The Role of Libraries in Education

(http://worldlibrary24.com/)My Library:::::: ‘Education’ and ‘library’ are two inseparable—indivisible concepts, both being fundamentally and syn-chronically related to and co-existent with each other. One cannot be separated from the other, and the existence of one is an impossibility without the other. None of them is an end in itself, rather both of them together are a means to an ultimate end. One dies as soon as the other perishes. One survives as long as the other exists. This inter-relation, this co-existence, this dependence of one upon the other have been coming down from the birth of human civilization to the posterity through a process of evolution in accord with varied needs, changes, and circumstances of various stages of human life. Education is an ‘aggregate of all the processes by means of which a person develops abilities, altitudes, and other forms of behaviour positive value in the society in which he lives.’1 According to Carter V. Good it is a ‘social process by which people are subjected to the influence of a selected and controlled environment (especially that of the school ) so that they may attain social competence and optimum individual development .2 Education is thus the result of acquired knowledge and the cumulation of observations and experiences, while a library is both the fountain and source, and the protector and storehouse of that knowledge and experience. Education cannot exist alone in the absence of library, and library has no meaning if it cannot impart education. Education is an eye-opener to a human being ;it gives him perfect, adequate knowledge, creates civic and rational sense, withdraws him from the subjection of low habits, selfish passions, and ignoble pursuits, and thus educes him from abysmal darkness to limpid and perspicuous enlightenment, while library is an instrument of self-education, a means of knowledge and factual information, a centre of intellectual recreation, and a beacon of enlightenment that provide accumulated—preserved knowledge of civilization which consequently enrich ones mental vision, and dignify his habit, behaviour, character, taste, attitude, conduct, and outlook on life. Library makes available all the records of knowledge of the past and ‘present, whereas a man acquires that conserved knowledge to choose as between good and bad, the right or wrong, which distinguish him from the other animals who have no rational power or thinking. A good—well-equipped library is a sine qua non for the intellectual, moral, and spiritual advancement and elevation of the people of a community. It is an indispensable element of the absolute well-being of the citizens and that of the nation at large. People acquire education through certain institutions, schools, agencies, welfare bodies, museums, and organizations, and library is the most outstanding of such institution ! A school, a club, an enterprise of a society can never alone impart education ; each of them is dependent upon a library—a centre of wholesome education, and the quencher of thirst for concrete, fathomless, ultimate knowledge ! Library does not mean merely a collection of books. It is a learned institution equipped with treasures of knowledge maintained, organized, and managed by trained personnels to educate the children, men and women continuously and assist in their self-improvement through an effective and prompt dissemination of information embodied in the resources. A research scholar can never successfully conduct his investigations and researches without the help of a library and a librarian. Librarian, as an “information officer” or a “scientific officer” possesses, of necessity, definite subject background and knows best the subject area to be covered by an investigator in his narrow field of the problem in hand that he wants to attack ! He is a best teacher to guide him with all existing up-to-date possible sources including various articles in research journals, periodicals, etc., as well as the rare information available in rare books, microfilms, microfiche, manuscripts, and the like. He can guide him most effectively and comprehensively with the bibliographies, indexes, abstracts, data-books and such innumerable reference sources and bibliographical apparatus which the investigator might, otherwise, be unaware of. Here a professionally trained efficient librarian plays a most significant role in the achievement of modern scientific discoveries. The importance of an up-to-date library in the projection of research studies can thus be very scarcely overemphasized. The scope of a library as an effective aid to study and education is virtually multitudinous. There are different types of libraries, viz., (a) Special library, (b) Public library and (c) Academic library which contribute to education in various different ways. Before accounting their role in education abruptly, it may be pertinent here to recall the definitions of these various kinds of institutions which are not often self-explanatory to the general public at which my present endeavour is primarily aimed, so that the various parts played by them in the furtherence of education can be distinctly and succinctly gleaned. Academic libraries, comprise of school libraries, college libraries, and university libraries whose prime objective is to meet the academic needs of the particular institution for which it is created to serve. The purpose of a university library differs, in varying degree, from that of a school or college library in that the former adheres extensive and particular emphasis to research projects apart from the curricular needs of the institution. Besides aiding in the studies of children and assisting the teachers in their teaching and periodical research , 3,4,5 a school library is primarily concerned to pro-create an urge for reading amongst the children who here get a first-hand-knowledge to use the library resources most effectively in their future career. This institution serves to build up a strong mental base and character of the children. A public library which is very often called a ”peoples’ university”,6 is a democratic institution operated for the people by the people that conserves and organizes human know. ledge in order to place it freely in the service of the community without any distinction of occupation, creed, class, or race. It is a university of the people since it is maintained and financed by the people of the community who freely throng in this institution and acquire knowledge that they need in their day-to-day life. The scope or command of a public library that meets not specific but general requirements of the public thus remains quite broader in its vision. It differs from the other types of libraries in that by offering opportunities of informal self-education it inculcates reading habit amongst all types of general readers and, as a consequence, maintains a sizeable collection of light literatures, i.e., fictions, novels, story books, etc., for recreational studies, and a children’s corner equipped with juvenile literature. Among its broad based functions to perform in educating the general public as well as the children, the following ones can be quoted : 7,8,9 a. it facilitates informal self-education of all people in the community ; b. enriches and further develops the subjects on which individuals are undertaking formal education ; c. meets the informational needs of all ; d. creates and further develops civic sense and habits of the citizens ; e. supports educational, civic, and cultural activities of groups and organizations ; f. encourages wholesome recreation and constructive use of leisure time g. provides children, young people, men and women opportunity to : (i) educate themselves continuously, (ii) keep abreast of progress in all fields of knowledge, and (iii) maintain freedom of expression and constructively critical attitude to all public issues and world affairs. Contrary to this, a special library, which is concerned with ‘ literature of a particular subject or group of subjects’,10 is an institution which is ‘created to serve the needs of some working organization, either a company, a research association or a government department’.11 It is often established ‘to save time which the staff, either executive or research, would otherwise employ searching for information’.12 Paul Wasserman has rightly asserted that the “special libraries have never had subtle or indirect aims ; unlike public or college libraries, their mandate is almost always clearer and sharper, and consequently their objectives normally seem more tangible, more realistic, even perhaps more attainable in the pragmatic sense of the term, than those of other types of libraries. The special library has been historically, and remains today, an integral, functioning unit of the organization in which it is found, dedicated to the proposition that it exists only to offer the information which the organization needs in order to build, prosper, advance, and achieve its ultimate ends.” The highly specialized libraries do necessarily contain certain amount of materials on bordering or allied subjects for instance, the library of the Institute of Business Administration should include such subjects as economics, statistics, banks and banking, etc., beside the all embracing term ‘business and commerce’. The library of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics should again contain materials on accountancy, banking and finance, and statistics, while a library specially concerned with the literature relating to television engineering should contain materials on optics and lighting, beside the primarily concerned term ‘electronics’. This happens so usually in a special library for it aims at making available all the possible related materials on a particular topic chosen by a research scholar for research project. A special library which is specialized in a particular field of knowledge differs in its mandate from other types of libraries on the following grounds : a. periodical literature is of prime importance and forms the major part of the collection (about 90 p.c.) b. reports, standards, specifications form a considerable quantity ; c. it files information rather than material’ which calls for the introduction of special techniques ( mechanical indexing, information retrieval system, etc.) for organization ; d. information here are most up-to-date more than the textbooks, periodical literatures or published reports ; c. it ensures quickest dissemination of information. It is evident from the above that the different types of libraries play a significant role on different styles in educating the citizenry of a nation. The utility of a library in education can at once be felt and generalized particularly when we look into the educational conditions of the poor. The most flagrant aspect of the predicament of the poor people in Pakistan is that their children are subjected to woefully inefficient public education. The degree of reading retardation among the children of rejected and oppressed peoples throughout the nation is traumatically alarming. This is due to their poverty that culminates in their inability to purchase valuable books and also to bear heavy expenses of tuition fees, etc. With the help of the libraries we may very well lodge a “war” or campaign against this poverty for which the education has remained handicapped and limited to the people of the upper strata of our society. Libraries make available all the relevant books and other materials almost free of cost, and the children of the poor and the rich alike can derive equal amount of advantages out of this free service that helps in pursuing constructive education. While writing on the role of librarians in the “Relevant War Against Poverty”, Kenneth B. dark observes that the “librarians can contribute significantly to this struggle for unqualified humanity in a number of ways directly related to their specific concern with books and reading.14 “The librarian”, he contends, “is the guardian of books which communicate our cultural heritage, and be is generally seen as the custodian of the chronicles of the human struggle for understanding the joys and tragedies, poetry, the satires, which attempt to plumb the various levels of human experience. 15 Apart from this the public libraries render a yeoman service in the adult education through extension services and audio-visual aids, viz., story hours, lectures, book exhibitions, displays, book weeks, and motion pictures, newsreels, film strips, music scores, phonorecocds, and the like. These aids save people from the hackneyed monotony of perusing books, and teach them practically on the spot. They are also an aid to mass education of those who cannot read or write. This is of particular importance to the overwhelming illiterate people (above 80 p.c.) living in the villages. The traveling libraries are also of particular significance here since they carry the books to those remote areas of villages and towns where education could not thrive due to the absence of reading materials and reading centres. A library has been the chief conserver of knowledge achieved by men in their intellectual pursuits that helps in generating new ideas and discoveries, while ‘education’ is an art of making available to each generation the organized knowledge of the past. Louis Round Wilson and M. F. Tauber have rightly opined that “the process of social change are inter-woven in the facts, ideas, and interventions of man ; and each new idea or invention grows out of accumulated and conserved knowledge”.16 A library is not, however, merely a conserver of the past events, experiences, and knowledge. ‘The preservation of the physical object called the “book”, for example, may not be important in itself. What is important is for the library to transmit to the incoming generations the ideas which the book contains.’17 Through the instructional staff of the academic institutions the knowledge and ideas conserved by a library are revitalized arid put to use in the education of youth who are to be leaders in society and workers in the field of research, and through the methods of research the students are given an opportunity for independent works, and then the libraries and laboratories become unescapable and vital aids in an endeavour which is directed toward the expansion of man’s fund of knowledge. While the library makes this direct contribution to the advancement of knowledge, it serves as the principal training ground for those who undertake investigations in the fields of science, technology, industry, and the like. Thus the libraries have an essential and close bearing upon the advancement of education and learning at all levels for all the times to come.

A. INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP LINKS

Scholarships Links

In case you are looking for information about scholarships for your further studies, the attached list of scholarship links may be helpful.

International Education Financial Aid (IEFA)IEFA is a resource for financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for US and international students wishing to study abroad.
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International StudentAn international student and study abroad website that provides news, information, resources for international students to prepare them for a study abroad experience.

ScholarshipnetA website that provides information about international scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships for free.

Science CareersThe Science Careers website contains a section on funding sources for training in the sciences.

Higher Education Council (HEC), Government of PakistanThis website includes a long list of scholarships for Pakistani and international students.

World Bank
The Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program has recently been restructured to provide awards for Master's degrees in Public Policy at Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University.

The Joint Japan/ World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP), sponsored by the government of Japan, awards scholarships to individuals from World Bank member countries to undertake graduate studies at universities renowned for their development research and teaching.  Applicants must submit evidence of current unconditional admission (copy of formal admission letter) to at least one development-related university Master's degree program and proof of application to another university located in any World Bank member country except the applicant's country. They should be between 25 and 45 years of age, hold a Bachelor’s degree with superior grades and have at least two, preferably four to five, years of recent full-time professional work experience after a university degree in the their home country or in another developing country and usually in the public sector.
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Asian Development BankThe Asian Development Bank (ADB) - Japan Scholarship Program (JSP) aims to provide an opportunity for well-qualified citizens of ADB'sdeveloping member countries to pursue postgraduate studies in economics, management, science and technology, and other development-related fields at participating academic institutions in the Asian and Pacific Region.  View website

The Rotary Foundation
Promoting Rotary's goal of world peace, goodwill, and understanding, the Rotary Foundation's Educational Programs include Ambassadorial Scholarships, Grants for University Teachers, Group Study Exchange, and Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution, and Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program. Information and application materials are available from their website or by email.

Ford Foundation The Ford Foundation’s International Fellowships Program (IFP) provides support for up to three years of formal graduate-level study leading to a Masters or doctoral degree. Fellows are selected from countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Russia, where the Ford Foundation maintains active overseas programs. US nationals are not eligible, although fellows may study in the United States.

Fellows are chosen on the basis of their leadership potential and commitment to community or national service, as well as for academic excellence. Fellows may enroll in Master’s or doctoral programs and may pursue any academic discipline or field of study that is consistent with the interests and goals of the Ford Foundation. The Foundation currently works in 15 fields to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement.

Once selected, fellows may enroll in an appropriate university program anywhere in the world, including their country of residence. The program provides placement assistance to those fellows not yet admitted to graduate school.

IFP support also enables fellows to undertake short-term language study and training in research and computer skills prior to graduate school enrollment. In addition, new fellows attend orientation sessions, while current fellows actively participate in learning and discussion activities designed to create information and exchange networks among IFP fellows worldwide. Finally, the program strongly encourages IFP alumni to maintain contact with the program after completing the fellowships to help them remain current in their respective fields through the expanding IFP network. View website

The Shell Centenary Scholarships (TSCSF) (in the UK) Royal Dutch Shell Centenary Scholarships (in the Netherlands)
Shell Centenary Chevening Scholarships 
Under various Masters programmes, the Shell Centenary Scholarship Fund (TSCSF) offers postgraduate students from developing countries the opportunity to study in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Each year nearly 90 students are given major scholarships (for one year in the UK, and for two years in NL).

Partners in the scheme are the University of Cambridge, Durham University, The University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, University of Leeds, The University of Oxford and University College London in the UK, and with Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology and University of Twente in the Netherlands. These universities also contribute to the funding of scholarships.
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A number of scholarships are also jointly funded with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and are known as Shell Centenary Chevening Scholarships.

Colombo Plan AwardsColombo Plan Awards are open to nationals of the following Asian and Pacific countries, among others: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and the US. Applications should be made through the appropriate authority, usually the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the candidate's home country. View website

Open Society Institute (OSI) and Soros Foundation NetworkOSI provides a variety of scholarships in the humanities and social sciences to students from the former Soviet countries, including partial grants and shared Chevening scholarships for study at UK universities. The Soros Foundation has offices in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and the Open Society in Russia and Tajikistan. View website

B.  COUNTRY SPECIFIC SCHOLARSHIP LINKS
Students should consult the embassy website of the country where they wish to study as well as the website of the university where they will be studying to find out about available scholarships.

Australia
Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) provide opportunities for people from selected developing countries to undertake post-secondary level study in Australia. View website

Canada General information about international and Canadian scholarship programmes can be found on www.scholarships-bourses-ca.org. 

Commonwealth Scholarship Plan

Scholarships for full-time studies/research are tenable in Canadian universities and are open to men and women who are citizens of another Commonwealth country and who are normally resident in any part of the Commonwealth other than Canada. Scholarships are awarded for a period of 12 months to undertake work in a Canadian university on a Master's or doctoral degree and may be renewed for one additional year. In Canada, it normally takes two years to complete a Master's degree program and a minimum of three to four years for a doctoral program. Non-renewable scholarships to undertake research in Canada for up to 12 months are also available to assist individuals who are enrolled in a doctoral program at a university in their home country, or a third country.  Each scholarship is intended to cover the expenses of travel, living and study, for the scholar only.  The application form for most of the participating countries is available at : www.csfp-online.org.

Aga Khan Education Board Canada’s site, www.educationboard.ca, provides scholarship links under the "Educational Funding" menu.  It focuses on links to free scholarship databases where individuals can enter specific criteria to find scholarships that are most relevant to them.  For example, the University of Waterloo scholarship website enables domestic and international students to find scholarships for study around the world at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Aga Khan Foundation Canada’s International Development Scholarship (IDS) Programme

Aga Khan Foundation Canada provides fully funded scholarships for Master's level courses to mid-career professionals in AKDN institutions who wish to upgrade their skills at selected institutions of higher learning in Canada. It is anticipated that such professionals will return to their country of origin and use their newly acquired knowledge for the benefit of their institutions, and in support of social and economic development. Applications forms are available from Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) representatives in their country of residence. The deadline for submission of applications is March 31.

European UnionErasmus Mundus provides EU-funded scholarships for Master’s studies at EU universities for third country nationals as well as scholarships for EU-nationals studying in third countries. View website

FranceThe Eiffel Scholarship Programme of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provides financial aid to foreign students nominated by the school of higher education in which they are pursuing their studies.  The  objective of the programme is to offer training at French higher education centres for future public- and private-sector decision-makers in three priority areas: engineering, economics & management and law & political science.  The scholarship covers living expenses and travel.  In the case of applications from students who do not have adequate knowledge of the French language, the Eiffel programme will cover preparatory language training of up to one year as requested by the French higher education centre with which the student is enrolled.  The age limit is 30. The programme is managed by the organisation Egide for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. View website

Germany
The DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst or German Academic Exchange Service) awards scholarships and grants for study at German universities and research institutes with funding from the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Funding is provided to students, student trainees and interns, doctoral students, and academics and researchers.
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IndiaThe Inlaks Foundation
Grants are provided to Indian citizens who are resident in India for up to two years at top American, European and UK institutions, for degrees in all kind of subjects, except Engineering, Computer Sciences, Management, English Literature, Indian History, Urban Design and Philosophy. Candidates must be below 30 years of age and have admission to their proposed course of studies before applying.  The scholarship covers for the period granted tuition fees, adequate living expenses and one-way travel.

Application forms are available from 10th January to 15th April from Inlaks Foundation, P.O. Box 2108, Delhi - 110 007. They must be completed by the candidate and submitted at the same address by 15th of April.
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The Charles Wallace India Trust
Postgraduate grants are given to Indian citizens, domiciled and resident in India and aged between 25 and 38 years, in six areas of study: visual and performing arts, architectural and materials conservation, museum studies and curatorship, English studies, humanities and journalism.
Awards are managed through the British Council in India and full information can be found on the Council's website.

JN Tata Endowment Fund
The JN Tata Endowment awards loan scholarships to Indian nationals for Postgraduate/PhD/Post doctoral studies abroad.  Only those students who have graduated from an Indian university are eligible to apply.  Applicants must have a consistently high academic record and other achievements to their credit. View website

The Education Observer website:http://www.educationobserver.com/scholarships.htm provides a list of scholarships available for Indian students by study field and country.

Netherlands
Nuffic is the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education. View website

The Netherlands Student Grantfinderhttp://www.grantfinder.nl/content/index.asp is an online search engine for those who want to study in the Netherlands and are looking for financial aid. The Grantfinder contains information on a range of Dutch scholarships for foreign students. More information on studying in the Netherlands can be found on www.studyin.nl

PakistanHigher Education Commission (HEC) website gives information about scholarships available for Pakistani students for foreign study.

Switzerland The Swiss government provides scholarships for foreign students through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students.  These scholarships are offered on the basis of reciprocity (fixed number of scholarships for each country) or within the frame of a scholarship pool (scholarships without fixed distribution by country). They are intended for postgraduate students who, by staying in Switzerland, will be able to further their education and to undertake research work in the fields in which the Swiss universities are particularly active.  Scholarships are also offered for postgraduate studies at the Universities of Applied Sciences.   Application forms can be obtained from the Ministry of Education or institution in charge of scholarships in the country of origin of the candidate or from the Swiss diplomatic representation.
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A resource for general scholarship information for study in Switzerland, including Rotary International Foundation, Ford Foundation, International Federation of University Women and Swiss Association of University Women: http://www.ucihl.org/teaching/master_scholarships.php

TajikistanEdmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program (Muskie) is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State, and administered by IREX.  Muskie provides opportunities for Master’s level study in the United States to citizens from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Participants are selected through an open, merit-based competition.

Eligible program fields include the following: Business Administration, Economics, Education, Environmental Management, International Affairs, Journalism and Mass Communications, Law, Library and Information Science, Public Administration, Public Health, and Public Policy.

The fellowship is fully funded and provides the following: U.S. J-1 visa support, round-trip airfare from the fellow’s home city in Eurasia to host institution in the United States, a monthly stipend, accident and sickness insurance, tuition and mandatory university fees, a limited allowance for books, pre-academic English language training (if necessary), and a wide variety of alumni networking and training opportunities.

Applications may be obtained and submitted by contacting the IREX offices and IREX-administered IATP Access throughout Tajikistan:

• IREX, 40 Pushkin St., Dushanbe, tel: (372) 24-58-20, 24-58-65, e-mail:muskie@irex.tj
• IATP Access Site in Dushanbe, Garm, Khorog, Khujand, Kulyab, Kurgan Tube, and Penjikent
• Applications can be downloaded from www.irex.org orhttp://www.irex.tj/eng/muskie.php.
• Applications can be completed and submitted on-line athttp://www.irex.org/programs/muskie/index.asp

United KingdomThe British Council website provides information on all aspects of studying in the UK, including BC scholarships and other sources of funding and support.

British Chevening Scholarships
These scholarships, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and administered by the British Council, are prestigious awards which enable overseas students to study in the United Kingdom. Scholarships are offered in over 150 countries and enable talented graduates and young professionals to become familiar with the UK and gain skills which will benefit their countries. The Chevening programme currently provides around 2,300 new scholarships each year for postgraduate studies or research at UK Institutions of Higher Education.

Chevening runs a website for people interested in the scholarship programme called About Chevening. It contains information and guidelines about the scholarship programme, gives details on who is eligible for scholarships, how to apply and contains links to the entire UK education resource which helps students identify the right course of study for them. View website

Canon Collins TrustCanon Collins Trust awards approximately 20-30 postgraduate scholarships to the UK for southern African students each year. Scholarships fall under several different schemes, with some administered in partnership with the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office and UK universities.  All scholarships are for postgraduate study for one academic year. Full scholarships, including maintenance and tuition fees, or partial grants are provided for taught/research Masters programmes.  All applicants must be committed to returning to southern Africa upon completion of their studies and using the knowledge, training and skills acquired in the UK for the general benefit of their home community and country. Applications for all subject areas will be considered however scholarships for academic programmes which are relevant to the needs of southern Africa will be prioritised. Students are expected to apply independently to British universities. View website

Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan (CSFP)
The Plan aims to provide a network of study opportunities throughout the Commonwealth. The selection of candidates is a partnership between home and host country. When a country decides to offer awards, this is notified to those countries whose citizens will be eligible. The participation of each country is organised by a national nominating agency. Applicants should apply to the nominating agency in their own country in the first instance. In most cases, the agency is part of - or appointed by - government agencies, though in the case of some award categories, the functions are filled by other bodies, such as individual universities or their representative bodies. View website

Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme (ORSAS)
ORSAS awards offer international postgraduate students the opportunity to carry out a broad range of research at well-established UK academic institutions of worldwide recognition. ORSAS awards provide funding to pay the difference between the international student tuition fees and the home/EU student tuition fees charged by the academic institution that the student attends. ORSAS awards do not cover the home/EU fee element, maintenance or travel expenses.  ORSAS awards are intended for students of full-time postgraduate research study only. Prospective applicants should contact institutions directly for information on how to apply for an ORSAS award. View website

The Rhodes Scholarships tenable at the University of Oxford
The Rhodes Scholarships, the oldest international fellowships, were initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, and bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford. View website

Intellectual distinction is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for election to a Rhodes Scholarship. Selection committees are charged to seek excellence in qualities of mind and in qualities of person which, in combination, offer the promise of effective service to the world in the decades ahead.

Rhodes Scholars are elected for two years of study at the University of Oxford, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. All educational costs, such as matriculation, tuition, laboratory and certain other fees, are paid on the Scholar's behalf by the Rhodes Trustees. Each Scholar receives in addition a maintenance allowance adequate to meet necessary expenses for term-time and vacations. The Rhodes Trustees cover the necessary costs of travel to and from Oxford, and upon application, may approve additional grants for research purposes or study-related travel.

Gates Cambridge ScholarshipsThrough a donation by the Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge, the  Gates Cambridge Trust was established to provide grants to outstanding graduate students from outside the United Kingdom to study at the university. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of outstanding academic merit, leadership potential and commitment of scholars to serving their communities.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships are awarded to students who gain admission to the University of Cambridge through the University's regular procedures. They cover the full cost of study at Cambridge for a single person - namely, all approved University and College tuition fees, a maintenance allowance, a further discretionary allowance for study-related activities and one return economy airfare between the UK and the scholar’s normal country of residence. View website

Karim Rida Said Foundation
The Karim Rida Said Foundation provides grants to students from the Arab countries, including Syria, for study at UK universities.  The Foundation has partnership schemes with the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, University College London, Nottingham University, the University of St Andrews and the University of Glasgow. The KRSF is able to provide full or partial scholarships for Masters degrees depending on the level of financial need or whether other grants are available to applicants.

In Syria, applications are handled by the British Council at:
Maysaloon Street Shaalan
PO Box 33105
Damascus
Tel: 00 963 11 331 0631
Fax: 00 963 11 3321467
Website for general information

US-UK Fulbright Commission
The US-UK Fulbright Commission provides up to 11 awards to US citizens to fund the first year of a master's or doctorate degree or to pursue research at an educational institution within the UK. The awards cover tuition fees, a maintenance stipend and accident and sickness insurance for one academic year, usually beginning in mid-late September (approximately 9 months).  All applications for a Fulbright award to the UK must be made via the Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York. For more information and an application pack please contact IIE at:
809 United Nations Plaza
New York
NY 10017- 3580
Tel: (001) 212 984 5330
Website:www.iie.org/fulbrighthttp://www.fulbright.co.uk/awards/us/postgrad/index.html

British Marshall Scholarships
Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the UK.  At least 40 scholars are selected each year to study either at graduate or occasionally undergraduate level at an UK institution in any field of study. Each scholarship is held for two years.
The scholarship covers university fees, cost of living expenses, annual book grant, thesis grant, research and daily travel grants, fares to and from the United States and, where applicable, a contribution towards the support of a dependent spouse. View website

British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG)
British Federation of Women Graduates makes awards to women graduates undertaking pre-doctorate research in Great Britain (i.e. all of the United Kingdom except Northern Ireland) on the basis of academic excellence. These awards are made without reference to financial need.  Most awards are open to any field of study. Typically, awards will range up to GBP 3,000. For inquiries about eligibility, one may contact the Secretary of BFWG, by e-mail at awards@bfwg.demon.co.uk.
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Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund (UK)
Awards of between GBP 500 and GBP 2,500 are made to Canadian men and women for academic and artistic studies in the UK.  Applicants must be currently enrolled in a postgraduate programme and at the time of applying be attending a full-time UK university or similar institution, and have completed at least one term of study.  These awards are exclusively for students who have already commenced their studies in the UK.
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Michael Peacock Charitable Foundation scholarships at the London School of Economics  The Michael Peacock Charitable Foundation provides five scholarships per year to students from post-Soviet countries who have been accepted for postgraduate courses at the London School of Economics.  Information can be found on the LSE website. The intention behind these scholarships is to aid the transition of former Soviet countries to market economies with Western style democratic institutions. The Peacock Scholarships are awarded to candidates of outstanding academic merit who are able to demonstrate how their studies at the LSE will make a genuine contribution towards their country's future development. Scholars are asked to give an undertaking to return to their home countries for further study or work on completion of their period at the LSE and to provide a clear statement of the work they intend to pursue. Interested candidates should apply for admission to a Master’s programme at the School following the School’s normal admission procedures. Applications for admission must reach the Graduate Admissions Office in sufficient time for a formal offer of a place to be made by 28 April 2006. The value of the scholarships will vary depending on the financial circumstances of the successful candidates.  The average award is approximately GBP 23,000.

USAFinAid, the SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid, provides information on scholarships, loans and other forms of aid at:  http://www.finaid.org/

The American Association of University Women (AAUW)
The AAUW’s International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research to women who are not United States citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate study at accredited institutions are supported. View website

The Margaret McNamara Memorial FundThe Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund provides grants for women from the developing countries who are committed to improving the lives of women and children in their home countries.  Applicants must already be living in the US and enrolled in the program for which they intend to sue the grant. View website

Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program This programme confers fellowships for Master’s degree-level study in the US in the fields of business administration, economics, education, environmental policy and management, international affairs, journalism/mass communications, law, library and information science, public administration, public health and public policy for students and professionals from Eurasia. Candidates are recruited through a merit-based competition administered by the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX).

The Johns Hopkins Sommer Scholars Program
The Hopkins Sommer Scholars program supports up to 15 Master of Public Health and 15 doctoral students each year at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The program seeks individuals who have demonstrated innate leadership skills and want to channel those skills in the direction of public health. Applicants may include writers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, politicians, business executives, journalists, engineers, financial analysts, economists and others who want to make a difference in the world and are seeking the tools to do so effectively.  Their training will enable them to confront the world's complex health issues by pursuing critical discovery and its translation into effective health policies and programs. More information

US Government-sponsored Education Exchange Agencies - America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST)
AMIDEAST provides English language and professional skills training, educational advising, and testing services to students and professionals in the Middle East and North Africa, and administers educational exchange programs.  AMIDEAST is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has a network of field offices in the Arab countries, including Syria.
Website: http://www.amideast.org

• International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX)
  IREX facilitates the international exchange of students, scholars, and professionals through educational advising; standardised testing; study, research, and internships abroad; and fellowship administration.  IREX is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has offices in the following AKDN countries: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Russia, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan. View website
• American Councils for International Education (ACTR)
  ACTR/ACCELS works to advance education, research, and mutual understanding between the US and Eurasian countries, such as, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan by focusing on academic exchanges and professional training. View website

International Scholarship Programme

The 2013-2014 International Scholarship Programme application cycle is now open. Applications forms can be obtained from AKF offices or Aga Khan Education Services/Boards in your country of current residence.

Before contacting the AKDN, please read the information below. Addresses and contact information are available under Application Procedures. In case you are looking for information about scholarships for your further studies, this list of scholarship links may be helpful.

The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies. Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant : 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year in June or July. The Foundation gives priority to requests for Master's level courses but is also willing to consider applications for PhD programmes, when doctoral degrees are necessary for the career objectives of the student. Requests will also be considered for travel and study awards for PhD students doing their research in Third World countries on topics judged to be of interest to the Aga Khan Development Network. Applications for short-term courses are not considered; neither are applications from students who have already started their course of study.

Geographic Scope
The Foundation accepts applications from countries where it has branches, affiliates or other AKDN agencies which can help with processing applications and interviewing applicants. At present, these are Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgystan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Madagascar, France, Portugal, UK, USA and Canada.

Selection Criteria
The main criteria for selecting award winners are: l) excellent academic records, 2) genuine financial need, 3) admission to a reputable institution of higher learning and 4) thoughtful and coherent educational and career plans. Candidates are also evaluated on their extra-curricular interests and achievements, potential to achieve their goals and likelihood to succeed in a foreign academic environment. Applicants are expected to have some years of work experience in their field of interest.

Age Limit
Preference is given to students under 30 years of age.

Financial Assistance
The Foundation assists students with tuition fees and living expenses only. The cost of travel is not included in AKF scholarships. Applicants are requested to make every effort to obtain funding from other sources as well, so that the amount requested from the Foundation can be reduced to a minimum. Preference is given to those who have been able to secure some funding from alternative sources.

Loan Conditions
Half of the scholarship amount is considered as a loan, which must be reimbursed with an annual service charge of 5%. A guarantor is required to co-sign the loan agreement. The payback period is five years, starting six months after the study period funded by the Aga Khan Foundation.

Application Procedures
The application procedures of AKF's International Scholarship Programme are decentralised. Students may obtain application forms as of January 1st each year from AKF offices or Aga Khan Education Services / Boards in their countries of current residence. Completed applications should be returned to the agency from which the form was obtained, or to the address indicated on the front of the form. They should not be sent to Geneva. The deadline for submission of applications is March 31, although in certain countries internal deadlines may be earlier.

Applicants should be prepared to be interviewed by local Scholarship Committees about their financial situation, their academic performance, extra-curricular achievements and career plans. Interview reports are sent with the applications to Geneva for the final selection.

The annual Scholarship Selection Meeting takes place in late June or early July and the Aga Khan Foundation notifies all students of the outcome of their application shortly thereafter.

Save The Bangladeshi Children

Save the Children has worked in Bangladesh since 1970, providing relief during and after the war for independence from Pakistan. Since then, we’ve improved thousands of children’s lives by focusing on better nutrition, health and education. Challenges for Children Sponsorship Health and Nutrition Emergency Response Challenges for Children Life is difficult for families in Bangladesh. The country is riddled with malnutrition, illiteracy and infectious diseases — due in great part to abject poverty among about half of the country’s 150 million people. Tropical monsoons, frequent floods and cyclones inflict heavy damage annually to this impoverished nation. Over a third of the population is under the age of 18 and almost seven million children between five and 14 have to work to help their families survive. While Bangladesh has made significant progress in addressing national health and education challenges over the past three decades of its independence, the country remains one of the world’s poorest; indicators place it amongst the least developed countries. Sponsorship In 2003, Save the Children began implementing sponsorship-funded programs targeting children and adolescents. The adolescent reproductive and sexual health (ARSH) program, called KAISHAR (“adolescence” in Bangla), planned its activities in all 13 unions with initial concentration on six unions of Nasirnagar. Health and Nutrition Chronic hunger is made worse by high rates of disease – particularly in children. Malnutrition has lifelong consequences – malnourished children are more likely to become ill more often and perform poorly in school. Women who are malnourished are more likely to give birth to small or underweight babies – repeating this dangerous cycle. Malnutrition in childhood is also associated with developmental delays, lower economic productivity and susceptibility to chronic disease into adulthood. These limitations are compounded when populations are forced to seek their livelihoods in remote and disaster-prone areas where they are at high risk each year. Emergency Response In November 2007, Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh, leaving 200,000 families homeless. Save the Children quickly set up 40 spaces where children could learn and play and provided 13,000 children with a nutritious meal every day and clean drinking water. We also provided temporary shelter for 3,000 children and their families, and supplied teaching and play materials to 500 preschools attended by nearly 53,000 children. Sources Unless otherwise noted, facts and statistics have been sourced from Save the Children’s 2012 State of the World’s Mothers report. You can access detailed data here. Other sources as follows: Infant Mortality Rate: CIA World Factbook 2012; Life Expectancy at Birth: World Bank's World Development Indicators 2012; National Poverty Rate: World Bank's World Development Indicators 2012; Population: CIA World Factbook 2012; Human Development Index Rank: United Nations Development Program Last Updated July 2012

Petitioning Mr. N Shravan Kumar DM, Patna: Ensure justice for Chanchal Paswan #chanchalacidattack

Four men threw acid on Chanchal Paswan, 19 and her sister,15 while they were asleep, on 21/10/2012. This happened because Chanchal boldly opposed continuous sexual harassment by these men. In the video, Chanchal and her family are seen talking about the incident and they want this appeal to go public.

Anil, Ghanshyam, Baadal and Raj had been harassing Chanchal and her family for a long time. They would follow her on the streets, in the autorickshaw and would pass vulgar comments and harass her, sometimes even sexually. When she refused to give in to their demands, they brutally threw acid on her.

The four perpetrators have been arrested by the police. Chanchal is 19 years old and an earning member of the family, the paswan family still waits on her speedy trial. They are also spending money on Chanchal's medicines, instead of the state and both the sisters have got less compensation than they deserve- because the police hasn't taken her officialnstatement under section 164, yet.

For the last four months the Paswan family has been waiting for justice, going from one court to another, Chanchal needs your support in getting speedy justice and compensation. Specially after the Justice Verma Committee report and last years Delhi gang rape case, the Chief Justice of India has asked for stricter laws against women attrocities.

Join me and tell District Magistrate, Patna Mr.N Shravan Kumar to take all possible measures to ensure speedy justice for Chanchal and her sister:

1) Ensure that Chanchal and her sister get complete and proper compensation, with employment and education support and legal expenses, from the state.  

2) Ensure that Chanchal and her sister get speedy justice and her case is dealt by a fast track court immediately.

3) Ensure that her statement is recorded under Section 164, which gives a complete and detailed account of the case.

4) All medical expenses, medicines, surgeries should be compensated by the state.

Help The Poor

Hey Friends help the poor .Change the word.....