The Affiliated Fellowship forms for applicants for Master’s-level funding for the 2016-2017 competition have now been posted to the Graduate Awards website:

• Application form – https://www.grad.ubc.ca/forms/affiliated-fellowships-application-form-applicants-masters-level-funding

• Instructions – https://www.grad.ubc.ca/forms/affiliated-fellowships-application-form-applicants-masters-level-funding

• Reference form – https://www.grad.ubc.ca/forms/affiliated-fellowships-application-form-applicants-masters-level-funding

The deadline by which Affiliated Fellowship applications for Master’s-level funding must be submitted to our office is Tuesday, December 1, 2015 (same as the deadline for Tri-Agency CGSM applications).

For any LFS Master’s level student who plans to apply for CGSM or Affiliated Fellowships – please check your eligibility before submitting an application.  The GPA required is a 1^st class standing in EACH of the last 2 years of full time study. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you plan on submitting a CGSM or an Affiliated Fellowship application, please let me know by Friday, November 27th at the latest so that I can prepare your transcripts in advance.  It is your responsibility to ensure any required transcript is received by the LFS Graduate Office by December 1^st.

To be eligible, applicants must have completed, as of December 31, 2015, between zero and 12 months of full time studies (or full-time equivalent) in:

• the master’s program for which they are requesting funding; or
• the doctoral program for which they are requesting funding if they were admitted into a doctoral program directly from their bachelor’s program (they were never registered in a master’s program, or are registered in a combined Master’s-PhD program); or
• a master’s program, but are requesting funding for a doctoral program (an example is a student who is fast-tracked from a Master’s to a doctoral program within 12 months of starting their Master’s and is seeking funding for the first 12 months of their doctoral program)

Transcripts

• All applicants must submit transcripts for all university-level studies (including studies undertaken but not completed) up to 31 August 2015.
• For institutions other than UBC, only official transcripts will be accepted. These may be original or certified true copies provided by our office
• For UBC, the applicant’s “Academic History” printed from the SISC by the applicant’s graduate program will be accepted.
• Translations of transcripts in any languages other than French and English must be included.
• It remains the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required transcripts have been provided to hour office by 1 December 2015

Canadian Common CV

Applicants are required to complete the CCV from the Canadian Common CV Web site (https://ccv-cvc.ca/indexresearcher-eng.frm ) as part of their Affiliated Fellowship application.
Refer to the Canadian Common CV – How to Complete the Canada Graduate Scholarships Master’s Version (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/CCV_CGSM-CVC_BESCM_eng.asp ; steps 1-5 ) for details. Applicants to the Affiliated Fellowship competition must complete the CGS-Master’s template of the CCV.

Kind regards,

Lia
Lia Maria Dragan
Graduate Programs Office | Faculty of Land and Food Systems
The University of British Columbia |344-2357 Main Mall | Vancouver BC Canada V6T 1Z4
hone 604.822.8373 | Fax 604.822.4400
Lia.maria@ubc.ca / lfs.gradapp@mail.ubc.ca

www.landfood.ubc.ca

The Fall 2015 Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s (CGSM) application is available on the Tri-Agency portal
(http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/students-etudiants/pg-cs/cgsm-bescm_eng.asp )

The deadline across Canada for applications is 5pm Pacific Standard Time, 1 December, 2015. After this time, the research portal will close, and there will be no opportunity to re-open the application. This is the deadline for all application materials, including reference letters. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that their references are submitted on time.

Please note that when identifying UBC as your institution, the official name is “The University of British Columbia”.

For any LFS Master’s level student who plans to apply for CGSM or Affiliated Fellowships – please check your eligibility before submitting an application.  The GPA required is a 1^st class standing in EACH of the last 2 years of full time study. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you plan on submitting a CGSM or an Affiliated Fellowship application, please let me know by Friday, November 27th at the latest so that I can prepare your transcripts in advance.  It is your responsibility to ensure any required transcript is received by the LFS Graduate Office by December 1^st.

To be eligible to apply, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada;
• be enrolled in, have applied for, or will apply for full-time admission* to an eligible graduate program at the master’s or doctoral level at a Canadian institution with a CGS M allocation. Note: Applicants who are not currently enrolled in their intended graduate program must submit an application for admission by the deadline for their intended graduate program or by March 15, whichever comes first;
• have completed, as of December 31 of the year of application, between zero and 12 months of full-time studies (or full-time equivalent) in:

• the master’s program for which you are requesting funding; or
• the direct-entry doctoral program for which you are requesting funding; or
• the combined master’s-doctoral program for which you are requesting funding; or
• a master’s program that was or will be fast-tracked to a doctoral program, and you are requesting funding for the first 12 months of this doctoral program; and

• not have previously held a CGS M;
• have achieved a first-class average in EACH of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent); and
• submit a maximum of one scholarship application per academic year to either CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC (the Research Portal will allow the application to be submitted to up to five institutions – refer to Application Procedures).

Applicants are not eligible to receive or accept a CGS M offer from an institution where they are not currently enrolled in, nor have applied for admission to, an eligible program of study.

Common Questions and Answers:

Q – Do I have to upload all of my undergraduate transcripts?
A – Yes, all post-secondary transcripts must be included, even if no degree was obtained or sought at a particular university (e.g. transfer or exchange credits).

Q – Can I upload a web transcript?
A – No. All uploaded transcripts must be official (originally issued by the registrar).

Q – What if I do not have a first-class average as determined by my current/previous institution(s) in each of my last two years of full-time study?
A – Your graduate program may consider forwarding your application to the university-level competition as an exceptional case, but this award opportunity is highly competitive, and they must be able to put forward a strong justification for why you should be considered despite not meeting the first-class average criterion.

Instructions for completing a CGSM application (including transcript requirements) are available online
(http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ResearchPortal-PortailDeRecherche/Instructions-Instructions/CGS_M-BESC_M_eng.asp ).

Kind regards,
Lia
Lia Maria Dragan
Graduate Programs Office | Faculty of Land and Food Systems
The University of British Columbia |344-2357 Main Mall | Vancouver BC Canada V6T 1Z4
Phone 604.822.8373 | Fax 604.822.4400
Lia.maria@ubc.ca / lfs.gradapp@mail.ubc.ca

www.landfood.ubc.ca

A reminder that Wednesday, November 11 (Remembrance Day) is a statutory holiday at UBC; as such, most non-essential offices will be closed (including the LFS Dean’s Office). November 9 and 10 are considered normal work days.

This year, 2015 will mark sixty-four years that The University of British Columbia has hosted a Remembrance Day ceremony. This special ceremony is an opportunity for faculty, staff, students and members of the on and off-campus community to honour and remember all those who served in times of war, military conflict and peace.

This year, the Remembrance Day Ceremony at UBC will be held on Wednesday November 11 and with 2015/16 being UBC’s Centennial, this year’s ceremony will highlight UBC’s long history of military service and include short readings, remarks and music.

Everyone is welcome to attend this annual ceremony – doors to the War Memorial Gym will open at 10:00 a.m. and the ceremony will commence at 10:45 a.m.

Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony and all are welcome to stay.

The GSS announces the launch of a new and unique professional and leadership development opportunity – GSS Commissioners.

GSS Commissioners will assist directly the work of GSS Executives in providing graduate student with services, programs, and advocacy support at UBC. They act as a proxy delegate at meetings with University administrators or committees where schedule conflicts prevent the attendance of GSS Executives. Commissioners also assist GSS Executives in initiating and supporting GSS projects, and provide leadership to GSS volunteers.

Equity Commissioner: works with the GSS VP University and Academic Affairs and the GSS President in making campus more inclusive, more diverse, and more equitable for all graduate students.

Indigenous Affairs Commissioner: advises the GSS Executive as to how to improve the Society’s understanding of UBC’s indigenous students and works in concert with the Executive on various initiatives that support indigenous students.

Sustainability Commissioner: assists the GSS VP University and Academic Affairs and President in the development of sustainability policy and projects, and is a liaison with graduate students and GSS volunteers working on sustainability projects.

Wellbeing Commissioner: assists the GSS VP Students liaise with various university stakeholders undertaking wellness programs and will held the GSS Executive initiate programs designed to educate graduate students as to some ways to achieve “wellbeing”.

Campus Safety Commissioner: attends the UBC Health and Safety Committee as the designate of the VP and works on various GSS initiatives related to sexual violence on campus; reports to GSS VP University and Academic Affairs and the President.

Mentorship & Experiential Learning Commissioner: works with the GSS VP Students on Orientation initiatives and assists on the development of community service learning programs and mentorship opportunities for graduate students.

Graduate students who are interested in any of the volunteer positions above should submit their applications by Sun., Nov. 22.

Be a Grad Rep on TLEF Adjudication Committee

Are you interested in innovative teaching ideas? The Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF) Adjudication Committee reviews the most recent applications, with large proposals in November and small proposals in January. If you want to be the graduate representative on the committee, please email president@gss.ubc.ca.

Craft Untapped: GSS Beer & Wine Tasting Series

Nov. 12, 2015, 5:00-6:30pm, GSS Loft

A new event series where grads can socialize, sample, and toast a variety of craft beer and wine!

Read more

Yoga Class

Mondays, Sep. 28 – Dec. 7, 2015, 5:30-6:30pm
Thea Koerner House
Drop-ins welcome at $7/session. Open to yogis of all levels.

Read more

Make New Friends & Build Your Leadership Skills

Gain valuable managerial experience from volunteering with a major student government! We are seeking grad students to join the following standing committees:

• 2016 Elections Committee
• House Finance Committee
• Human Resources Committee
• Services Committee
• Strategic Planning Committee

We are also seeking for a volunteer as GSS Representative on the AMS Council.

 

For more information or to join, please email aa@gss.ubc.ca

Next GSS Council Meeting

Thu., Oct 26, 5:30pm

“Wake up early. Drink coffee. Work hard. Be ambitious. Keep your priorities straight, your mind right and your head up. Do well, live well and dress really well. Do what you love, love what you do. It is time to start living.”
— Rusted Bones

Join the International Development Research Network (IDRN) for our Open Meeting on November 12th to continue preparation for upcoming activities, and invite new members to come learn more about the IDRN, get involved with upcoming events and, if interested, join our steering committee.

IDRN Recruitment Poster Nov 2015

When: Thursday November 12 @ 11 am.

Where: Liu Institute Research Unit

During the meeting we will be discussing two exciting upcoming events: a Roundtable on Artisanal Gold Mining in December and the new IDRN Field Debrief Series.  This meeting is open to anyone interested in the IDRN and its mission, so even if you aren’t a current member, come on out – we are looking for motivated individuals to participate in the planning and implementation of both events!  A few details on what the events will look like and how you can get involved are provided below:

Miners, Minerals, and Minamata: Interdisciplinary perspectives on Artisanal Gold Mining and Sustainable Development (Dec. 1-3, 2015)

What is it? With support from the Peter Wall Institute, this high-level interdisciplinary research roundtable is focused on how the Minamata Convention on Mercury lacks appropriate concern for the 20-30 million small-scale miners whose livelihoods are supported by artisanal gold mining (AGM). Due to the complex socio-ecological linkages associated with AGM (e.g. poverty traps, environmental health impacts and power asymmetries), any meaningful dialog must consider its role in local communities, regional cooperation, global markets and broader sustainable development initiatives. This event seeks to identify knowledge gaps, prioritize research areas and propose coordinated projects addressing multi-scale issues among technical experts, scholars, the United Nations and leading development practitioners to support knowledge mobilization, strengthen partnerships and target key areas for intervention and future research grant development.

How can I get involved?  There are a variety of ways IDRN members can contribute to putting on this event.  We are looking for help with the planning process, everything from identifying and contacting potential speakers to developing event activities to catering options.  We are also looking for help spreading the word and drumming up interest leading up to the event through writing blog posts or background papers related to artisanal mining, designing and distributing promotional materials and possibly developing a knowledge forum to be hosted on the IDRN website

IDRN Field Debrief Series (ongoing)

What is it? A monthly series of field debriefs given by graduate students who have recently completed field work related to international development.  Monthly sessions will follow a theme with one or more students presenting on strategies, lessons learned and anything they wished they knew going into the field, followed by a discussion.  This is a great chance for presenting students to reflect on their fieldwork and pay it forward to those that are getting ready to head out!  We envision a small-to-medium sized audience (10-30 people) comprised largely of grad students, although attendance from undergrads, faculty and practitioners can be encouraged.

How can I get involved? The IDRN is looking for graduate students that have recently carried out field work related to international development to host or co-host a field debrief session.  These sessions would be paired with a blog post written by the host(s) to share your experience with a wider audience and give attendees a permalink to revisit.  We are also looking for help from new or existing IDRN members to plan and promote this series (brainstorm themes, develop promotional materials, organize logistics, etc.).

If you would like to attend the meeting or have any questions, please contact us at idrn.ubc@gmail.com.  If you can’t make it to the meeting but are interested in joining the IDRN, helping out with our upcoming events or even just attending an event, likewise send us an email!

Want to know more about IDRN? Read on…

What is IDRN?

The International Development Research Network (IDRN) is an initiative of the Liu Institute for Global Issues, located at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

The network exists to better leverage the vast contextual knowledge and experience that exists across diverse UBC departments. We want to generate a robust dialogue within the UBC development community, through regular events and web-based collaboration. A strong sense of community will enable grad students, faculty and research staff to reach out to each other for advice and support, crossing the disciplinary divides that isolate us.

Although we encourage web-based collaboration, we believe that face-to-face events provide the best forum for first conversations and creative thinking. Therefore, in addition to our forum, we will hold panel events, workshops, field debriefs, reading groups, movie nights and more.

If your work relates to international development, we encourage you to join, connect and collaborate.

Who runs IDRN?

IDRN is a grad student initiative funded by the Liu Institute’s Scholar Program. The organizing committee is primarily comprised of grad students, with an advisory board of faculty and practitioners. You can check out the current steering committee profiles on our website.

What kinds of events can I expect?

As we gain momentum, you can expect to see regular panel events, workshops, field debriefings, reading groups, movie nights and more.

Who may attend IDRN events?

We hope to attract as diverse an audience as possible, including students, faculty, research staff and practitioners.

What can I do?

1. Sign up to receive information on future events and opportunities.
2. Mention us to your friends and colleagues, and encourage them to come out to events.
3. Sign up to post your research profile as a member of the network
4. Volunteer and/or join the Steering Committee to help us build! Opportunities include website development, copy-writing (website content), recruiting, event coordination, UBC networking, international networking, finance and organizational development (formal structure and constitution).

 

International Development Research Network @ UBC

www.idrn-ubc.org | idrn.ubc@gmail.com | IDRN on Facebook | Twitter

Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia

Vancouver, BC, Canada