© 2013 british council. all rights reserved. this document may not be amended, copied or...

© 2013 British Council. All rights reserved. This document may not be amended, copied or distributed without express written permission.

www.britishcouncil.org/siem

GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS IN LATIN AMERICA

Tom BrennanBritish Council



TRENDS IN LATIN AMERICARise in both interregional and intraregional student mobilityCommitment to building knowledge based economiesGovernment allocation of funding for international education

Developing expertise to contribute to contribute to further development of home countries

34.5% increase in Latin American students studying abroad ‘04-’09Only 5.8% total internationally mobile students


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MOBILITY FROM LATIN AMERICADomestic institutions sometimes lacking capacity or quality of international universities.Governments recognize national development = high quality educational and research opportunities.


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BRAZIL SCIENTIFIC MOBILITY PROGRAMLaunched August 2011 by President Dilma Rousseff$1.65 Billion scholarship program

Seeks to “Promote the consolidation and expansion of science, technology, and innovation in Brazil by means of international exchange and mobility” – SwBTransforming system of research and development

Funding structure – Public / Private partnershipCAPES – (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) – Ministry of Education subsidiary

CNPq – (National Counsel for Scientific and Technological Development) – Ministry of Science and Technology

Government / Private sector plan to send 101,000 individuals abroad by 2015.


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BRAZIL – SCIENTIFIC MOBILITY PROGRAMProgram limits to maximum of 1 year study in non degree programs abroadSummer internship option

Ranging from undergraduate studies to visiting researchers and scholars

Awardees must return to Brazil to complete their degreeReflection of government belief in importance of domestic degree

Selected from top qualified students tendered by universitiesFull tuition and other benefits

Goal is stimulation of national growth, research and developmentOriginally limited to national priorities emphasizing STEM fields Minimize brain drainReturn to Brazil within 3 months of completion for minimum of 2 years


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BRAZIL – SCIENTIFIC MOBILITY PROGRAM

Government identified scarcity of PhDs in the populationEfforts to stem drain in researchers and entrepreneurs

Training abroad works to “induce the internationalization of universities and research centers in Brazil by encouraging the establishment of international partnerships” – SwBPromoting international collaborations in scientific publications


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COLOMBIA – BECAS COLCIENCIASBecas Colciencias – National Program for the Formation of ResearchersProgram of Administrative Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation

Government’s effort to advance HE opportunities with the goal of expediting the country’s development

Initiative to “Foster excellent researchers in order to increase the national research and innovation capacities of businesses, research centers, and universities” – ColcienciasGoal to train 3,600 more doctoral students by 2019In 2012 – 800 doctoral students sponsored (500 abroad)

In 2013 - $36.2 Million in scholarship assistance for doctoral students to study abroad


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COLOMBIA – BECAS COLCIENCIASColciencias partnershipsFrench government – predoctorate French training and visa assistance

Fulbright Colombia and Purdue University – English training and visa assistance

Becas Colciencias “seeks to strengthen Colombia’s human capital resources to transform the country into a center for research and innovation and improve its competitiveness while improving social equity and quality of life for all Colombians” (Colciencias)Studies must align with national priority areasScience, technology, national development including energy, aerospace, automotive engineering, pharmaceuticals, agroindustry, infrastructure, social and economic development, and public policy


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COLOMBIA – BECAS COLCIENCIASFunding is a forgivable loan rather than an upfront grant.Government will discharge all or part of loan commitment provided conditions are met. 80% forgiveness provided:

– Degree completed– Credentials obtained– Return to Colombia within 30 days of completion– Remaining in Colombia for minimum of two years– Working in science, technology, or innovation fieldsRemaining 20% forgiveness provided:

– Completion of two activities pertaining to national priorities including – Strengthening Colombia’s graduate level HE system– Developing new products– Strengthening research capabilities through publication– Involvement in 1 new innovation or technology venture


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COLFUTURO 1992 – 2012, AREAS



COLFUTURO 1992 – 2012, DESTINATIONS



CHILEPrevious government entities that have funded students to study abroad

•The National Scientific and Technological Research Commission (CONICYT)

•The Higher Education Quality and Equity Improvement Prugram

•The former Ministry of Planning and Cooperation

•The Agency for International Cooperation

•The National Counsel of Culture and the Arts

Only about 200 individuals per year were funded since 2007


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CHILEGovernment encourages outbound student mobilitythrough scholarships, international collaboration agreements on student and researcher exchange

AGCI - Chilean agency which offers info on study abroad opps for Chilean students and scholarships to do so.


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BECAS CHILE PROGRAMLaunched in October 2008 - President Michelle Bachelet•Aim to fund 30,000 students to study abroad by 2017•5,809 have studied abroad by the end of 2011•$6 Billion investment fund from the Chilean Ministry of Education (MINEDUC)•MINEDUC intends to provide $250 Million each year•Joint responsibility for funding and managing

• CONICYT• Center of Improvement, Experimentation and Research• Open Doors English Program


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BECAS CHILE PROGRAMProgram length3 months for a math / science internship to a full four year doctorate

Majority of scholarships serve graduate students and professionalsOnly the Semester Abroad for students of English teaching component offering funding for undergraduate study

“Becas Chile focuses on the economic, social, and cultural development of Chile by strengthening basic and applied research, scientific and technological development, innovation and entrepreneurship” – Ministry of Education


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BECAS CHILE PROGRAM


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Flexible fields of study•Not specific to fields of national priority

•Some correspond to specific subject areas, most are flexible in fields for Master’s and Doctoral work.

Focus on top ranked universities•Top 150 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings or the Academic Ranking of World Universities

•Top 50 for the particular field of study chosen by the applicant

Return upon completion of study•May remain abroad after completion for up to ½ funding period

•Must return to Chile – minimum 2 years for each year of scholarship funding – 1 if outside Santiago



ECUADORIAN STUDENT ENROLLMENT

Student mobility to the UK has been relatively small at 80 – 85 students each year 2002 – 06 rising to 130 in 2011-12

Approximately 33% each year are undergraduate students

By Comparison US in 2011-12 had 1,252 Undergraduate (68%) and 590 Graduate (32%) Ecuadorian enrolled students


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ECUADOR – SENESCYT SCHOLARSHIPSSENESCYT (Ecuador’s National Secretariat for Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation)The programs have the goal of achieving a model of development designed to face the difficulties of a world that creates few favourable conditions for the less educated and more sensitive and vulnerable populations

By 2011 the Ecuadorian government funded 499 scholarships for study abroad in the previous 15 years. August 2011 - Announced an ambitious scholarship program to allocate 1,070 awards for study abroad the same year (SENESCYT).3 Scholarships


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ECUADOR – SENESCYT SCHOLARSHIPSOpen Call 2012

•Announced August 2012

•Focused on graduate education and medical training abroad

•Between 1 to 5 years for a master’s degree, doctorate, postdoctorate, or medical specialization

•Eligible fields in 5 categories- life sciences, natural resource sciences, production and innovation sciences, social sciences, and art and culture.

•List of pre-approved universities

•Must provide a guarantor with assets at or above scholarship value

•Must return to Ecuador upon completion for at least twice duration of the award


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Universities of Excellence•Focused on top 175 ranked universities

•Full funding and benefits up to $250,000 for studies and research from the undergraduate to postgraduate levels, including medical specializations

•Periods range from one year medical specialization to full undergraduate degree

•Eligible fields in 5 categories- life sciences, natural resource sciences, production and innovation sciences, social sciences, and art and culture.

•Must provide a guarantor with assets at or above scholarship value

•Must return to Ecuador upon completion for at least twice duration of the award.


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Ecuador – SENESCYT Scholarships



ECUADOR – SENESCYT SCHOLARSHIPSTeach English Program – from a shortage of strong English teaching methodology

•For upper level secondary school students and undergraduate students

•Approximately $33,000 for up to 9 months of English language study

•Must have a guarantor

•Must achieve at least a B

•Return to Ecuador after completing the program to serve as English teachers for a minimum of two years at the upper-secondary or undergraduate level.


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PERUFast growing market with growing economic stability and great potential for mobilityGrowing middle class leading to better income and the desire to take advantage of better opportunitiesThe Peruvian government may expand the country’s national scholarship program, PRONOBECProgram supporting underprivileged students in the STEM fields

Likely to include study abroad

Government wants more graduates in science, technology and engineering to help develop key industries such as mining and agriculture


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PERUICEF Monitor – June 2012

•Peru investing more than $136 Million in science and technology

•Prime Minister Valdes announced 1,000 new S&T Fellowships would be made available by 2016, as well as 1,500 scholarships for Peruvian students at foreign universities.

•Peru clearly wants more graduates STEM to help develop key industries such as mining and agriculture.

•One of Peru’s leading universities, The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, has around 4,000 science and engineering students and this figure is expected to grow.

•PRONOBEC – also increasing funding for international scholarships and will shortly launch a new call for applications for international Master's degrees.


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EL SALVADOR – BECAS FANDEL

Becas Fandel - Government funds from the privatization of the National telecommunications AdministrationFor domestic or international universities

Sponsored over 900 students since 2002 with around 250 studying abroad

Program has offered 35 scholarships a year for study abroad, plans include expanding this number to 150 over the next three years.


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COMMON THEMES ACROSS LATIN AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIPS

Means to stimulating domestic social and economic development which is a driving priority for investment in higher educationStrong emphasis is put on graduate education and research, in addition to providing opportunities for undergraduate studentsPillars of national social and economic development.

Resources include full or nearly full funding and benefits for studentsPost completion return requirements are often for double the award duration.National economic, social, and cultural development occupies a central position in the rationales and structures of the scholarship programs.


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DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

Focus of studySome STEM focused

Some broader including social sciences, art and culture (Ecuador)

Some complete flexibility (Chile)

Eligible universitiesMay or may not be restricted to the world’s top ranked institutions depending on the country

Chile and Ecuador require students apply to top institutions as outlined in a proprietary list

Length of studyNearly all include funds for obtaining degrees abroad.

Brazil Science Without Borders committed to drawing scholarship recipients back to Brazil after one year


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© 2013 british council. all rights reserved. this document may not be amended, copied or...

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