Nassau, Bahamas - The Organization of American States (OAS) Bahamas Office is pleased to announce the opening of the 2011/2012 Undergraduate and Graduate OAS Fellowship Cycle. Each year the OAS Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (OAS/IACD), offers one of the Hemisphere’s largest multinational fellowships and training programs; providing several hundred fellowships for graduate and undergraduate studies and research in institutions throughout the 34 OAS member states.

Candidates must have clear academic goals, a focused program of study and career objectives that will contribute to the development of the country. Applications are accepted in the fields of study related to the OAS priority development areas of:

• Social development and creation of productive employment
• Strengthening of democratic institutions
• Education
• Sustainable development of tourism
• Sustainable development and environment
• Economic diversification and integration, trade liberalization, and market access
• Culture

Eligibility: Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of an OAS member state, and must possess the necessary educational background to be accepted into the academic program identified for placement.

To promote cross-cultural development, OAS scholarships are for study in an OAS member state other than the sponsoring country (in this case The Bahamas). However, candidates shall agree to return to reside in the sponsoring country for a period no less than 24 months after completing the program of study covered by the scholarship. On-line programs are also considered

Benefits: OAS scholarships are granted for a minimum of 1 academic year and a maximum of 2 academic years. They provide for tuition and fees, a single round trip ticket, a yearly fixed book allowance, health insurance and a fixed monthly subsistence allowance. No benefits are paid to family members.

Applications: forms can be downloaded from the Educational Portal of the Americas http://www.educoas.org/ . Please read and follow instructions carefully before attempting to complete forms. Once completed, print and submit original copy, with supporting documents, in duplicate, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas. An electronic copy should then be forwarded to the OAS database.

Deadline: Completed Application Forms and supporting documents must be received by the National Liaison Officer (ONE), at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 3^rd Floor Goodman’s Bay Cooperate Plaza, West Bay Street - Nassau, The Bahamas no later than March 31 2010 . Interviews will be conducted subsequently. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

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