Naseej Academy | 2020 Mortenson Grant

Naseej Academy and SLA-AGC Grant to Attend Mortenson Center Associates Program

A free grant jointly awarded by Naseej Academy and SLA- Arabian Gulf Chapter will enable two professionals in library, information and archive institutions to participate in the Mortenson Center Associates Program.

The grant will cover the airfare, accommodation and program cost.

Application Guidelines and Selection Criteria

Selection Criteria

Currently employed in a library, information center, or archive, with minimum three years’ experience.
Commitment to furthering the Mortenson Center’s mission within the participant’s own country.
Willingness and ability to share what is learned while at the Mortenson Center with others in the participant’s home country.
Participants should be fluent in conversational English and possess a reading knowledge of English. This program is delivered in English only.
Excellent communication skills.
Demonstrated commitment of the participant’s home institution to supporting sharing activity (training seminars, workshops, etc.).

Notes

Each institution has the right to nominate two applicants for the grant, one main and a reserve applicant.
Library, information or archives professional, in the Arab world, and a national of an Arabic state. (applicants to the last grant, excluding grant winners) are eligible to apply again.
Priority will be given to members of the Special Libraries Association – Arabian Gulf Chapter, whether those members are the applicants themselves or the institutions they represent.

Application Instruction

Scans and electronic documents sent by online application are preferred.
Applications must be complete, received within stated deadline, and include all required attachments.
Applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
The Mortenson Center reserves the right to verify all information given in the application.
Application must be submitted in English along with supporting documentation in order to be considered.
Participants must be prepared to work as team members with other Mortenson Center program participants and to participate as required by the program.
Associates will not be permitted to join the program late or depart early.

Supplemental Materials
Kindly attach the supplemental materials listed below in order to apply for the 2020 Associates Program:

Curriculum Vitae
Please provide a current Curriculum Vitae in English which details your professional activities (i.e., education, professional and work experience, professional participation (affiliations, memberships, conference presentations), awards, honors, and publications).
Letter of Recommendation
The Letter of Support must be submitted in English. The Letter of Support should be written by a supervisor who is familiar with you and your work, and can evaluate your ability to participate in the Mortenson Center Associates Program. Family members are not eligible to write a Letter of Support. The Letter of Support must have an original signature.
Copy of Passport Identification Pages with a clear personal photo
The application will not be complete without a copy or electronic scan of your passport.
English Language Proficiency Supporting Documentation
If English is not among the official languages of your country, you must send proof of your English language proficiency, and there will be an online interview with Mortenson Center staff.The following documents will be required from the finalists
A pledge to submit a professional report on the program
Successful candidates will be required to make a commitment in writing, endorsed by the institution they represent, to submit a professional report on the program within one month of completing it.
A pledge to complete the entire program
The applicant undertakes to bear the financial cost of the granted scholarship in the event of non-completion of the entire course due to either unexpected circumstances or negligence on their part. The grant committee will estimate the value based on the justifications provided for the failure to complete.

About 2020 Mortenson Center Associates Program

Smart and Smarter: Leadership and Innovation in Libraries
A Professional Development Program for Library Leaders and Innovators

The 2020 Mortenson Center Associates Program will offer individuals working in a library setting outside the United States an opportunity to explore current issues and trends in the library field and engage with librarians implementing cutting-edge programs and services.

Program participants will learn about novel and inventive practices and services in areas such as:

Innovation by Design
Leadership, Communication and Managing Change
Smarter Strategies
Emerging Technologies
Digital and Print Collections and Repositories
Marketing and Advocacy
International Professional Networking

Program Highlights 2020

Seminars and Workshops which provide an overview of current trends in the field. Library experts will be invited to share their perspectives, offer expertise, and foster conversations on the themes of communication and leadership.
Tours of a variety of libraries, including academic, public, and school libraries. We may also visit the American Library Association headquarters in Chicago, Illinois and other sites of interest.
Networking with dynamic group of international colleagues during and post-program.
Participants will develop individual action plans, appropriate to their professional and institutional needs, and will receive post-program implementation review.
Each participant will receive a Certificate of Program Participation upon completion.
Scheduling to allow participants to attend the Annual Meeting of the American Library Association (ALA), if they wish.
The 2020 Annual Meeting will be in Chicago, IL, June 25-30. Arrangements and registration for the conference must be made separately and are not included in program costs.

Program activities will begin on May 27, 2020. The last day of program activities will be June 23, 2020.
The final deadline for application submissions is December 16, 2019.
The grant winners will be announced during the closing ceremony of the SLA–AGC conference, to be held on April 7–9, 2020, in Kuwait.

Application closed for 2020!