The Fifth Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) PhD Scholarships Call for Rwanda and Nigeria Nationals is now open for applications from suitably qualified candidates interested in receiving international-quality PhD training and to conduct PhD research in a PASET Priority Thematic Area.
The Fifth Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) PhD Scholarships Call for Rwanda and Nigeria Nationals is now open for applications. This is a unique opportunity for suitably qualified candidates to receive international-quality PhD training and conduct PhD research in a PASET Priority Thematic Area.
The Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund is a flagship initiative of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET). The initiative aims to strengthen Africa’s capacity in applied sciences, engineering, and technology by training PhD students in priority areas that are relevant to Africa’s development.
The PhD scholarships are open to Rwanda and Nigeria nationals who hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field and have a strong academic record. The scholarships will cover tuition fees, stipend, research costs, and travel expenses.
The PASET Priority Thematic Areas for the PhD research are:
1. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
2. Food security and agribusiness
3. Energy, including renewables
4. Materials science, including nanotechnology
5. Climate change
6. Mining and minerals engineering
7. Applied statistics
8. Biotechnology
The PhD candidates will be based at one of the Rsif African Centers of Excellence, which are located in 11 African countries. The African Centers of Excellence are institutions of higher learning that have been selected for their excellence in teaching and research in the priority areas.
The PhD candidates will also receive supervision from a co-supervisor who is based at a renowned international university. This will ensure that the PhD candidates receive international-quality PhD training and will be able to conduct research that is relevant to Africa’s development needs.
The Rsif PhD scholarships are highly competitive, and only a limited number of scholarships are available. Therefore, candidates are encouraged to apply early and to submit a strong application that showcases their academic record, research experience, and motivation for conducting PhD research in a PASET Priority Thematic Area.
The deadline for applications is 31st October 2021. Candidates can apply online through the Rsif website. The application process involves submitting an online application form, academic transcripts, a research proposal, a letter of motivation, and two letters of recommendation.
In conclusion, the Rsif PhD scholarships offer a unique opportunity for Rwanda and Nigeria nationals to receive international-quality PhD training and to conduct research that is relevant to Africa’s development needs. The scholarships cover tuition fees, stipend, research costs, and travel expenses. Candidates are encouraged to apply early and to submit a strong application that showcases their academic record, research experience, and motivation for conducting PhD research in a PASET Priority Thematic Area.
It is funded by contributions from African governments, the World Bank and the Government of Korea and facilitated by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Scholarship Sponsor(s): African governments, World Bank & Government of Korea
Host Institution(s): PASET
Scholarship Worth: Fully-funded
Number of Awards: Several
Study Level: PhD
Nationality: Rwanda and Nigeria Nationals
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The Fifth Rsif PhD Scholarships Call for Rwanda and Nigeria Nationals | DETAILS
The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) is an African-led initiative with the goal of strengthening skills in the Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology to further socio-economic transformation in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
Rsif aims to train quality PhD students and post-doctoral researchers to address the human resource gap of highly qualified specialists in the fields of applied sciences, engineering, and technology (ASET) and to contribute to improving research and innovation capacities in those fields in SSA. Rsif also supports the strengthening of research and innovation ecosystems at selected African Host Universities (AHU) by providing funding through competitive grants. Rsif supports training, research and innovation in five Priority Thematic Areas:
- ICT including big data and artificial intelligence
- Food security and agri-business
- Minerals, mining and materials engineering
- Energy including renewables and
- Climate change.
The specific objectives of Rsif are to:
- Create a stock of highly skilled scientists, professionals and innovators in ASET areas.
- Identify and nurture young talented Africans who wish to further their studies in ASET fields where expertise is needed most.
- Address imbalances in the number of women and disadvantaged groups in ASET fields in Africa.
- Build African university capacity to provide relevant ASET training and to ensure continued investment in scaling up ASET education and workforce.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Fifth Rsif PhD Scholarships Call for Rwanda and Nigeria Nationals, applicants are expected to meet the following conditions:
- Applicants must Be a citizen of Rwanda and Nigeria.
- Have a relevant master’s degree in one of the fields of study.
- Meet the specific admission requirements of the Rsif African Host University where they would like to pursue a PhD.
- Preference will be given to applicants who are 35 years of age and below.
- Be willing to enrol full-time in a PhD program at an Rsif AHU in the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Should not be holding another PhD scholarship when applying to the Rsif PhD scholarship.
- Be willing to spend 6-12 months in a ‘sandwich’ training at an international partner university, research institute or private company.
- Demonstrate that their research goals are well aligned to the Rsif Priority Thematic Areas and contribute to Africa’s development.
Scholarship Benefits
RSIF PhD Scholars will receive the following benefits:
- The Rsif PhD Scholarship covers university tuition and related fees, competitive stipend to cover living expenses, travel, medical insurance, and research costs.
- Rsif PhD scholars will be supported to spend 6 -12 months in a ‘sandwich’ training at an international partner university, research institute or private company.
- Rsif PhD scholars become part of a growing network of emerging leaders in ASET fields in SSA.
- Rsif PhD scholars will have access to Rsif competitive research grants upon completion of their PhD.
Application Procedures
How-to-Apply: To be considered for the Fifth Rsif PhD Scholarships Call for Rwanda and Nigeria Nationals, Applications are accepted through icipe’s online application platform. Applications submitted by email or in hardcopy will not be accepted.
Please address any questions to: The Manager, Regional Coordination Unit (RCU), icipe [email protected].
Application Deadline: May 26, 2023
Visit the Official Website for Further Details
