Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Fri, 21 Feb 1997 15:39:58 -0800 (PST)
Sender: "Jane Belenky" <[email protected]>
Subject: Internet Fellowship Opportunities with IREX
ANNOUNCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNET FELLOWSHIPS IN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN,
BELARUS, GEORGIA, MOLDOVA, AND RUSSIA
The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) is pleased to
announce a call for applications from U.S. citizens who are
interested in applying for year-long fellowships in the New
Independent S tates to promote Internet access and training at
universities, libraries, and NGOs through the U.S. - Eurasia Internet
Access and Training Program (IATP).
The IATP is a U.S.- NIS public private sector partnership which
promotes academic and professional exchange by providing sustainable
access to and training in e-mail, Internet, and the World Wide Web
for alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange and training
programs and their colleagues in the NIS. These programs include
the Fulbright Program, Regional Scholar Exchange Program, Edmund S.
M uskie Fellowship Program, and FREEDOM Support Act programs for
university faculty, practitioners, research scholars, graduate
students, undergraduates, and teachers.
The Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) is sponsored by the
United States Information Agency with funds allocated by the
Congress of the United States. The program is administered through
a grant awarded to IREX.
USIA, IREX, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and other U.S. and
NIS public and private sector organizations, launched the IATP in
December 1995.
In 1996, the IATP established public access Internet sites at more
than 25 universities and libraries in the Russian Federation,
Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, provided training
and communications assistance to over 100 non-commerical
organizations, and brought thousands of users on-line. Examples of
recent IATP accomplishments include free and unlimited access to
e-mail for alu mni of USIA-sponsored programs at public access
Internet sites, creation of home pages at universities in Russia and
Kazakstan, and support for online publications in Ukraine and
Kyrgyzstan.
In 1997, the IATP will begin to establish public access Internet
sites and provide training to academic and non-commercial users in
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Southern Russia .
APPLICATION DEADLINES: The deadline for receipt of applications for
Internet fellowships is March 15, 1997 for Azerbaijan, Belarus, and
Georgia and April 15, 1997 for Armenia, Moldova, and Russia.
IREX will begin to review applications immediately upon receipt and
contact promising applicants for preliminary telephone interviews.
Internet fellowships begin in spring and summer 1997.
HOW TO APPLY: Inquiries or letter of interest with resume and two
recommendations should be sent to:
Jane Belenky Smith
Program Officer
IREX/Washington
Fax: 202- 628-8189
E-mail: [email protected]
AND
Bruce McClelland
Director, Internet Access and Training Program
IREX/Moscow
Fax: 7-095-203-59-66
E-mail: [email protected]
Program Goals and Objectvives and Responsibilities of Internet
Fellows:
The Internet Access and Training Program has five interrelated goals
and objectives in the NIS. All Internet fellows 1) Facilitate the
development of low-cost academic and non-commercial networks,
including FreeNets, in order to promote educational and professional
exchange; 2) Establish public access Internet sites and
open-publishing Web sites at NIS universities, libraries, and NGOs;
3) Train Internet trainers and users (i.e., students, teachers,
librarians, university professors, scholars, researchers, NGOs,
etc.) in the technical and educational applications and potential of
t he Internet (i.e, academic research, curriculum development,
electronic publishing, distance learning); 4) Assist NIS
institutions to establish their own on-line presence, including Web
sites, electronic publications, and listservs in Russian, other
local languages, and English; 5) Support seminars and conferences
about the Internet and information revolution for alumni of
USIA-sponsored academic exchange programs and their colleagues.
Program Operations:
Internet fellows, fluent in Russian and/or another language of the
NIS, coordinate the Internet Access and Training Program in each
country with guidance from the IATP director based at IREX Moscow a
nd IREX Washington program staff. Internet fellows, along with NIS
Internet trainers, work closely with the United States Information
Service (USIS) posts, IREX, and USIA to prioritize program goals and
objectives and manage the program budget and resouces in each
country or region. In this way, the IATP addresses the specific
needs and interests of diverse local communities, including
students, teachers, and scholars in the social sciences and
humanities. IATP activities are evaluated according to established
benchmarks and are fine tuned through surveys and focus groups of
users and train ers. Selection of Partner Institutions:
Universities, libraries, and NGOs in the NIS that are interested in
establishing IATP public access sites, public publishing Web sites,
or receiving other IATP training and assistance are selected th rough
open competitions. All NIS institutions selected to participate in
the program are required to contribute computer equipment, staff,
training facilities, and other resources to the effort, pub licize
the IATP within their institutions, support free and open access to
information resources, and operate and sustain the public access
Internet site following IATP training. In each country, In ternet
fellows, trainers, and IREX staff strive to maximize IATP resources
and avoid duplication of efforts by working collaboratively with
other organizations engaged in expanding Internet access fo r
academic and non-commercial users.
Internet Fellowship Provisions:
Round-trip international travel to the fellowship site
Program orientation and training in Washington, DC and/or Moscow
Monthly living stipend/housing allowance
Health insurance
Emergency medical evacuation insurance
Federal educational loan deferment
Fellowship Qualifications:
Broad computer skills, including training experience, strong Internet
background and HTML. Experience with electronic publishing,
curriculum development, and distance learning a plus. Strong Russian
language ability and area studies background (B.A. or above);
knowledge of other languages of the NIS helpful. Significant
experience working, studying, or living in the NIS. Proven
managerial/organizational talent, strong written and oral
presentation skills, experience managing program budgets, and ability
to work with diverse communities. Knowledge of USIA-sponsored
academic exchange programs with the NIS helpful Ability to make a
one-year commitment as an Internet fellow
For additional information please contact:
Jane Belenky Smith IREX/Washington, or
Bruce McClelland IREX/Moscow at the addresses listed above
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