuters in the recruitment year.

How do you apply?

Apply online.
Applications will open for the 2013 intake on September 20th and close on December 14th.
A few tips for completing your application:

• Please ensure you complete all of the pre-screening questions.
• Your CV should be no more than two pages long and written in English.
• Attach a cover letter of no more than one page to explain your interest in a career with us and why you would be a good candidate for the journalism program.
• Applicants should apply to their home region with exceptions only considered for relevant advanced language skills or specialist regional knowledge.

More information: http://careers.thomsonreuters.com/Students/Bachelors-Masters/Europe/Reuters-Journalism-Program/

Mitrovica Winter University 2013

Mitrovica Winter University 2013 is an six-courses educational program which brings together local and international professors and around 150 students. This year, Mitrovica Winter University 2013 (MWU13) will be organized for the sixth time! We are looking for highly motivated students, who want to participate in the MWU13 and to make it an unforgettable experience. 

Mitrovica Winter University 2013 will be held in Mitrovica between the 21st of January and the 1st of February 2013. Continuing with the original format, the program for MWU13 will bring together local and international professors and students, providing an opportunity to learn and share experiences. Approximately 150 students can participate:  90 local students, 35 students from South East Europe and 25 from EU and beyond.

MWU 2013 offers 6 intensive academic courses of 2 weeks taught by international professors together with local professors. The courses will be cover different fields such as political, social, medicine, environment, economical science, art and information technologies. All courses will be taught in English, though some courses will be translated into Serbian.

The following courses will take place during the MWU 2013:

1. EU Enlargement and Migration
2. Emergency Medical Conditions
3. E–Marketing
4. Contemporary European Film and Production
5. Business Psychology and Management
6. Green Architecture and Urban Design
 

Successful participants will gain an official Certificate of the Mitrovica Winter University which includes between 3 to 4 ECTS credits.

The two-week courses are organized together with cultural excursions and a recreational program. In addition, public discussions, lectures and other interactive events on prominent issues in society will take place. MWU13 offers a unique opportunity to expand academic knowledge and skills, while enjoying an exciting international atmosphere.

Lectures and classes are tuition free.

You are invited to apply online before the 14th of December 2012.

For more information concerning the programme or the application process, please visit
www.my-program.org or contact us at mwu13@spark-online.org

Surviving Culture Shock When You Are Studying Abroad

Studying abroad can be an exciting experience as you get to travel to a new land and learn about new people and new customs. For many, the chance to live and study abroad is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. However, many students who study abroad suffer culture shock during their first weeks or months in their new country.

Culture shock is a feeling of disorientation of living in a new country. It can include feelings of loneliness, boredom, or even hostility toward the new culture. Culture shock can make it difficult to adjust to the new place and to enjoy the experience of studying abroad. Learning ways to cope with culture shock can  help you to adjust quickly and create an enjoyable experience that you can remember for years to come.

Here are a few tips for how you can survive culture shock when you are studying abroad.

Research before You Go

Take the time to research your new city and country before you leave and learn as much about the new place as you can. Doing so will help you become more familiar with the place and know what to expect, making the place and the customs seem less "strange" or "different." 

Take the time to learn about social customs and local traditions. Learn a few words or phrases in the new language (or a few slang expressions particular to the local culture if you already know the language). Look up what stores and attractions are near where you live, both for entertainment and for finding items that you need. The more you know before you leave, the less "shock" you are likely to experience when you arrive.

Adjust Your Expectations

Many students experience culture shock because they are unable to do the things they are accustomed to doing at home. This may include purchasing or ordering foods they are used to eating at home, getting around in the same manner (such as driving or driving on a certain side of the road), or being able to communicate in a certain way or rely on certain customs.

It is important to adjust your expectations before you go, preparing for the changes you are likely to encounter and coming to terms with the fact that things are likely to be very different than what you have come to expect in your own day-to-day life.

Be Flexible

An open mind can make difference in your experience. If you come to view certain local foods as "disgusting" or certain social customs as "strange" or "weird," you are more likely to view the local culture as foreign or even hostile.

Keeping an open mind can help you to more readily accept the new people and the new customs you are likely to encounter. Keeping an open mind can foster a spirit of tolerance, curiosity, and adventure, making the experience a much more enjoyable one.

Continue Previous Activities

By continuing to enjoy some of the activities you previously enjoyed, you can help create some stability and continuity that will make other changes easier to bear. If you were active before, continue to exercise by attending a local gym or participating in local sports. If you enjoyed hobbies at home, find the supplies or an outlet to continue that new hobby in your new culture.

Continuing some of these activities in your new home will help you to acclimate more quickly to your new routine and new surroundings while also enjoying something that you knew previously.

Culture shock can make adjusting to your new home more difficult, putting a damper on your study abroad experience. Finding ways to overcome culture shock can help you acclimate more quickly and get the most you can out of the experience.

How did you adjust to culture shock when you were studying abroad? Share your experiences in the comments!

Media Internship - Energy Strategy Center

ECF - European Climate Foundation

Brussels, Belgium

Background

The Energy Strategy Center (ESC) is the communications unit of the European Climate Foundation (ECF.)
The ECF aims to promote climate and energy policies that greatly reduce Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions and helps Europe play an even stronger international leadership role in mitigating climate change.
The role of the ESC is to act as a centre of expertise for communication on climate change. Its objective is to help create political, media and public endorsement for strong action to address climate change at an international, national and sector level. It applies expertise and resources to ensure that climate change issues are objectively and accurately reported and debated in the public space. The ESC aims not only to deliver communications and advocacy services, but also to build this capacity in the climate community.

General Job Description

The ESC is currently accepting applications for an enthusiastic individual to gain professional experience in climate change communications as a “Media Intern”.
We are offering a paid internship in Brussels for 6 months from 7 January 2013.
This is an exciting opportunity for a graduate/young professional with a sincere interest in climate and energy issues and the way they are interpreted and reported in the media. As part of the Media team, the candidate will work in the ECF’s Brussels Office and interact closely and work in support of all programmes of the ECF.

Media Intern Responsibilities

Assignments can vary depending on the strategic needs of the organisation, but the intern’s responsibilities will include some of the following tasks:

• Working with the Media team to support the communications and media needs of the ECF and its grantees;
• Development of a network of climate science communicators across various sectors and active management of this strategic outreach database;
• Making full use of online new media tools to further disseminate the messaging of the ECF and its grantees;
• Planning, promotion and coordination of conferences and events;
• Identification of suitable stories for developing into media pitches;
• Attending relevant events and seminars;
• Development and delivery of effective media strategies to drive progressive EU policy-making in the climate and energy field;
• Monitoring of the news agenda and reporting on specific coverage;
• Other ad hoc research work and administrative tasks;

Experience required

The ideal candidate will have the following practical qualifications:

• Demonstrated interest in the mission and values of the ECF;
• Professional experience and/or academic background in the fields of climate science, communications, energy, environmental issues, EU/international affairs or public policy;
• Proven experience in writing/editing and enthusiasm to help reframe the public and media debate around the issue of climate change;
• Good understanding of the EU policy-making processes and the media;
• Fast-learning self-starter comfortable in a fast-paced international environment;
• Ability to work both in a team and independently;
• Superior English written and verbal communication skills are essential; fluency in Spanish or Italian a distinct advantage; knowledge of other EU languages welcome.

What we offer

With this opportunity, we offer:

• An exciting international working environment;
• Valuable firsthand professional experience and development;
• An introduction to the ECF’s vast network of connections in the field;
• A sense of satisfaction from contributing to the global climate debate;
• Compensation in line with internship opportunities at EU institutions.

How to apply

Please send a CV, a short cover letter explaining why you think you would be suited to the role as well as your response to the below exercise by 7 Decto: employment@europeanclimate.org. Please type the title of the position and your last + first name as the e-mail's subject line. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Candidates must be in possession of valid work permit for Belgium.

2013/14 International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) at University of Adelaide in Australia

 International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) for International Students to Pursue Masters Degree by Research and Three Years for a Doctoral Research Degree  at University of Adelaide in Australia, 2013-2014
Study Subject(s): Subjects are Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Biological and Agriculture Sciences, Humanities, Law and Creative Arts, Mathematical, Information and Computing Sciences, Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences and Medical and Health Sciences
Course Level:  This scholarship is available for pursuing master’s degree by research and three years for a doctoral research degree.
Scholarship Provider: Commonwealth Government through the Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations (DEEWR).
Scholarship can be taken at:  Australia
Eligibility: -Applicants should hold at least the equivalent of an Australian First Class Honours degree. This is a four year degree with a major research project in the final year. Other criteria that will be taken into consideration is undergraduate performance, bachelor and honours awards and scholarships, other postgraduate degrees, publications in refereed journals, the presentation of conference papers and relevant industry experience.
- Applications for these scholarships are always highly competitive.  Generally IPRS recipients have completed a Masters degree including a significant research component and have several publications and relevant work and research experience.
Scholarship Open for International Students: The students of any nationality can apply for this scholarship.
Scholarship Description: The International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) scheme is funded by the Commonwealth Government through the Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations (DEEWR). Its purpose is to attract high quality overseas postgraduate students to areas of research strength in higher education institutions to support Australia’s research effort. Approximately 15 scholarships may be available in 2014 for international students from any country undertaking postgraduate research in areas of University research strengths.
Number of awards offered:  Approximately 15 scholarships may be available in 2014 for international students from any country.
Duration of award: Not Known
What does it cover?  -Course tuition fees for two years for a Masters degree by Research and three years for a Doctoral research degree (an extension is possible for doctoral programs only)
-All successful IPRS applicants will also receive an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) which provides an annual living allowance of approximately $23,728 (2012 value) for the normal duration of the program; and
-If the award holder holds a subclass 574 visa the award covers the cost of compulsory standard Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) World care policy for the student and their spouse and dependents (if any) for the period of the scholarship. If the award holder does not hold a subclass 574 visa then he/she is responsible for the cost of health insurance.
-Commonwealth scholarship holders are exempt from visa application fees.
Other Benefits: Not Known
Selection criteria: IPRS Scholarships will be awarded on academic merit and to applicants applying research strength. Extra-curricular achievements will not be considered.
Notification: Applicants will be notified by email by the end of November 2013 regarding the outcome of their scholarship application.
How to Apply: The mode of applying is online.
Scholarship Application Deadline: Do submit your applications till 31 August 2013.