Southeast European Student Initiatives (SESI) 2009
The International Higher Education Support Program (HESP) of the Open Society Institute (OSI) invites concept papers for cross-border student initiatives from the following Southeast European (SEE) university student communities: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia.
The aim of the Southeast European Student Initiatives (SESI) is to empower students to address issues related to systemic change in higher education. SESI supports the involvement of students in the democratization of the educational process and in building issue-based transnational student alliances in Southeast Europe.
For 2009, SESI invites student organizations and groups to submit concept papers (2-3 page project proposal outlines) for the following new student projects in the SEE region. Concept papers may cover the preparation and actual running of the proposed activities, including training resource people among the student communities, preparatory meetings, data gathering and analysis, advocacy campaigns, etc., contracting non-student trainers, travel and accommodation related to the proposed activities on others.
I. The status of student organizations and their participation in university governance in South-East European countries.
We are inviting concept papers for projects, prepared jointly by 2-3 undergraduate student organizations representing different SEE countries, that will study the current practices of student involvement in the governance of SEE Universities, including such issues as the possible politicization of student organizations and the restrictions to student involvement by various administrative, bureaucratic and legal means, lack of student interest in University governance and others. The primary focus of the projects should remain at the level student participation in governing the universities as organizations in all of their multiple functions. The research component is expected to support advocacy campaigns to be launched by the participating student organizations for more active and effective involvement of students and student organizations in University governance.
II. Implementation of the Bologna Process in SEE countries and its impact on student learning and the quality of higher education.
We are inviting concept papers for gross-boarder initiatives by SEE undergraduate and graduate student groups and organizations that will examine the implementation of the Bologna Process at the institutional, national and regional level and explore its potential and limitations for furthering higher education reforms in the SEE region and its universities, particularly in the areas such as student choice, relevance of higher education and its quality and others. We are looking for concept papers which are problem oriented and innovative and carry the potential for a real impact on SEE universities.
III. Student Solidarity for Antidiscrimination and Access to Higher in SEE countries.
We are inviting concept papers for cross-boarder projects that would study the possible practices of exclusion and advocate for the inclusion in higher education of students on the ground of gender, race, ethnicity, disability and others. More than the initiatives by any of the groups interested in advocating for the inclusion of their own representatives, we are looking for initiatives that are driven by the spirit of solidarity among various excluded and underrepresented groups, take a broad look at the possible practices of exclusion, discrimination, humiliation and hatred related to the limitations in certain student groups' access to higher education and advocate for the access and inclusion for two or more groups and two or more SEE countries. The concept papers should include all three elements of SESI program activities - education (awareness building), research and advocacy and aim at making a tangible impact on opening access to SEE universities for the excluded and underrepresented groups.
Applications must include:
* Completed Information Sheet
* Concept paper in English (a description of the project idea, up to 1000 words) including the general idea of the future project proposal, a brief description of planned activities, a description of the managing structure envisaged, information on possible partnerships and cooperation, and expected outcomes of the project
* Curriculum vitae of project leader(s)
SESI Concept Papers should be submitted electronically to sesi@osi.hu
Selection Procedure:
An International Expert Committee will perform the selection of the applications in two stages. In the first stage, the Committee will select the most promising concept papers (project ideas) and invite selected applicants to develop full project proposals for further consideration. The results of the first stage of selection will be announced in March/April 2009.
Selected applicants will be expected to submit full project proposals for the second stage of selection by May/June 2009. Final results on selected project proposals will be announced in June/July 2009.
Financial support will be provided only for projects selected in the final competition. SESI grants will be available for academic year 2009/2010.
The project ideas must meet the following requirements:
* be initiated and implemented primarily by undergraduate students, with the exception of II which could also involve graduate student
* involve cross-border cooperation among student organizations and groups
* include a vision of planned activities and their impact on the issues stated above
For additional information please contact:
Ms. Krisztina Szeberin
Open Society Institute / Higher Education Support Program
Oktober 6. u. 12., 1051 Budapest, Hungary
Phone: (+36 1) 327-3850
Fax: (+36 1) 411 4401
E-mail: sesi@osi.hu
Website: http://www.soros. org/initiatives/ hesp
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