Attention !!! Contest of scholarships for students, candidates for a master's degree, post-graduate students

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

and

International Non–governmental Association for Scientific Research, Information  and Educational Programmes «Evolutio»

announce

contest of research works of students, candidates for a master's degree, post-graduate students

«Current state of the problems of refugees and stateless persons: solutions, achievements, prospects»

The contest objective is to encourage scientific research of students, candidates for a master's degree, post-graduate students on the problems of refugees and stateless persons, international organizations' activities and international legal documents on protection of refugees and stateless persons role.

The contest goals are to attract attention of young researchers to the problems of refugees and stateless persons, dissemination of information on the activities of government bodies, non-governmental and international organizations to solve their problems, the formation of a tolerant attitude towards refugees and stateless persons.

The contest is open for full-time students, candidates for a master's degree and post-graduate students of full-time course of study of higher educational and scientific institutions of the Republic of Belarus.

The participants shall submit the following documents to the International Non–governmental Association for Scientific Research, Information and Educational Programmes «Evolutio»:

• a written work on the contest topic in Russian or Belarusian by mail: 220030, Minsk, Krasnoarmeyskaya str. 22A, 7th floor, the Representation of the UNHCR Office in the Republic of Belarus. There must be a label on the envelope which says "The contest of research works". At the same time, work should be sent by e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;
• a filled contest participant application form (download);
• a certificate from the faculty dean’s office, stating that he/she is a full-time student/candidate for a master's degree/post-graduate student of full-time course of study.

The work shall not exceed 15 pages with a list of literature (pages size — A4, 12 pt font, Times New Roman, 2.5 cm each margin, line space sesquialteral, page numbering at the bottom of a page on centre). The title sheet shall indicate the name of the work, the surname, name and patronymic name of student/candidate for a master's degree/post-graduate student, the university, the faculty and the course. The author signs the title page of the work.

The work must be carried out individually. The work must have independent nature. In the introduction relevance of the work should be settled down, objective and goals should be stated, brief review of analyzed literature should be given. In the main part it’s necessary to cover the paper's topic in accordance with stated objective and goals. In the conclusion implications should be given, if possible theoretic and practical recommendations of the author to resolve this problem may be given. Footnotes and literature design should conform to requirements of the design of scientific papers.

The following research directions are proposed:

• armed conflicts in a contemporary world: humanitarian crises and the UNHCR activities to solve them
• evolution of the international system of refugee protection   
• differences between voluntary and forced migration
• mixed migration flows: refugees and stateless persons
• vulnerable refugees (children, old people, women): peculiarities of assistance providing and protection 
• system of refugee protection in the Republic of Belarus: comparative analysis with other countries 
• solution of statelessness issues: international experience
• integration of refugees: problems and prospects 
• attitude of society towards refugees/stateless persons 
• multiculturalism: benefits and drawbacks

The topic and name of work is determined by the author under the proposed directions. It is desirable the title of the work not to be named after the directions indicated in this announcement. Works with new proposals, suggestions, and recommendations on solutions of the problems stated before will be encouraged.

Once you have decided to participate in the contest, it is recommended to consult with the organisers of the contest.

Works which don't comply with the contest topic and include plagiarism will be excluded from the participation in the contest. Indication of participant’s name or the title of a higher educational institution somewhere in the work, except of the title page, will also lead to participant's disqualification.

N o t e: Plagiarism is the use of the language and thoughts of another author without indication of actual authorship. The use of the language and thoughts of another author is assumed in case of obligatory reference to the actual author's text, which must be given in quotes. Attention should also be paid to the presence of references to facts and figures which are given in the work.

The competition begins on September 1, 2012, the deadline is on November 30, 2012. The results of the contest will be announced not later than on December 31, 2012.

Works will be measured by the following criteria: research nature of the work (the depth of the topic research, independent views, argumentativeness of conclusions, existence of proposals and problem-solving recommendations); presentation of material (literacy, clearness and logical order of material presentation, unambiguousness which exclude double-meaning sense, validity of personal suppositions and recommendations of the author); compliance of the work with the design requirements.

For the winners of the contest are planned:

• three first place rewards in the amount of 900 000 (nine hundred thousand) Belarusian rubles;
• three second place rewards in the amount of 600 000 (six hundred thousand) Belarusian rubles;
• three third place rewards in the amount of 300 000 (three hundred thousand) Belarusian rubles.

The number of winners and the amount of the rewards could be changed in accordance with the commission decision.
Moreover, on the recommendations of the commission the best works can be published in the Journal of International Law and International Relations.

If you have any questions and comments, feel free to contact us by the phone: (017)209 57 66, 209 57 40 or via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Also, the website of the UNHCR Office in the Republic of Belarus can be useful for you: http://www.unhcr.org.by/, and also next websites http://www.unhcr.org/, http://www.un.org/, http://www.refugeelawreader.org/.