VLIR-UOS Food Technology Scholarships for Developing Countries

Overview

VLIR-UOS Food Technology Scholarships for Students from Developing Countries to Study at Universiteit Gent and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. The main objective of the Interuniversity Programme Master of Science in Food Technology (IUPFOOD) is to provide students with comprehensive training in the field of food technology, food science and food engineering, with special emphasis on the technology of the production of specific foodstuffs for developing countries and on tropical crops postharvest and preservation technology. It is expected that participants returning to their home countries will be able to efficiently appraise and solve problems related to food technology, food science and food engineering.

In the first year of the MSc Programme (60 credits) in depth knowledge in food science, engineering and food engineering is obtained, in order to achieve a common knowledge base between students with different backgrounds. The first year is common to all students. The courses of the first semester are organized at UGent, while the courses of the second semester are taught at K.U.Leuven.

The second year of the MSc Programme (60 credits) provides broader knowledge in food technology in general and an in depth understanding in either ‘Postharvest and Food Preservation Engineering’ or ‘Food Science and Technology’, depending on the major chosen. The second year of the programme therefore consists of specific courses on each major (18 credits), optional courses (12 credits) and thesis research (30 credits). The major, the optional courses and the thesis topic are chosen after completing the first year. For the optional courses, the student may choose among the courses of the other major and the additional optional courses offered. This enables the student to compile a tailor-made study curriculum according to his/her individual needs and interests.

Admission requirements

International applicants must have obtained an academic Bachelor of Science degree (in developing countries typically a 4-year programme) in a discipline related to the content of the programme from a recognized University, College or Institute. Candidates are expected to have basic science training (demonstrable in the transcripts) in at least three out of four of the following fields: (i) mathematics, statistics and physics, (ii) chemistry and biochemistry, (iii) biology and microbiology and (iv) engineering, with an end result of at least second class upper or equivalent. Each application will be evaluated by the Educational Committee for admission.

Language knowledge

The applicant must be proficient in the language of the course or training programme, i.e. English. Command of the English language is a very important criterion for admission. Applicants must be able to prove their proficiency in English. There are 4 possibilities to supply this proof:
1. TOEFL certificate (the UGent TOEFL code is 2643) with:
• a minimum total score of 550 on the paper based test, or
• a minimum total score of 79 on an internet based test.
The test validity is max. 2 years;

2. IELTS with a minimum overall band score of 6. The test validity is max. 2 years;
3. Proof of at least 1 year of comprehensive English-based instruction at a university or recognized equivalent;
4. Proof of a successful “Intermediate Academic English” test at the Ghent University Language Center.

You can apply for a scholarship if you meet the following requisites:

You are a resident AND national of one of the countries on the country list (not necessarily the same country for residence and nationality). Please note that candidates must reside in one of these countries at the moment of application.
You are not older than 40 years* if you apply for a scholarship to follow a master programme. Or you are not older than 45 years* if you apply for a scholarship to follow a training programme. (* on 1 January 2012)
You have the required English proficiency.
Professional experience and employment perspectives are only required for a training programme, but can be an advantage to be selected for master programmes.
Earlier applications and scholarships: You do not apply for more than one VLIR-UOS scholarship a year. You have never received a master scholarship funded by the Belgian government before. You are only admissible for a training programme scholarship if you have not received a VLIR-UOS scholarship for a training programme before.

For selection we take into account the following criteria:

Motivation: it is essential that the candidate’s motivation demonstrates the possibility of transferring knowledge or creating extension activities, and having a specific developmental dimension.
Professional experience, preferably in a research institution, a higher education institution, the government sector (national/regional/local), the sector of social economy, or an NGO. Preferably expertise in development relevant matters.
Present employment/reintegration perspectives, preferably in a research institution, a higher education institution, the government sector (national/regional/local), the sector of social economy, or an NGO. Preferably with the possibility to generate an impact through the transfer of knowledge, extension activities or otherwise. Not in the commercial profit sector.
Previous scholarships: prioririty will be given to the application of a candidate for a master programme who did not already has been granted a previous master scholarship. For a candidate for a training programme, the selection committee assesses the opportunity of a VLIR-UOS scholarship award, taking into consideration the candidates’ previous study and scholarship curriculum.
Gender: in case of two equally qualified candidates of different sexes, preference will be given to the female candidate. The selection commission will aim at a parity or relative balance between the number of men and the number of women awarded a VLIR-UOS scholarship.
Regional balance: the selection commission will try to ensure that 50% of a programme’s scholarships are granted to candidates from sub-Saharan Africa.
Social background: in case of two equally qualified candidates, preference will be given to candidates from a disadvantaged area within their country or an ethnic or social minority group, especially when these candidates can provide proof of leadership potential.

Nationality and place of residence
Only persons who are resident AND national of one of the following countries (not necessarily the same country for residence and nationality) are eligible for a VLIR-UOS scholarship. Please note that candidates must reside in one of these countries at the moment of application.

Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Nepal, Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
Latin America: Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay

English proficiency
You need a proof of at least 1 year of comprehensive English-based instruction at a university or recognized equivalent. If not, a TOEFL test is required with a minimum total score of 550 on the paper based test (PBT), or 79 on an internet based test (IBT); or an IELTS test with a minimum overall band score of 6,5; or a proof of another test of similar level as TOEFLE or IELTS.

Professional experience and employment perspectives
Present employment or reintegration perspectives are required for a training programme. The candidate must be currently employed or have a written (future) employer’s guarantee of (re)integration in an employment where the acquired knowledge and skills will be immediately applicable.

Scholarship

- Allowance 800€
- Family supplement 62€
- Accomodation premium 200€
- 1 return ticket, economy class

How to apply

You will need to follow the correct and complete procedure below:
1. Apply on the website via the application form of the Flemish host university: fill in name, birth date, country, etc…
2. Receive a return e-mail from the Flemish host university.
3. Send a printout of your application file along with all required documents (diploma transcripts, motivation, etc…) to the International Office of the host university (not to VLIR-UOS!).

Then you have correctly applied and can your application be considered. Scholarship application deadlines are: 1 February, 2012.

Period: September 2011 - September 2013
Language: English
Number of VLIR-UOS Scholarships: 13
Promoter: Prof. M. Hendrickx (K.U.Leuven)
Prof. K. Dewettinck (UGent)

Contact:
Mrs C. Smout
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
T +32 (0)16 32 14 09
F +32 (0)16 32 19 60
iupfood.postharvest@biw.kuleuven.be
http://www.iupfood.be

Mrs K. Anthierens
Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
Department of Food Safety and Food Quality
T +32 (0)9 264 62 10
F +32 (0)9 264 62 22
iupfood.technology@ugent.be
http://www.icp-itp.ugent.be/ICP/FoTe.htm

Please quote Scholarization.blogspot.com on your application when applying for this scholarship