Stavros Niarchos Foundation Scholarships

The Department of Political Science and International Relations (PEDiS) of the University of the Peloponnese, within the framework of the exclusive donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) , continues to offer scholarships in memory of the Founder and General Director of the Praksis Non-profit Organization, Janetos Antipas , an iconic personality of of Greek civil society, who left prematurely, leaving behind a great social project.

The scholarships aim to strengthen scientific research for civil society and encourage young people to follow the example of Janet Antipa in social contribution.

Scholarships are distributed as follows:

• scholarships for graduate students in the ” Governance and Public Policy ” Graduate Program .
• scholarships to PhD Candidates (€9,000 per student), who will carry out research on issues of civil society, volunteering, non-profit organizations and non-state actors.

Postgraduate students and PhD candidates will acquire high-level academic knowledge and skills in a Department with an interdisciplinary character in issues of economy and modern governance in the European and international context, as well as in the more specific subject of the operation of civil society organizations. They will strengthen their theoretical foundations and acquire new possibilities of exploiting their abilities, in order to strengthen their career prospects in the dynamic area of ​​public service activity.

The President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Mr. Andreas Drakopoulos, stated:“Janetos was a man of inexhaustible energy and vision, a true humanitarian, who broke new ground with his action in the area of ​​social contribution. For the SNF, Janetos Antipas was not only a close partner, but also a valuable friend. Together we designed and implemented a multitude of innovative programs that offer protection and a life perspective to vulnerable social groups and fellow human beings who escape the social protection net. He left us prematurely, leaving behind a great social work and an irreplaceable void. It was a real honor to work with him. We will remember him and continue to support his wonderful work, actively encouraging and supporting young people who wish to follow his example.”

The selection criteria:

Scholarships are awarded based on four criteria:

• academic performance, as evidenced by academic qualifications and academic activity;
• financial difficulty to continue studies,
• volunteer experience and
• leadership

Selection process:

The selection of the fellows is based on the above criteria by a three-member nomination evaluation committee, which, together with their Scientific Supervisor, monitor the academic progress of the fellows and advise on research and professional development issues.

Interested parties must prepare a nomination file in which they must include:

1. A recent Europass -compliant curriculum vitae, listing academic qualifications, volunteering experience, professional career and any research activity.
2. A short text (“letter of motivation”, up to 400 words) in which they will explain the reasons why attending the master’s program or preparing a doctoral thesis will benefit them in their career in the field of non-profit organizations.
3. Acceptance of their application to the PMS “Governance and Public Policies” or their application to prepare a doctoral thesis by the PEDIS Assembly.
4. A letter of recommendation from a person who can evaluate the candidate’s professional experience and voluntary action in cooperation with civil society organizations.
5. Copy of the clearance note as it appears from the submission of the tax return of the most recent financial year.
6. Especially for doctoral candidates, it is necessary to submit an analytical note after the first year from the start of the thesis, which will be co-signed by the supervising professor, regarding the progress of the doctoral research in the field of study of civil society organizations and the planning of the next stages of the research with reference, among other things, to the publications in reputable international scientific journals.

Documents documenting the candidate’s academic and professional career are not required to be submitted with the submission of the application file, but should be made available to the Evaluation Committee when requested. Nominations are submitted by September 30 of each academic year electronically. Specifically for the academic year 2022-2023, the deadline for submitting applications is October 20, 2022. The Evaluation Committee meets in the first week of the new academic year, i.e. in the month of October, and decides on the distribution of scholarships. Those selected during the first screening stage of the applications will be invited to attend an interview by the members of the Evaluation Committee.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is not involved in the process of evaluation and selection of candidates, for which the University of the Peloponnese is solely competent and responsible.

Scholarship payment and scholarship obligations:

The scholarship, for those selected for the postgraduate program, will cover the tuition fees, as defined by PEDIS, and the remaining amount will be paid upon successful completion of the program within the prescribed time limit and receipt of the relevant certificate from the Secretariat FIELD.

The scholarship, for those selected to prepare a doctoral thesis, in the amount of 9,000 euros will be allocated in three annual installments, one per academic year and the last one after the successful support of the thesis and the receipt of the relevant certificate from the Secretariat of PEDIS. The PhD candidate should submit to the Evaluation Committee and the General Assembly of Special Composition annually the Progress Report, which is prepared by the supervising professors and submitted to the General Assembly of PEDIS for approval. Additionally, doctoral candidate candidates must annually submit a copy of their most recent tax return by the ³¹July. The Committee judges whether substantial progress is being made in the research project and the reasons for paying the installment to the scholarship holder are met.

The General Manager of Praksis, Mr. Alexis Margalias, is appointed external evaluator, who has the ability to advise the Three-Member Committee and the Scientific Officer regarding the selection and progress of candidates as well as the improvement of the evaluation procedures.

All monies are paid through the Research Committee (ELKE) of the University of the Peloponnese. All scholars must comply with the relevant regulations of PEDIS which apply to postgraduate students and PhD candidates. Scholars must inform the Tripartite Committee in a timely manner if reasons arise that prevent them from completing the program for which they have been selected.

Dates :
Applications are submitted electronically, to the address: pedis@uop.gr . Then, the three-member evaluation committee meets at the beginning of October and the process of selecting the scholarship holders is followed.

Contact :
Secretariat of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of the Peloponnese, tel. 27410 40040, http://pedis.uop.gr

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About the Stavros Niarchos Foundation

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation [(SNF) (www.SNF.org)] is one of the largest private philanthropic organizations in the world and makes donations in the fields of art and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. Since the beginning of its operation, in 1996, until today, the SNF has allocated a total of €1.8 billion, through 3,891 donations to non-profit organizations, in 113 countries around the world. The Foundation supports organizations that are expected to bring tangible, lasting and positive results to society and demonstrate effective management and sound management. The SNF also supports programs that contribute to the cooperation of public and private sector entities, as effective means of supporting the common good.

In addition to its regular donations, the SNF continues to respond to the emergency needs of Greek society with the aim of immediate relief from the adverse consequences of the socio-economic crisis, having allocated three individual donations totaling €300 million.

The Foundation’s largest single donation is the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in Athens. The total cost of the project was €629 million. The SNFCC, designed by the internationally renowned architectural office Renzo Piano Building Workshop, includes the new facilities of the National Library of Greece and the National Opera, as well as Stavros Niarchos Park. The project was handed over to the Hellenic Society on 23 February 2017. After the handover, the SNF announced its commitment to continue to support the SNFCC in practice for the next five years, with donations of up to €50 million. Donations support the organization of public events as well as the operation of the SNFCC, through the partial coverage of operating expenses.