Merit Scholarship Programme for High Technology (MSP)

1. Introduction

The Programme was launched in 1413H (1992), named ‘The IDB Merit Scholarship Programme for High Technology’ (MSP).

2. Objective and Scope

The objective of the programme is to develop technically qualified human resources in the IDB member countries by providing scholarships to promising and outstanding scholars and researchers to undertake advanced studies and research in the fields of applied science and technology needed for the development of the member countries.

The Programme offers scholarships for study and research at two levels: (i) 3-year Ph.D. study/ research, and (ii) 6-12 months of Post-Doctoral research.

3. Concept

The concept is to assist the needs of the IDB member countries and their institutions in developing high quality and hi-tech human resources in science and technology areas that they are lacking but crucial for their development

4. Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must meet the following basic criteria:

    • Age not over (a) 35 years for Ph.D. study, and (b) 40 years for Post-Doctoral research;
    • Attached to a research/academic/development institution in science and technology in their respective country;
    • Must possess the required academic background in the related field of their proposed study/research and have some professional/research experience in the respective field;
    • Demonstrate that the research proposal has scientific and technological relevance with the objective of meeting the priority development needs of the country;
    • Have good command of the language of the institution of study and the ability to conduct scientific work in it.

5. Fields of Study

Fields of studies under the programme are determined by the priority needs of the country’s development in science and technology sectors and to supplement the IDB vision 1440H.  Current focus is thus on the following fields of studies:

Health/medicine, Agriculture/Food production, Water Resources/ Desertification, Energy/Infrastructure Development, Nanotechnology, Development-focused ICT, and pure Science subjects.

6. Place of Study

The selected candidates are to pursue their research and study at the top most reputable academic and research institutions worldwide.

7. Benefits

The scholarship covers the following benefits and entitlements:

  • All academic expenses
  • Living allowances
  • Health Insurance
  • Round trip air-tickets to and from place of study
  • Conference Participation allowance
  • Scientific Paper preparation allowance
  • Computer allowance (for Ph.D. only)
  • Family allowance (for Ph.D. only)

8. Annual time-table

The Programme is announced through the IDB Governors’ Offices in the countries concerned by the following annual time-table:

September – Announcement of the Programme
December 31 – Deadline for submission of applications to IDB Governor’s Office

9. How to apply

Download the application form for 3-Year Ph.D. Study or application form for Post-Doctoral Research.  The applications must be submitted through the nominating institutions to the Office of the IDB Governor for the country. It is the Office of the IDB Governor that will forward the applications to the IDB and not the individual applicants or the nominating institutions.  As for Egypt, applications should be forwarded through the Ministry of Higher Education, Egypt instead of Office of the IDB Governor. Applications sent directly to the IDB will not be considered

10. Selection procedure

All the applications submitted to the IDB Governor’s Office are to go through the following process:

  1. Screening by the IDB Governor’s Office to forward to IDB the most eligible applications;
  2. In-house review at the IDB;
  3. Scientific and technical evaluation of eligible applications by a panel of external reviewers composed of scientists and experts in their fields.
  4. Final selection by the IDB.

11. Obligations of the Partners

  1. Candidates
    Candidates awarded the scholarship must:

    1. Sign the Surety Bond stating their commitments to studies, to return to their countries upon completion and resume work in their home institutions;
    2. Devote themselves to their studies on a full-time continuous basis and provide the IDB with periodic reports on their academic
    3. Not seek or accept other scholarship or remunerated work during their studies, unless agreed to in writing by the IDB;
    4. Respect the laws of the country of study while maintaining good personal and professional conducts consistent with the objectives, rules & regulations of the programme and the overall mission of the IDB as an Islamic institution.
    5. To register with the Science Development Network (SDN) for continuous scientific/professional activities under the patronage of IDB.
  2. Nominating Institutions
    As a partner in the joint effort with the IDB, the institutions nominating candidates are expected to:

    1. Nominate suitable candidates, assist them in all aspects of the documentation preparation and in securing the necessary endorsement from the Office of the IDB Governor for the country.
    2. Assist the selected scholars in preparation of their departure for study and place them on study-leave maintaining their pay-roll status.
    3. Help resettle them and support them in their research and equipment needs, on their return to the institution.
  3. Offices of the IDB Governors
    As the channel of announcement and initial processing of the applications, the Offices of the IDB Governors are expected to:

    1. Announce the Programme as widely as possible among the scientific and research communities in the country;
    2. Disseminate information and application forms to all relevant scientific and research institutions and interested scholars in the country;
    3. Screen and pre-process applications to ensure eligibility and completion of documentation against requirements;
    4. Pre-select and submit to the IDB only those who are most qualified and in the proposed fields of study that are most needed for the development of the country.

12. Community Development Support

To help scholars prepare themselves for their future leading role in the socio-economic and technological development of their societies and countries, the IDB also provides them with extra-curricular activities under a special programme called Community Development Programme (CDP) comprising the following two components:

  • Post Study Activities (PSA): Since the graduates are the keys to the delivery of IDB objectives of socio-economic and technological development of their societies and countries, IDB supports them with a range of activities including formation of IDB Graduates’ Associations and monitoring their contribution to their society, institution and country. The Scholars are facilitated to enlist their names as consultants/experts for various capacity building and knowledge transfer programmes in IDB member countries under the IDB Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP).
  • Capacity Building Activities (CBA): The graduates are eligible to participate in regional Community Development Workshops that are held in different countries as part of the Capacity Building Activities for partners of the IDB Special Assistance and Scholarship Programmes.

13.  Programme Management

The day-to-day implementation of the Programme is undertaken by the IDB Scholarship Division under the guidance and supervision of the IDB Management.

The application must reach the concerned IDB Governor’s Office or its designated office by January 31, 2014. Applications received directly at the IDB will not be entertained..

14. Announcement

15. List of Member Countries

16. List of IDB Governor Offices

17. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Beasiswa Islamic Development Bank (IDB): Beasiswa dengan Tunjangan Hidup Keluarga

Merit Scholarship Programme for High Technology. Program ini menawarkan beasiswa untuk mengikuti Program PhD (untuk 3 tahun) dan Post Doc (untuk 6-12 bulan).

Untuk rekan-rekan yang ingin melanjutkan studi ke luar negeri, tetapi sering terkendala dengan masalah tidak bisa mengajak serta keluarga karena dana beasiswa yang terbatas, beasiswa dari Islamic Development Bank ini bisa menjadi alternatif untuk bisa studi lanjut keluar negeri . Islamic Development Bank (IDB)  adalah sebuah organisasi ekonomi yang berpusat di Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. IDB memberikan program beasiswa ini kepada negara-negara anggota dan muslim community di negara-negara non-anggota IDB sebagai bentuk dukungan terhadap pembangunan sumber daya manusia di negara-negara tersebut.

Akan lebih baik juga jika rekan-rekan sudah memilki offer letter (conditional atau unconditional) dari sebuah universitas. IDB lebih menyukai pelamar yang sudah memiliki offer letter dari universitas yang masuk dalam rangking 200 besar versi Times Higher Education (THES), sehingga sebelum melamar, hendaknya rekan-rekan bisa merujuk pada rangking universitas di THES. Tautan: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2013-14/world-ranking

IDB menetapkan beberapa kriteria bagi seseorang untuk bisa melamar pada program Merit Scholarship Programme for High Technology, yaitu:

    1. Berusia tidak lebih dari 35 tahun (untuk program PhD) dan 40 tahun (untuk program Post Doc)
    2. Merupakan anggota institusi penelitian atau institusi akademik di negara asal. Untuk Indonesia, IDB lebih menyukai dosen atau peneliti di lembaga penelitian.
    3. Memiliki pengalaman kerja dan penelitian di bidang yang relevan yaitu science dan technology minimal 2 tahun. Ini dibuktikan dengan menyertakan copy publikasi ilmiah atau penelitian yang relevan.
    4. Mempunyai proposal riset yang baik dan jelas, terkait dengan pembangunan science dan technology di negara asal.
    5. Mempunyai kemampuan bahasa yang memenuhi kriteria untuk menempuh pendidikan di negara tujuan.

Fasilitas yang diberikan oleh IDB untuk IDB scholars juga cukup baik, tidak kalah dengan beasiswa yang lain. Fasilitas ini meliputi:

    1. Pembayaran tuition fee dan/atau research bench fee.
    2. Tunjangan hidup, jumlahnya tergantung negara tujuan. Untuk UK, saat ini tunjangan hidup adalah £975 per bulan. Untuk yang membawa keluarga, ada tunjangan untuk spouse (suami/istri) sebesar £400 per bulan ditambah tunjangan hidup untuk anak sebesar 15% per anak (dicover hingga anak ke empat).
    3. Tunjangan untuk buku dan pakaian, saat ini sebesar USD 100 per bulan.
    4. Tunjangan pembelian computer, saat ini sebesar USD 1200
    5. Tunjangan mengikuti konferensi, saat ini sebesar USD 1500, untuk digunakan selama masa studi.
    6. Tunjangan untuk settlement saat pertama datang, besarnya 1 (satu) kali tunjangan hidup perbulan.
    7. Tunjangan untuk thesis preparation, besarnya USD 250.
    8. Tiket pulang dan pergi dari negara asal ke negara tujuan, digunakan saat berangkat dan pulang setelah selesai studi.
    9. Asuransi kesehatan. Untuk UK, tidak diberikan karena asuransi kesehatan sudah dicover oleh NHS.

Dengan fasilitas ini, bagi rekan-rekan yang ingin studi lanjut ke luar negeri dengan tetap membawa serta keluarga, beasiswa IDB ini kiranya bisa memberikan alternatif untuk tetap melanjutkan pendidikan ke luar negeri.

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