The Transformational Leadership Program – Scholarships and Partnerships invites prospective Master’s level students to apply for this call for applications to study in the U.S.
The Transformational Leadership Program - Scholarships and Partnerships (TLP-SP) is implemented in partnership with World Learning, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The purpose of the program is to develop a cadre of leaders to drive significant change in Kosovo in priority economic, political, and social development areas.
Through this call for applications, it is anticipated that 75 scholarships for US based Master’s degree programs will be awarded to candidates pursuing studies in the following fields: Rule of Law, Public Administration, Engineering, Agriculture, Business Management,[1] Finance, Economics, Information Systems, Education, Gender and Interdisciplinary Studies.
Applicants will be nominated, recruited, and ultimately selected in a transparent manner based on objective criteria.
Eligibility criteria:
- Kosovo citizenship and current Kosovo residency;[2]
- A Bachelor’s degree;
- 7.5 cumulative GPA (lower GPA scores will not be considered);
- Ability to demonstrate professional aptitude and leadership potential in the selected field of specialization and to contribute to the future development of Kosovo;
- Ability to begin the Master’s program in the United States in the fall semester of 2015;
- English skills sufficient to pursue Master’s level studies in the US.
Those candidates chosen to receive TLP-SP scholarships must also fulfill the following requirements prior to being placed in a US Master’s degree program:
- Complete the TOEFL exam with a score of 80 or higher;
- Complete the GRE or GMAT exam, depending on academic program;[3]
- Possess a passport from Kosovo, valid minimum until December, 2017;
- Receive and maintain a U.S. J-1 exchange visitor visa
- Commit to return to Kosovo after the completion of the program to participate in a volunteer Citizens Corps Program for at least two years.
Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously earned a Master’s degree outside of Kosovo.
USAID and United States Government employees and their immediate family members[4] are not eligible to participate in the TLP-SP. Employees and immediate family members of USAID contractors, sub-contractors, grantees, and sub-grantees are not eligible for Participant Training programs if the contract, sub-contract, grant, or sub-grant was competitively awarded.
This program will not facilitate or authorize funding for dependents to travel. TLP-SP defines a dependent as the spouse or child of a TLP-SP participant.
Special emphasis will be placed on supporting promising Kosovars from underserved and disadvantaged populations with limited resources, such as women, minorities, LGBT persons, and people with disabilities.
The Application Form may be downloaded here. Interested applicants who meet the eligibility requirements should submit the Application Form and the documents listed below by email to apply@usaid-tlp-sp.org.
- Copy of a Kosovo passport or ID;
- Copy of all university diplomas received (Bachelor’s and Master’s)
- Copy of official transcripts and GPA scores (with English translation);
- Copy of a CV/resume;
- Two written references: one academic and one professional.
Application deadline: 26th of October, 2014
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
For more information on the TLP-SP and this call for applications please visit:www.usaid-tlp-sp.org.
Transformational Leadership Program – Scholarships and Partnerships provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment to all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.
[1] Strong preference will be given to applicants for Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degrees who have completed at least two years of post-Bachelor’s degree work experience before applying to TLP-SP.
[2] Candidates must be able to demonstrate that current physical residency outside Kosovo is temporary in nature, and that the applicant intends to return to Kosovo. Applicants must be physically present in Kosovo throughout the application, selection, and pre-departure preparation process.
[3] If the candidate has taken the TOEFL and/or GRE/GMAT exams in the last two years, these scores should be submitted with the Application Form.
[4] Immediate family members are spouse and children.
