Educational Programmes of the Rotary Foundation

The Educational Programmes of the Rotary Foundation are an integral part of the Rotary goal of promoting world peace, goodwill, and understanding. The programmes include Ambassadorial Scholarships, Grants for University Teachers, Group Study Exchange, the Rotary Centres for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution, and Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Programme.
Each programme, in its own way, fosters peace by building understanding through person-to-person contact, friendship, study, and cross-cultural exchanges.
Follow the links to the various programmes.

Ambassadorial Scholars - Overview

The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarship programme is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. The programme sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars serve as ambassadors of goodwill to the people of the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to greater understanding of their host countries.

It is the Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known programme and, since 1947, almost 37,000 men and women from 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Nearly 800 scholarships were awarded for study in 2005-06 and recipients from 70 countries studied in more than 70 different nations.

Generous contributions from Rotarians worldwide represent continued faith that the students who are Ambassadorial Scholars today will be the community and world leaders of tomorrow.  They are people who have enjoyed the spirit of Rotary movement and have, for a short period, been enriched by the principles that Rotarians hold dear.  Hopefully, the scholars themselves will be guided by those same principles in their own individual search to make the world a better place.

Ambassadorial Scholars
The District Rotary Foundation Committee aims to find, finance and support an Outgoing Ambassadorial Scholar whenever sufficient funds in the District Designated Fund allows. There are 3 types of Ambassadorial Scholarship available:

1. Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships which last for one regular academic year (usually nine months) of full time study and, because they are primarily ambassadorial, the recipients may not be able to earn degrees or diplomas in the study period. Since candidates are expected to be proficient in the language of the host country this scholarship is usually not suitable for the study of a foreign language but is well suited to post-graduate vocational training.
2. Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships which last for either two or three years (depending on which is available through the sponsoring Rotary District) of full time degree-oriented study. The scholarship may be used for almost any field of study as long as the scholar is enrolled in a specific university degree programme and takes course work which relates directly to the completion of one degree.
3. Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships of either three or six months (depending on which is available through the sponsoring Rotary District) of intensive language training and cultural immersion at a language school. The three month scholarship is most appropriate for studying a foreign language in which the applicant may already be somewhat proficient. The six month scholarship is more appropriate for studying a language that presents a challenge to the applicant. Applicants are expected to have completed at least one year of college-level course work, or the equivalent, of the proposed language of study.

Group Study Exchange (GSE) Teams

The Group Study Exchange (GSE) programme of The Rotary Foundation is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 and in the early years of their professional lives. The programme provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.
For each team member, The Rotary Foundation provides the most economical round-trip air ticket between the home and host countries. Local Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.

GSE Team from Brazil
The GSE Team left for home on Monday 1st November, 2007, after a most successful visit to District 1280.  They were well received in all parts of the District and went home brimming with ideas and having formed life long friendships.

GSE Team to Brazil
The reciprocal GSE Team will visit Brazil between 15th May and 16th June, 2007 and applications for membership of the Team are still being sought.  The conditions for membership and application forms can be found on the Rotary International Website and by following the links to Rotary Foundation and then Group Study Exchange.
Interview for Team Leader were held on Saturday, 8th December, 2007, and Rotarian Elaine Bayliss of the Golborne Lightshaw Club was selected.  It is hoped to hold Team member interviews in mid-January.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SEE LINKS ON THE LEFT FOR GSE 07/08

Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies

There are two different types of study programmes available. more..