2017 Request for Applications Qatar Foundation International QFI ARABIC STUDY AWARDS - UNDERGRADUATE DEADLINE: APRIL 2, 2017

Transcription

1 2017 Request for Applications Qatar Foundation International QFI ARABIC STUDY AWARDS - UNDERGRADUATE DEADLINE: APRIL 2, 2017 Mission The goal of the QFI Arabic Study Awards is to recognize outstanding graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students committed to furthering their knowledge of the Arabic language and the Arab world. By providing tuition support and professional development to these outstanding students, QFI seeks to develop cohorts of future leaders who are equipped with advanced Arabic language skills and cultural knowledge and ready to contribute to strengthening professional ties between the U.S. and the Arab world. Summary Qatar Foundation International (QFI), LLC, is a U.S.-based member of Qatar Foundation (QF). QFI operates as both a grant-making organization, and a convener of thought leaders on issues related to global and international education, open education and education technologies as they intersect with the three core QFI programmatic areas: Arabic language and Arab culture, STE{A}M (STEM plus the Arts), and Youth Engagement. QFI inspires meaningful connections to the Arab world by creating a global community of diverse learners and educators and connecting them through effective and collaborative learning environments inside and outside the classroom. As part of its mission to foster strong and genuine connections between cultures, QFI s Youth Engagement Program supports exceptional graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students to continue the study of Arabic language at the university level in Through QFI s Arabic Study Awards, students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership potential receive financial support to further their studies. Arabic Study Awards QFI s Arabic Study Awards will be granted to undergraduate students enrolled in universities and colleges in the United States who have declared a major in (1) Arabic language studies or (2) Middle East Studies with a concentration or minor in Arabic language. Merit and financial need will be

2 taken into consideration when selecting awardees. Award amounts will be determined by unmet financial need, as determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and your university/college financial aid package. Awardees will receive a one-time grant of up to $5,000 towards tuition for the academic year. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that their intended university/college offers advanced-level courses in the Arabic language. Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of their academic records, letters of reference, and personal statements. All additional eligibility requirements are listed below: Eligibility U.S. citizen or permanent resident; Rising undergraduate junior or senior in fall 2017 with at least a 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale; Completion of at least four semesters of Arabic language at the university/college level with grades no lower than B+; Declared major at university/college in (1) Arabic language studies or (2) Middle East Studies with a concentration or minor in the Arabic language; Enrolled in a university/college that offers advanced-level courses in the Arabic language (i.e level courses). Selection Process A selection panel will review completed applications submitted by the April 2, 2017 deadline, using an evaluation rubric. Decisions are final after the selection panel has provided their recommendations. Before notifying award recipients, QFI may confirm the accuracy of key information with the applicant s home institution (e.g. class rank, GPA, documentation of other sources of financing, university acceptance/enrollment, availability of major/courses, etc.). Award recipients will be notified via and required to sign an award agreement to acknowledge acceptance of any terms and conditions related to the educational award. Award Disbursements Academic awards will be paid directly to the university or college. Terms and Conditions for Award Recipients Award recipients will be required to show compliance with the following terms and conditions throughout the academic year: Award recipients will submit a photo and a short biography to QFI to be included in award announcements and featured on the QFI website. 2

3 Award recipients will enroll in at least one Arabic language course each semester. Awardees must achieve at least a B+ in Arabic courses for the academic year. Award recipients will send an unofficial transcript to QFI at the end of each academic term covered by the award (by January 15, 2018 and June 15, 2018). Award recipients will maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale throughout the academic year. Award recipients must complete a blog post or vlog about their experience studying Arabic or participating in activities related to the Middle East on the college campus (e.g. participation in student clubs, events). Blogs or Vlogs will be featured on QFI s blog site: Instructions for applying: 1. Go to qfi.fluidreview.com 2. Create an account! Note: When creating an account, make sure to put student as your job title. Once you have filled out the required information, you will then receive an asking you to confirm your account registration. 3. After you have activated your account, you will login and see the following dashboard. You will need to take the eligibility quiz in order to be able to access the QFI Arabic Study Award application. Press Start to begin the quiz. 4. Q F I 3

4 Eligibility Quiz I am a Make sure to select student of Arabic I am a student in If applying to the award for graduating seniors, select grades 9-12 If applying to the award for undergraduate students, select Undergraduate level at a college or university (13-16) 5. Once complete, you will return to the dashboard. In order to apply for QFI Arabic Study Awards, you will need to scroll down and click on the green button View Grants. 4

5 6. You will then be taken to a list of grants that you are eligible for. Make sure to click on the green Apply Now for the Arabic Study Awards (Undergraduate). 7. You will then be able to see the application form. If applying for the following, you will need to complete the following actions for your application to be complete: QFI Undergraduate Students (up to $5k) ü Arabic Study Award Application ü Arabic Study Award Essay ü Arabic Study Award Budget ü Unofficial Transcripts ü Resume ü Video ü Evidence of advanced-level Arabic coursework ü Financial Aid/Scholarship Information ü Estimated cost of tuition ü Student Aid Report (2017) All applications must be submitted by April 2, Award Notification Applicants will be notified of QFI s decision by mid- May

6 Any Questions? To inquire further about the QFI Arabic Study Awards program, please contact: