Gender & Development Studies AIT - Call for Applications

Full scholarship info for next year’s intake.

The Gender & Development Studies (GDS) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) invites applications for scholarships for Master of Science (MSc) degrees in Gender and Development Studies with specialization in ‘Gender, Environment and Development.’

Eligible applicants should have an educational background in the socialsciences or human geography or any of the natural science disciplinesas well as career experience in organizations working with programsrelated to natural resource management or environmental governancefor a minimum of three years. They should also be nationals of thefollowing countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam,Philippines, East Timor, Cambodia, Lao PDR, China, Pakistan, India,Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

The scholarship will cover all school fees, travel to AIT from country oforigin through the most economical route available, accommodation andfield data collection within the twenty one (21) - month masters’ studyprogram of GDS. It is expected that grant awardees will develop theirmaster’s thesis exploring various themes within the general frameworkof social and gender analysis on natural environments in the Asianregion and with intended relevance to their organizations’ objectives,concerns and scope of work. Some of these research themes couldpresent (but are not limited to) fresh perspectives on the following:gender and social effects of environmental degradation on populations(e.g. health; loss of land rights); the degree of participation of womenand men in decision-making on management of resources; mobilitypatterns of women and men and their effects on rural livelihoods; claim-making on resources and evolving resource conflicts; responses to state-driven programs on environmental governance; the effects of globalmarkets on local environments and populations, and so on.

Interested applicants should submit the following documents to the AITAdmissions Officer:
A completed application form available online at
www.ait.ac.th/AIT/admissions/;

A tentative one-page research abstract for the master’s thesis;Attested transcript(s) of previous Bachelor’s Degrees;TOEFEL/IELTS score or evidence of English language proficiency; andTwo (2) recommendation letters

Please indicate that you are applying for a Master’s Degree in GDS withspecialization in ‘Gender, Environment and Development’ in yourapplication form for your application to be counted. More generalinformation on admissions procedures is available in the AIT AdmissionsOffice website.

For the First Semester intake of August 2006, a maximum of threeawards will be granted on the basis of appropriate career andeducational backgrounds as specified above; a research abstract withclearly stated objectives and fresh perspectives offered to the study ofsocial and gender analysis in natural resource management; Englishlanguage proficiency; hold a Bachelor’s degree from an institution ofrecognized standing with above average marks, and timely submissionof all required documents.

This competitive awards program for post-graduate education at AIT ispart of the partnership between GDS/AIT and the InternationalDevelopment Research Centre (IDRC) Canada and its umbrella programon social and gender analysis in natural resource management in Asia.

Deadline for applications is on February - 31 March 2006Should you have queries, please direct them to:
Dr. Bernadette Resurreccion
Gender & Development Studies (GDS)
c/o Gender & Development Studies Secretariat,
School of Environment, Resources and Development
Asian Institute of Technology
Email: aileent@ait.ac.th (aileent at ait dot ac dot th)