CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:AUSTRALIA AWARDS PROGRAM
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: AUSTRALIA AWARDS PROGRAM
The Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID) is pleased to announce to the University Community the following Scholarship and Fellowship opportunities available under the Australia Awards Program:
❖ Post-Doctoral Fellowships for post-doctoral research activity commencing 2018 for up to two years in both Australia and Ghana (deadline: 30 November 2017)
❖ Long-Term Awards for Masters-level study commencing 2019 (deadline: 15 December 2017)
❖ Short Course Awards for professional development short courses that will be delivered between June 2018 and May 2019 (deadline: 15 January 2018)
The Program is an Australian Government funded initiative through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) which is designed to equip Africans with the skills and knowledge necessary to contribute to sustainable economic and social development outcomes in their own countries; and to build long-term, sustainable links with Australia.
Australia Awards – Africa is managed by Palladium on behalf of DFAT and provides a mix of scholarships and short courses to African people from eligible African countries in the public, civil society and private sectors and within targeted disciplines that support the home countries’ developmental priorities.
A. POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS
In 2018, the Program will pilot Phase 2 of Post-Doctoral (Post-Doc) Fellowships to Africans in partnership with the Australia Africa Universities Network (AAUN). A full evaluation of Phases 1 and 2 will inform a recommendation for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to consider offering post-docs as an ongoing award component in the Australia Awards-Africa program, to eligible countries from 2020.
The Australia Awards Program invites applications for Post-Doctoral Fellowships set to start in June 2018.
COVERAGE OF FELLOWSHIP:
The costs covered by the Post-Doctoral Fellowship are detailed in each Awardee’s contract. These include fees that are common for all Awardees and costs that may be applicable depending on individual fellowship conditions.
| Cost | Method of Payment | Description |
| Mobilisation travel |
Booked by Palladium and paid for by DFAT on behalf
of the Awardee
|
Payment of a single economy class airfare to
Australia from the home country via the most direct and economical route at the commencement of the Fellowship.
|
| Visa expenses | Paid by DFAT on behalf of the Awardee |
Payment of visa processing and medical checks necessary for gaining the Temporary Activity
(subclass 408) visa.
|
| Establishment Allowance | Paid by DFAT to Palladium to distribute to the Awardee |
A contribution of A$2,000 towards expenses such as rental bonds, additional medical insurance,
home contents insurance etc. paid by the Host
Institution when the Awardee arrives in
Australia.
|
|
Contribution to Living
Expenses (also referred to as a Stipend)
|
Paid by DFAT to Palladium
to distribute to the Awardee
|
A Monthly Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE)
paid at a rate of A$3,000 per month by the Host
Institution to the Awardee
|
|
Overseas Visitors Health
Cover (OVHC)
|
Paid by DFAT to Palladium to distribute to the Awardee |
Single OVHC will be provided to cover the DFAT
Awardee’s basic medical costs. Awardees may purchase, at their own expense, additional medical insurance to cover ancillary services
such as dentist, optometrist, physiotherapist, etc.
|
| Research Costs | Paid by DFAT to Palladium to distribute to the Awardee | One off amount of up to a total of A$1,000 paid by the Host Institution to the Awardee to cover costs of ‘consumables’ |
| Bench Fees | Paid by DFAT to Palladium to distribute to the Awardee | The amount will be negotiated with individual universities unless waived by the University. |
| Completion travel |
Booked by Palladium and paid for by DFAT on behalf
of the Awardee
|
Payment of a single economy class airfare from
Australia to the home country via the most direct and economical route at the completion of the Fellowship.
|
ELIGIBILITY:
A candidate must meet the following criteria:
• Be a citizen of an eligible African country as outlined in the table in Annex 2
• Must be studying in Ghana, Kenya or South Africa
• Must have the right to reside and work in Ghana, Kenya or South Africa
• Must be affiliated to their home institution in Ghana, Kenya or South Africa in an academic/research capacity
• Be at least 25 and not more than 50 years of age at the date of application
• Home and Host Institutions must be members of the Australia Africa Universities Network (SeeAnnex 2)
• Not be a citizen of Australia, hold permanent residency in Australia or be applying for a visa to live in Australia permanently
• Must not be married, engaged to, or a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, at any time during the application, selection or mobilisation phases
• Be able to satisfy all requirements of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) to hold a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa. This may mean that DFAT will need to withdraw an Award offer if the Awardee cannot satisfy the visa requirements
• Have been conferred a PhD at the time of application
• Field of research must be aligned to Agricultural Productivity, Health and/or Science andTechnology
• Must have a letter of support from their home institution that outlines their agreement to theFellowship, Annex 4
• Must have a letter of invitation from the Host Institution in Australia, outlining their commitment to the Fellowship, Annex 4
• Must be able to commence their program in the academic year 2018.
WHAT TO SUBMIT:
Interest candidates must provide certified (attested) copies of the following:
• Passport, Birth Certificate or National ID card
• Academic transcripts
• Proof that you have the right to reside and work in Ghana, Kenya or South Africa (only applicable if you are not a citizen of these countries)
• Two completed referee reports must be submitted to postdoc@australiaawardsafrica.org.
• Referee reports must be from academic supervisors, lecturers, course convenors or workplace managers who should be familiar with the applicant’s recent academic and/or work performance and abilities. Referee reports are confidential and cannot be viewed by the applicant.
Note: It is an applicant’s responsibility to ensure their referees complete and submit the reports by the closing date.
All documents must be submitted in English or English translations provided.
HOW TO APPLY:
The following steps are required to apply for a Post-Doctoral Fellowship.
|
Step 1 |
Read these guidelines to gain an understanding of the program and what is required for an application |
|
Step 2 |
Review and ensure the minimum eligibility requirements outlined above are met |
|
Step 3 |
Read the Grant Agreement you will be required to sign, (see Annex 5), and ensure that these can be agreed to within seven days of an offer being granted. If the offer is not accepted within this period, the offer may be withdrawn |
|
Step 4 |
If all conditions and eligibility are met, obtain an Application form from postdoc@australiaawardsafrica.org , which will outline the steps required to successfully submit an application |
|
Step 5 |
Finalise and submit an application. Once an application has been successfully submitted an email acknowledging the receipt of the application will be sent to the email address provided. Once an application has been submitted, no further changes (including addition of documents) can be made |
Note: Hard copy applications will not be accepted. Applications and supporting documentation must be scanned and submitted to postdoc@australiaawardsafrica.org
DEADLINE:
The deadline for submission of Post-doctoral applications is Thursday 30th November, 2017.
Please take note that incomplete and late applications will not be considered.
Detailed information on this opportunity is available in the attached Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Guideline as well as at the following link: http://www.australiaawardsafrica.org/
B. LONG-TERM AWARDS FOR MASTERS
Australia Awards aim to promote knowledge, education links and enduring ties between Australia and our neighbours through Australia’s extensive scholarship programs. The initiative aims to build a new generation of global leaders with strong links to Australia.
Scholarships for Masters Studies in Australia are being offered to eligible African candidates for postgraduate studies commencing in 2019. The following countries are eligible for Scholarships: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
GHANA PRIORITY AREAS:
Since 1980, nationals from Ghana have been sponsored by the Australian Government through the Australia Awards to study in Australia. Priority areas include the following:
• Extractives and Natural Resource Management (especially mining related subjects)
Applications will also be considered in the following sectors:
TARGET GROUP:
• Nationals of Ghana.
• Mid-to-senior career professional working in the Public or Private Sector in one of the listed priority fields of study.
• You wish to undertake a Masters degree in Australia in one of the listed priority fields of study.
• Private sector candidates from large corporate extractive companies are not eligible to apply
• You cannot pursue a Masters of Business Administration degree
• You have a clear vision for how you will use the knowledge gained through the Masters degree to improve policy, practice or education in the proposed field of study.
• Gender Equality: Australia Awards targets equal participation by women and men. Applications from women are strongly encouraged, and mechanisms are in place to support women applicants and Awardees.
• Disability Inclusion: Australia Awards aim to ensure that people with a disability are given fair and equal opportunity to compete for and obtain a scholarship. Applications from people with a disability are strongly encouraged. Mechanisms are in place to support applicants and Awardees requiring specific assistance.
ELIGIBILITY:
• You must be at least 25 and not more than 50 years of age at the date of your application.
• You must have at least three (3) years’ post-graduation work experience. This work experience must be in a role relevant to your proposed field of study and to your employment organisation type Preference will be given to candidates with greater periods of experience.
• All public sector applicants must comply with the Government of Ghana regulations for government employees wishing to apply for scholarships.
• You must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelors degree (or the equivalent) of at least 4 years in length with at least a 2:2 (2nd Class Lower Division).
• You must not already hold, or be studying for, a Master’s degree
• You must be willing to make a formal commitment to return to your current employment following completion of the award
• You must meet the general minimum eligibility criteria for Australia Awards Scholarships – refer to the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook
The Coordinating Authority for Ghana is The Scholarships Secretariat, President’s Office
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for the Long Term Masters Awards, applicants must:
1. Check the eligibility requirements
2. Request for an application form and choose the appropriate opportunity (i.e. Long Term Award).
The application will be sent to the applicant via email to the address provided. This form must be saved offline, completed and submitted to the same address.
Detailed information on how to apply is available at: http://www.australiaawardsafrica.org/about- australian-awards/types-of-awards/how-to-apply/
Please take note that the application process may take about 3 – 4 weeks.
DEADLINE:
The deadline for submission of applications is Friday 15th December, 2017. Please take note that incomplete and late applications will not be considered.
C. SHORT COURSE AWARDS
Scholarships are available for Short courses in the following areas:
Agricultural Productivity
| Agribusiness | Link |
| Increasing the Development Impact of Agricultural Research | Link |
| Irrigation and Water Resource Management for Agriculture | Link |
Extractives
| Local Economic and Social Development in Extractives | Link |
| Mineral and energy economics | Link |
| Macroeconomic Management in Resources Rich Countries | Link |
Public Policy
| Trade policy and negotiations | Link |
| Public-Private infrastructure partnerships | Link |
| Ocean Management: Sustainable fisheries and Governance |
| Date | Description |
| September 1, 2017 | Call for Applications open |
| November 30, 2017 | Closing deadline for Post-Doctoral Fellowships |
| December 15, 2017 | Closing deadline for Masters Scholarships |
| January 15, 2018 | Closing deadline for Short courses |
Download Call for Applications Australia Awards Program here
Download 2018 Post-Doctoral Fellowships Guidelines here