Call for Applications
for the "Master in Political Science (Central Asia)" (2004/2005)
at the "OSCE Academy in Bishkek"

The "OSCE Academy in Bishkek" invites applications for its "Master of
Political Science (Central Asia)", subject to availability of funding. The
course is a 44-weeks course that will start on 6 September 2004.

The OSCE, a number of OSCE participating States as well as academic partner
institutions in Central Asia and abroad encourage the activities of the OSCE
Academy in Bishkek, particularly the conduction of the hereby-announced
Master Programme.
Objective

The Summer Course is designed for junior experts who have already
successfully obtained an academic degree or higher educational degree. The
objective of the course is to provide students with special introductions
into OSCE concepts of building comprehensive security throughout Europe,
particularly in Central Asia. It aims to prepare junior experts on the
Central Asian region, who will become familiar with contemporary approaches
and instruments of comprehensive security-building. The course gives
introduction into security-relevant regulations of international law applied
to Central Asian specifics. It gives an overview of international, regional
and national organisations that are active in the field of security-building
in Central Asia. During the course, students will get acquainted with
schemes of and particular efforts in peace-building and development
co-operation on national grounds and in a cross-border context throughout
Central Asia. Their regional representatives introduce relevant national and
international organisations. The course is also meant to serve as meeting
point for junior professionals who wish to make personal contacts with
international colleagues who deal with Central Asian affairs. It is the
particular interest of the "OSCE Academy in Bishkek" and its lecturers from
the five Central Asian countries, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia
and Switzerland to qualify the Summer Course's participants for professional
and civic engagements in national and international organisations.
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following admission criteria:
a.       Successful completion of an academic degree after at least 5 years
of higher education (MA, MSc, Diploma) with an above-average grade point
from a Central Asian or foreign institution of higher education or with an
above-average reference of professional work in security-related
professional areas;
b.       Adequate command of Russian and English;
c.       Citizenship of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan or other OSCE participating States or Partners for Co-operation.

The course of study is open to individuals who are nationals from outside
the OSCE area who meet the admission criteria a) and b).

Content and Duration of the Programme

The duration of the programme is two semesters starting at the beginning of
September.

It has a modular curriculum consisting of an introductory module and eight
modules. The modules are sub-divided into clusters of lectures, courses and
workshops.

The first semester consists of a two-week orientation course and eight
modules (each of two weeks). The second semester is subdivided into (a) a
one-month traineeship, (b) the Midterm Colloquium, (c) the research phase
comprising preparation and completion of a Masters Thesis and (d) the Final
Colloquium/State Examination.
Application process

Applicants should submit the following documents:
A cover page (attached, also downloadable);
A cover letter (not to exceed 700 words) explaining the applicant's
motivation for participating in the course and explaining further
professional intentions;
A curriculum vitae in tabular form including brief descriptions of (a) main
subjects of university and other relevant study courses as well as subject
of masters or diploma thesis, (b) professional engagements and involvements
in civic, non-governmental and other relevant activities, (c) relevant
academic work including publications, (c) relevant internships as well as
duration and purpose of stays abroad;
A certified copy of the diploma indicating the highest level of secondary
education entitling the applicant to enter higher education;
A certified copy university diplomas up to the highest level of university
education and, where applicable, reference to relevant professional work;
Certified copies of university end-of-year exams for applicants who will
receive their final degree only in Summer 2004;
A proper substantiation of language skills required for the course;
Letters of recommendation from two individuals who can assess the applicant'
s preparation for the course. (Please be sure to note the complete name,
title and contact information for each referee.)
Generally, documents are to be submitted either in English or Russian, while
the cover letter and the curriculum vitae must be presented in both English
and Russian.
Application documents have to be sent by registered post (recorded delivery)
to:

OSCE Academy in Bishkek
1 A, Botanicheskiy pereulok,
720044, Bishkek KYRGYZSTAN

Notes:
Please, always indicate your e-mail address. Application documents might be
submitted also by e-mail to: [log in to unmask]
Please always indicate "Master Programme 2004 Application" in the subject
line.
Documents attached to e-mails must be of a total size of not more than 700
Kbytes.
Deadline for applications is: 13.06.2004
Applicants who submitted complete applications before the deadline can
expect to receive notification from the "OSCE Academy in Bishkek" within
four weeks. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

The review of applications and corresponding selections will be made by an
international admission committee headed by the Director of the "OSCE
Academy in Bishkek" for Central Asia. On 10 July, application finalists will
be notified in writing. Successful applicants will be expected to arrive in
Bishkek two, three days before 6 September 2004.
Financing

Participation in the Master Programme requires no admission fees or other
financing. The "OSCE Academy in Bishkek" covers travel expenses to and from
Bishkek, health insurance and has a limited number of grants to support
living expenses and housing for students who can prove their need for it.
Each case of Scholarship award is to be considered on the individual basis
according to OSCE Academy financial abilities. The "OSCE Academy in Bishkek"
provides access to library facilities and reading materials required for the
seminar. In this context, the "OSCE Academy in Bishkek" would like to
encourage applicants to seek financial support from their home institutions,
from students exchange offices or other sources. Meanwhile, the selection of
participants is not influenced by financial considerations and strictly
based on admission criteria and the submitted documents.
Further Information

Further details such as content and outline of the course are reflected in
the Information on the Regulations for the Master Programme "Political
Science (Central Asia)" of the "OSCE Academy in Bishkek" at
www.osce-academy.net.

For further information and application materials, please also contact the
"OSCE Academy in Bishkek" by phone: +996 (312) 54-23-15, fax: +996 (312)
54-23-13 or email under [log in to unmask]