Poland in Armenia

For 24 years now, the Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program has been supporting individual development of young, ambitious and active citizens of selected states in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. The goal of the Program is to share the Polish experience of political transformation and integration with the European Union. The group of over 1000 alumni of the Program includes members of governments, MPs, managerial staff of large multinationals, heads of local authorities and well-known social activists.

The Program offers 2 terms of studies on Polish universities as well as 2-week internships in state or private institutions. Potential candidates are persons who have resolved that following the completion of the scholarship, they want to return to their home country in order to implement the knowledge gained during the scholarship or a project prepared as part of it.

The program is addressed to young leaders and experts who hold university degrees and are interested in the development of democracy, economy, and civil society in their own countries and in the region.

FIELDS:

• Economics and Management
• Administration / Management in business, NGOs, culture, education and healthcare
• Public Administration (Central and Local Government Administration)
• Law (including Human Rights with Issues of Migration)
• Social Sciences (Social Psychology, Sociology)
• Political Science, Journalism, and International Relations
• Environment and Climate Protection
• Security and Cybersecurity  Crisis management
• Development Policy and Humanitarian Aid
• Fields related to the reconstruction of areas destroyed by the war , e.g., urban planning, civil engineering, forensic science, etc.

Detailed rules concerning participation in the Kirkland Program can be found in the Rules and Regulations of the Program.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

- Free access to university classes and support from an academic advisor

- A stipend of PLN 22,500 (paid in 9 installments over 9 months).

In addition, the Program administrator provides the following (worth approx. 5000 PLN/month):

- accommodation during the whole stay in Poland

- health insurance for medical outpatient care, treatment costs in case of emergency, and civil liability insurance

- one return ticket to Poland (up to an agreed limit)

- public transport cards

- visa costs

- research materials

- participation in an introductory course, and in grantees’ conventions,

- Polish language course (October–June).

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:

• Inauguration of the Program and introductory course (8–10 days, second half of September 2024)
• Classes at universities (two semesters) in leading Polish academic centers, such as Warsaw, Krakow, Lublin, or Wrocław
• Preparation of two semester papers and one diploma paper
• Two–three conventions for all Kirkland grantees held in different cities across Poland
• Professional internship (minimum 2 weeks)
• Personal development training and Polish language course (two semesters)
• Graduation ceremony – diplomas (end of June 2025)

The requirement for obtaining a diploma for completion of the Program is the preparation and defense of the diploma paper. The diploma paper may be of a scientific or practical nature.

CANDIDATES:

The Kirkland scholarships are addressed to individuals who represent the following professional groups:

• civil servants, employees of central and local government institutions
• lawyers
• entrepreneurs
• managers in NGOs, culture, education, media, environmental protection, healthcare, business
• leaders of non-governmental organizations, animators in culture and civic activity
• academic teachers
• journalists

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Citizenship and permanent residence in one of the target countries (holders of a Polish residence card, and people living or working in Poland when applying for a scholarship are ineligible; however, this criterion does not apply to Belarusian citizens living in Poland who arrived in Poland after August 2020, or to Ukrainian citizens who found themselves in Poland after 24 February 2022 – such persons may apply for Kirkland scholarships)
• Full university education – completed Bachelor's or Master's degree, consisting of a minimum of four years of degree study
• Up to 40 years of age
• At least two years of professional experience
• At least two years break from participation in a previous scholarship abroad that was longer than 6 months. This criterion does not apply to candidates from Ukraine, or, in individual cases, from Belarus 
• A candidate (from Ukraine or Belarus) temporarily residing in Poland cannot be employed full-time during the scholarship period

Kirkland Program studies may be conducted in Polish or English. Knowledge of the Polish language facilitates full use of the educational offer at Polish universities and of the professional internship. Candidates who plan to study in English are required to indicate in their application form a specific educational offer in that language at one of the above-mentioned four academic centers. Candidates are required, during the interview, to speak Polish to at least at B2 level, or to speak English at the B2 level and Polish at the basic level, i.e., A1 level.

Candidates with insufficient knowledge of the Polish language, but who have obtained a high score in the interview, will be allowed to take a Polish language exam at the end of June 2024. The results of the examination determine the final qualification of the candidate for the scholarship.

PREFERED CANDIDATES:

• candidates actively working in their professional and social fields
• candidates who have significant achievements
• candidates who have not yet studied in Poland

SELECTION PROCESS:

Approximately 40 of the best candidates will be selected in a three-stage evaluation process:

I. Review of applications with regard to eligibility criteria

II. Review of applications by experts in the fields in question

III. Interviews (planned for 5–24 April 2024)

The candidates who have advanced to the third stage will be notified by e-mail by 26 March 2024. Information on the final nominations will be mailed to the candidates in May 2024.

Candidates, who are selected to participate in the Program on condition that they improve their knowledge of the Polish language, will have the opportunity to pass the language exam organized at the end of June 2024.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

1. On-line application form

• detailed personal questionnaire
• reasons why the candidate wants to participate in the Program; the project to be carried out during their stay, containing an outline of the diploma paper that will be prepared should the candidate win a scholarship, as well as proposals concerning the implementation of the scholarship and plans to use the knowledge gained (4,000–6,000 characters with spaces).

2. Two letters of reference (in Polish or English), describing the achievements and qualifications of the candidate as well as the expectations connected with the candidate’s further development and work in her/his professional or social field. Recommendation letters must not be written by the candidate's family members and/or spouses/life partners.

3. Copy of Bachelor’s or Master’s degree diploma (or PhD diploma).

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

A description of the program and detailed application instructions can be obtained directly from the following website: www.kirkland.edu.pl. They can also be requested by e-mail from the Program Office. 

Application forms should be filled out on-line and include the following attachments in PDF: 2 letters of reference and a copy of your university degree.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Application forms and relevant documents should be received by the Program Office no later than: March 1, 2024

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

 

The Program is named after Lane Kirkland (1922-1999), the legendary trade union leader (AFL-CIO), member of the Polish-American Enterprise Fund Board of Directors, and promoter of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation. In the 1980’s, he wholeheartedly supported the Polish “Solidarity” movement. He also understood and supported the aspirations for freedom and democracy of other peoples of Central and Eastern Europe. He was awarded the highest distinctions, including the American “Medal of Freedom” and the Polish “Order of the White Eagle.” In 2022, he was posthumously awarded the "Medal of Gratitude" for his support for the Polish "Solidarity" movement.

CONTACT:

Leaders of Change Foundation

www.leadersofchange.pl

L. Kirkland Scholarship Program

Al. Jerozolimskie 133 m. 56, 02-304 Warsaw, Poland

E-mail: kirkland@kirkland.edu.pl

www.kirkland.edu.pl

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POLISH-AMERICAN FREEDOM FOUNDATION (PAFF) – Program Founder

The Foundation began its program activities in 2000 with the dual intention of consolidating the results of the transition begun in Poland in 1989 and sharing the Polish experience of transformation with other countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

In Poland, the Foundation pursues its goal mainly through programs aimed at equalizing educational opportunities and improving the quality of education, as well as supporting civic activity at the local level, especially in rural areas and small towns.

Between 2000 and 2022, the Foundation allocated more than $242 million for its activities. The source of the funds was income from the endowment fund, which was created from capital donated to the Foundation by the Polish-American Enterprise Fund. In total, the Entrepreneurship Fund, the Foundation's founder, has donated $255 million to the Foundation.

The Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program, launched in 2000, is a long-term endeavor for the Polish-American Freedom Foundation, and has been administered by the Leaders of Change Foundation since 2016.

Additional information about the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and its programs can be found at: www.pafw.pl

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LEADERS OF CHANGE FOUNDATION (FLP) – Program Administrator

The Foundation was established in February 2016 by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation. The main activities of the Foundation include the administration of the long-term programs financed by the PolishAmerican Freedom Foundation: the Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program and "Study Tours to Poland" Program.

The Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program and Study Tours to Poland Program were transferred to the new Foundation, together with their experienced teams who have been responsible for their creation for many years. A combination of programs with similar profiles, and the participation of new people in their co-creation constitute an opportunity to expand and enrich our activities. We would like to have a broad offer addressed to those who are willing to benefit from the experiences of active people from East Europe, the Caucasus region, and Central Asia. In collaboration with academic centers and institutions in the public and NGO sectors, we also hope to offer some new forms of internship and research stays in Poland. We gather together people who believe in the power of change.

Additional information about the Foundation is available at www.leadersofchange.pl