The Open Society Institute - Budapest is calling for applications for a new Open Society Fellowship. Broadly speaking, an open society is characterized by a reliance on the rule of law, the existence of a democratically elected government, a diverse and vigorous civil society, and respect for minorities and minority opinions. The fellowship is intended to support research, writing or activism, and to encourage the development of program strategies for the Soros Foundations Network, in the following subject areas:

1) Pre-school, primary and secondary education

2) Higher education

3) Culture and cultural institutions

4) Law, human rights and public administration

5) Civil society and institution-building

6) Media

7) Roma and other minority rights issues

8) Economic reform and management education

9) Publishing

10) Libraries and electronic communications

11) Public medicine and health

12) Gender integration

Fellowships in the above subject areas may be awarded for significant research and writing, the design and (or implementation of pilot projects, or other efforts to offer new information, insights and ideas on issues of importance to promoting an open society in the countries of the former Soviet Union, Central and Eastern Europe and Mongolia. Fellowships may be awarded for efforts focused on one country as well as those of a regional character.

At the same time, the fellows will participate in the activities of working groups established by the Soros Foundations Network in the above subject areas. These working groups will meet several times during the course of the fellowship to help the Soros Foundations Network develop strategies for future network activities in the region. In addition, the fellows will be assigned mentors with whom they will be able to discuss their work. Mentors will come from leading members of the professional staff of the Soros Foundations Network and from the Central European University.

Terms of Award

Fellows will be provided with a one year stipend, expenses and needed communications equipment to work fulltime on a project of their design in one of the above areas. The amount of the award will vary depending on standards in the fellow`s country of residence and the budgetary needs of the proposal.

As a rule, fellows will be based in their home countries, alternatively, fellows could spend all or part of the year in Budapest in order to work more closely with the Soros Foundations Network. Fellows who remain in their home countries will be expected to travel to Budapest and other parts of the region as needed to participate in the activities of the strategic working groups.

To Apply: Application Requirements and Procedures

1. Age

The Fellowship is open to persons, aged 35 and younger, as of June 1, 1998.

2. Residency

Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia.

3. Language of Application

All applications must be in English, and applicants must have excellent English language skills to participate actively in discussions in English with the expert committees and others in the Soros Foundations Network about their area of expertise. However, it is not necessary that the project proposed by the applicant be one in which English is the language used. Thus, an applicant may propose a research and writing project in Polish, as long as the applicant is readily able to discuss the project and related topics in English.

4. Application Contents

Applicants should send a proposal, of no more than 1500 words, outlining a project in one of the twelve areas. This proposal should briefly explain the following: # Project objective and procedures for fulfilling the project, # Time schedule, # Resources available (in particular, if other funding sources have been approached or provided), # Resources needed, including a detailed budget (please see sample budget provided), # If appropriate, the proposal should explain how the results of the project might be applied broadly to the region as a whole. In addition to this proposal, applicants should include: # A one or two page c. v. that describes relevant educational, employment or other experience, # A transcript from the highest level of school completed, # Two letters of reference, # Certified English translations of the transcript and letters of reccommendation. Translations must be official or certified by an university English language department.

All application materials should be sent to OSI in the same package, to the extent possible. Applications must be sent by registered or air mail. Three collated copies of all materials must be provided. The name of the applicant should appear in the upper right hand corner of every page included in the submission. All submissions should be single sided and typed. Please do not use staples.

Applicants should be sure to provide contact information applicable through the end of August, including e-mail address and fax number where possible.

5. Application Deadlines

Completed applications must be received by June 1, 1998 to be considered. It is recommended that applications be postmarked by May 18, 1998 to allow enough time for delivery. Finalists may be asked to travel to Budapest at OSI expense to be interviewed, some time during the week of June 26. It is expected that successful applicants will be notified by or shortly after July 30.

Applicants will be notified of receipt of their application, probably within two weeks by regular mail fax or electronic mail.

6. Application Address

Completed applications should be sent to: Open Society Institute-Budapest, attention: Pamela Kilpadi, Oktober 6 Utca 12, II-1051 Budapest, Hungary. For further information, please connect to the web site in Budapest at http://www.osi.hu/ifp or in New York at http://www.soros.org/osibudfel.html, write an e-mail tofellows@osi.hu or telephone at (36 1) 327-3863.