"Human Rights Studies & Training Programme" for Nationals of Timor Leste

The Global Campus of Human Rights with its Asia-Pacific Programme (APMA), and the Faculty of Social Sciences - National University of Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) are glad to launch the "Human Rights Studies & Training Programme" for Nationals of Timor Leste, offering 6 scholarships (master level) and 2 fellowships (doctoral or post-doctoral level). The Programme is under the framework of the joint project for the creation of the Human Rights Center at UNTL, funded by the Delegation of the European Union in Dili through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights/Country Based Support (EIDHR/CBS).

The "Human Rights Studies & Training Programme" for Nationals of Timor Leste provides specialized academic and professional preparation which will equip the students with the necessary knowledge and skills to conceptualize and lead human rights courses, research and activities as part of the newly set up Centre at UNTL. The aim of the project is to build capacities of future lecturers and professionals in Timor-Leste, to be later employed by the Human Rights Center. For this reason, the selected participants are expected to commit to join the Human Rights Center as resource persons after the completion of the Programme.

6 Scholarships / Master Level

The MA Level Programme has three phases:

 
 

1st Phase – Preliminary Language and skills training (3 months)

From May to July 2019 selected students must follow an intensive 3-month “English language for human rights” course, as well as a preliminary training in academic and soft skills at Mahidol University’s Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP), in Bangkok (Thailand), before the start of the Master’s programme.

 
 

2nd Phase - GC APMA Programme (12 months)

The students will participate in the 1-year GC APMA - Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratization in Asia Pacific, coordinated by the IHRP. Students will spend the first semester at the IHRP from July 2019 to January 2020. In the second semester, from February to July 2020, they will be hosted by one of the four partner universities in Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka or Nepal to complete their research thesis and Master’s studies.

 
 

3rd Phase - Postgraduate Internship (4 months)

From August to November 2020, after the successful completion of the APMA programme, the students join a paid post-graduate internship at the new Human Rights Center of the UNTL under the supervision of the Global Campus staff, where they will follow trainings in human rights research and teaching methodology, as well as lectures in short seminars courses, co-organize academic events and learn the basics of project management and fundraising. Subsequently, after November 2020, they will become resource persons of the UNTL HRC working in different academic and/or managerial functions.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Hold a BA degree in any field
  • English language skills (IELTS min. 4 / TOEFL min. 35). English level of candidates without certification will be assessed during the interviews.
  • Be resident and citizen of Timor-Leste
  • Ability to attend the entire GC Scholarship and Training Programme (April 2019-November 2020)
  • Strong interest in human rights issues, evidenced by previous research, work or activism
  • Commitment to become employees of the UNTL’s Human Rights Center after completion of the Programme
  • Human rights professionals, defenders and activists are encouraged to apply

Financial support:

Full scholarship (EUR 500/month), tuition fee waiver and travel arrangements are offered to selected students during the first and second phase. To get an overview of the living costs in Bangkok, please consult the AMPA students guidelines. During the third phase an internship allowance of 200€/month will be granted. Please consult the scholarship guidelines for details.

How to Apply:

To apply you need to:

  • Fill out the online Google Form available here.
  • Subsequently you should send the following documents to adriano.remiddi@eiuc.org and lili.chen@eiuc.org:
    • Signed and dated Application Form (in PDF format)
    • Attached Personal Statement (NOT more than 2 pages, in PDF format)
    • Attached CV (NOT more than 5 pages, in PDF format)
    • Attached academic records—certificates and transcripts (in English translation, in PDF format)
    • Attached English Language Certificates, if available (scanned, in PDF format)
  • Make sure you have contacted the two referees and sent them the Reference Form. They will have to fill it out and return it by deadline to adriano.remiddi@eiuc.org and lili.chen@eiuc.org

Application deadline: 31 March 2019 at h. 17.00 (GMT +9)

2 Fellowships / Doctoral Or Post-Doctoral Level

The selected participants of the Programme will take part to a human rights research fellowship of 6 months at Mahidol University’s Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (Thailand). After the completion of this period, they will join the Human Rights Center at UNTL as resource persons to engage with its different academic activities.

The Doctoral or Post-Doctoral Level Programme has three phases:

 
 

1st Phase – Preliminary Language Training (1 to 3 months)

Successful candidates with intermediate English language proficiency will be invited to follow dedicated “English language for human rights” courses provided by the Programme in Dili (Timor Leste). The length and structure of the course will depend on the candidate’s English proficiency level assessed during the recruitment process.

 
 

2nd Phase - Mobility period (6 months)

The fellows will be based at the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (Bangkok) to attend advanced graduate and PhD courses in human rights, methodology and skills building workshops. They will also teach short seminars alone or in team and support the academic and research activities of the hosting institution.

Academic offer at Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (Mahidol University)

  • GRHR 610 Human Rights Theory (From August-November, 2019)
  • GRHR 611 Human Rights Standards and Mechanisms (From August-November, 2019)
  • GRHR 612 Theories of Peace and Conflict (From August-November, 2019)
 
 

3rd Phase - Joining the Human Rights Center (until November 2020)

After the successful completion of the mobility period, the fellows join the Human Rights Center of the UNTL in Dili becoming part of its academic team under the framework of the Global Campus of Human Rights. They will work together with the Global Campus staff and with the 6 MA graduates to support the Center’s development and consolidation. They will be active in designing and conducting training in human rights research and teaching methodology, lecture in seminars and courses, envisage and co-organize academic events, strengthen their project management and fundraising skills. Subsequently, after November 2020, they will become resource persons of the UNTL HRC in different academic and/or managerial functions.

Eligibility requirements

  • PhD candidates or holders in a human rights relevant field
  • English language skills (IELTS min. 5,5 / TOEFL min. 50). English level of candidates without certification will be assessed during the interviews.
  • Residents and citizens of Timor-Leste
  • Strong interest in human rights issues, evidenced by previous research, work or activism
  • Commitment to become employees of the UNTL’s Human Rights Center after completion of the Programme
  • Researchers and early career scholars are encouraged to apply

Financial support:

Full fellowship (EUR 500/month), tuition fee waiver and travel arrangements are offered to selected fellows during the second phase. To get an overview of the living costs in Bangkok, please consult the AMPA students guidelines. An extra support for dependants can be granted in the amount of 150€/month. During the third phase a remuneration of 350€/month will be granted. Please consult the fellowship guidelines for details.

Timeline:

The starting date of the Programme shall be agreed with the Committee, taking into consideration the candidate’s need to attend the language course, his/her academic focus and the timetable of activities at the hosting institution. In any case the ‘’second phase – mobility’’ shall be completed by July 2020.

How to Apply:

To apply you need to:

  • Fill out the online Google Form available here.
  • Subsequently you should send the following documents to adriano.remiddi@eiuc.org and lili.chen@eiuc.org:
    • Signed and dated Application Form (in PDF format)
    • Attached Personal Statement (NOT more than 2 pages, in PDF format)
    • Attached CV (NOT more than 5 pages, in PDF format)
    • Attached academic records - certificates and transcripts (in English translation, in PDF format)
    • Attached English Language Certificates if available (scanned, in PDF format)
  • Make sure you have contacted the two referees and sent them the Reference Form. They will have to fill it out and return it by deadline to adriano.remiddi@eiuc.org and lili.chen@eiuc.org

Application deadline: 31 March 2019 at h. 17.00 (GMT +9)

Selection Process

The selection will be merit-based, considering the experience in human rights and democratisation work of the candidates, as well as their fitness for the aims and objectives of the Programme. The award of scholarships will aim to achieve equity and inclusiveness with respect to gender, regional representation, minority representation and other considerations that support the project’s goals. Applicants belonging to disadvantaged groups, as well as persons with disabilities, are highly encouraged.

The best applicants will be shortlisted and will be interviewed in Dili (Timor Leste) in April 2019 by a Committee composed of lecturers and staff of Global Campus of Human Rights and UNTL, together with representatives of partner Civil Society Organizations active in the field of human rights in Timor Leste.

Consult the Selection Guidelines for more info.

Info and Contacts

For more info please contact:adriano.remiddi@eiuc.org and lili.chen@eiuc.org

Interested applicants can also visit Lili Chen and Aniston Neves for enquiries at the Peace Center – UNTL Faculty of Social Sciences, Caicoli Campus, Dili.

Programme’s webpage: www.eiuc.org/hr-programme-for-timorese-nationals

Composition of the evaluation committee and Selection Results

Composition of the evaluation committee

Selection Results

 

Become a leading human rights scholar in Timor Leste!

Create your own user feedback survey