The Krzysztof Skubiszewski Scholarship

The scholarship holder will be given a one year internship during the 2011/2012 academic year at the University of Warsaw (or another Polish university) in the field of law, political science or contemporary history. The aim of the scholarship is to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

The scholarship is open to candidates who have completed a course of higher education and have successfully defended their doctoral thesis (or who have other significant academic achievements) or to those who can demonstrate significant achievements in the field of public welfare.

The executive board of the Scholarship Fund is:

Centre for East European Studies
University of Warsaw
Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28
00-927 Warsaw
Tel. +48 22 55 22 555
Fax. +48 22 55 22 222
stypendia.studium@uw.edu.pl
www.studium.uw.edu.pl

The Aim of the Scholarship

The scholarship was established to promote democracy and respect for human rights, the rule of law, and the respect of law in international relations. The successful candidate will be given an academic internship at Warsaw University relating to the aforementioned aims and covering one of the following disciplines:

law (in particular human rights, constitutional law, international law);
political science;
contemporary history.

In justified cases, the scholarship may be awarded to a candidate who will undertake the internship in part or in whole at another university in Poland.

The Academic Programme and Realization of the Aims of the Internship

1. The scholarship holder will undertake an internship in his/her chosen field under a supervisor and on the basis of his/her affiliation with an appropriate University unit/department.

2. The scholarship holder will be obliged to publish the results of the academic work undertaken during the internship, in the form and according to the terms agreed with the supervisor and the sponsors.

3. The choice of supervisor, details of the internship and details of the scholarship holder’s obligations will be agreed among the sponsors, the relevant university unit/department and the scholarship holder.

5. The scholarship holder may not undertake any gainful employment during the course of the internship.

Candidate Selection Criteria

Applications are welcomed from candidates from any of the countries listed above, with the exception of Poland.

The scholarship is open to candidates who have completed a course of higher education and who:

have successfully defended their doctoral thesis (or who have significant academic achievements)

are able to demonstrate significant achievements in the field of public welfare.

Knowledge of Polish is recommended. A candidate who qualifies for the scholarship but who has no knowledge of Polish will undergo an intensive language course in the period before commencing his/her internship.

Documents to be Submitted

3. Copies of relevant academic diplomas, documents substantiating the candidate’s achievements in the field of public welfare, his/her political or social activities, work in public service or professional work.

4. A list of the candidate's publications, opinions and other work demonstrating the candidate’s academic and professional achievements, as well as copies of the most important publications and works.

6. A letter of motivation, together with a description of the proposed programme of work to be undertaken during the internship.

7. A letter of recommendation from the candidate’s academic supervisor, superior or other person who can confirm the candidate’s level of preparedness for the internship. It is advisable to attach any other letters of recommendation and a list of people from whom the Scholarship Committee may request an opinion about the candidate.

8. The candidate may attach any other documents that could be useful in evaluating his/her application.

The Scholarship Committee will select the candidate it considers the best, taking into consideration his/her achievements to date, the proposed work programme and the criteria in the section entitled Candidate Selection Criteria.

Deadline for Submitting Applications

Applications, including all relevant documents, should be sent by post to the following address:

Uniwersytet Warszawski
Studium Europy Wschodniej
Pałac Potockich
Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28
00-927 Warszawa, Polska

There are two stages to the selection procedure:

in stage one, the Scholarship Committee will make a preliminary selection of the candidates based on the documents received;
in stage two, the Scholarship Committee will interview the candidates. Practical details of the interviews (in particular the venue) will be confirmed later. The Scholarship Committee will make a final decision on the choice of candidate for the 2011/2012 academic year once all the interviews have taken place.

Scholarship and Internship - Realization

1. The scholarship holder will be granted:

a total of 22 500 Polish złoty (PLN) (ca. EUR 5 815, according to the rate of exchange as of 17 January 2011);
free-of-charge accommodation in Warsaw or accommodation expenses during his/her stay in Poland; and
travel costs (these are reimbursed only once and cover the costs of travelling from the country of residence to Warsaw and back again).

2. The sponsors have allocated PLN 3 000 for the purchase of books and academic aids required by the scholarship holder to undertake his/her academic work.

3. Should the scholarship holder require an intensive course in Polish, these costs will be paid by the sponsors, together with the costs of board and lodging for the duration of the course.

4. The sponsors will cover the costs connected with the internship in the selected university unit/department, the fees for the academic supervisor and other administrative costs connected with the realization of the internship.

5. The Centre for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw will be responsible for coordinating and organizing the internship.

6. The sponsor may cease to disburse the promised funds to the scholarship holder in the following circumstances:

if it transpires that the internship cannot be realized;
if an intensive language course in Polish is necessary and the scholarship holder fails to complete it to a satisfactory level;
if the scholarship holder fails to fulfil the obligations pertaining to the internship;
if the scholarship holder is in gross breach of the principles of academic integrity and social norms.

Information about the Sponsors of the Scholarship

The Krzysztof Skubiszewski Foundation, which will provide the funding for the scholarship and assume the role of sponsor, and the Scholarship Committee, that will select the candidate, are in the process of being established. Piotr Skubiszewski guarantees that all amounts due will be paid and that he will personally fund all expenses until such time as the Foundation is fully established and can make disbursements.

The heirs of Krzysztof Skubiszewski,
Piotr Skubiszewski and Maria Święszkowska

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