NOW ACCEPTING STUDENT APPLICATIONS - UWI St ...

NOW ACCEPTING STUDENT APPLICATIONS
                                  McGill-UWI Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee
                                  Scholarship Program 2022-2024

                                  Climate Adaptation & Resilient
                                  Communities: Policy, Research and Practice

                                  University of the West Indies
                                  McGill School of Population and Global Health

Recruitment is now open at The UWI St. Augustine and Cave Hill campuses for a new Queen
Elizabeth Scholars (QES) program. Applications from graduate level students from all disciplines
are welcome for an exciting new climate resiliency scholarship program. Scholarships include a
90-day research or practice-based internship at McGill University in Montreal, Canada and
participation in a learning exchange and training program in climate resilient communities,
leadership and community engagement. Application Deadline: January 31 2022

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The UWI and the School of Population and Global Health at McGill University are launching a new
3-year research and student-training initiative titled Climate Adaptation & Resilient Communities:
Policy, Research and Practice.

The McGill-UWI 2021-2024 Queen Elizabeth Scholars (QES) Scholarship Programme, funded by
Universities Canada, builds on over 30 years of close inter-university collaborations between
McGill University and University of the West Indies (UWI) to implement a scholarship programme
focused on a critical current challenge to Canada, the Caribbean region and globally. This training
and research exchange program builds on the important role that youth have been playing in
climate action globally by linking cross-disciplinary research with practice between Canada and
the Caribbean region around the theme of climate change adaptation and resilient communities.
This will be done through active partnerships with a diverse group of faculty at McGill and UWI,
and key local partner organizations.

In 2022, 2023 and 2024, 6-7 McGill and 6-7 UWI QES Scholars will be selected from across
disciplines. Each year, UWI scholars will conduct supervised research at McGill (between June 1 st
and September 30th) and McGill scholars will undertake 3-month for-credit research or practice-
based internships in Trinidad or Barbados (between May 1st and August 30th). All scholars will also
participate in leadership-focused training and community engagement activities, and have the

opportunity to contribute to learning exchange activities and scientific outputs with faculty, other
project students and community partners.
UWI and McGill are partnering with organizations central to regional disaster and climate related
development.

PROGRAM DETAILS
Who is eligible to participate?
1) Graduate-level students across all departments and disciplines (PhD and Masters)
2) Citizens of one of the following eligible countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas,
   Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican
   Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and
   Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos
1) 35 years of age or less at time of application
2) Proficient in English
3) Available for orientation, training, peer mentoring and community engagement activities
   between May and October of 2022.
4) Able to spend 90+ days in Canada in the period June 1st to September 30th 2022 as specified
   by the particular program.
5) Have a demonstrated interest and background related to the programme and identified
   research projects.
6) Have a willingness to participate in community engagement activities while in Canada.

What will selected UWI QES Scholars do?
• Complete credited research projects supervised by McGill faculty members at McGill
  University (minimum 90 days) between June and September of 2022. Projects will focus on
  climate resiliency research and give students the opportunity to gain practical and
  professional experience related to the public health, social, and economic impacts of climate
  change.
•   Participate in, and contribute to, the student-led Climate Leadership Development Program
    including training and opportunities in community engagement, leadership and global
    citizenship.
•   Participate in the Climate Resiliency Learning Exchange which will connect QES Scholars,
    researchers and community partners for discussion on key strategies for climate resiliency.

•   Engage in peer mentoring and knowledge sharing events, and participate in QES Scholar
    community activities.
See complete list of research projects in the next section.

How much is the award?

•   Up to $7,000 CAD for UWI students (to cover travel and living expenses).

Credit
Students should inquire with the School of Graduate Studies and Research as well as their
respective faculties/departments regarding credits for courses, fieldwork and research.

Research and Internship Themes for 2022

2022 research project activities are primarily focused on the following themes:
   • Food Security
   • Green Campus & Climate Action
   • Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Living: Policy and Practice
   • Disaster Risk Management and Resilience
   • Health and Psychosocial Practices for Building Resilience
   • Migration and Displacement
   • Methods for Engaging Communities in Climate Research and Action

FUNDING

The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) is managed through a unique
partnership of Universities Canada, the Rideau Hall Foundation, Community Foundations of
Canada (CFC) and Canadian universities. This program is made possible with financial support from
the Rideau Hall Foundation.

UWI Student Internship Details
UWI graduate students from St. Augustine and Cave Hill campuses will spend a mandatory 90
days at McGill University in Montreal Canada, working full-time on climate resiliency research
projects supervised by McGill faculty members. Since graduate programmes at the two
campuses run on varying schedules, students will be able to travel anytime between June and
September as long as the meet the 90-day requirement. Students should therefore ensure that
they have no in-class requirements at either campus that would prevent them from spending the
required 90 days.

While at McGill, each QES Scholar is responsible for checking in with their faculty supervisor and
the McGill student program manager regularly. Scholars create and sign a joint research plan in
collaboration with their faculty supervisor(s). All QE Scholars will participate in pre-departure
training offered by the UWI project team led by the International Offices. Scholars will engage
actively in the program’s Climate Leadership Development and peer mentoring activities between
May and October of 2022 and have the opportunity to participate in Climate Resiliency Learning
Exchange activities with faculty, students and partner organizations throughout their internship
year and as alumni in the remaining two years of the project. At the end of their program,
scholars submit a final report and a personal change video highlighting their key lessons learned
through the program.

Application Details
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship Program aims to achieve a gender balance of
50%. This project is committed to equity and diversity in recruitment. We highly encourage
applications from Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, women, people with disabilities, people
of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and those who are the first generation of
their family to attend postsecondary studies. Please indicate in your cover letter if you would like
this to be considered for equity recruitment.

TO APPLY
All application documents should be sent to the International Office attention Paula Jarvis
internationaloffice@cavehill.edu. Please include “QES Scholarship Program” in the subject line.
Personal statements should be no more than 10 pages, 1.5 line spacing.

Application documents:

      1. A personal statement using the following template:

      2. Cover letter explaining why you are the best fit for this program

      3. CV with full contact information

      4. Copies of Unofficial UWI Transcripts

      5. and 6. Two letters of recommendation must be sent directly from your referees, and
      should include “QES – Reference for Student name __________” in the subject line.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All applications will be evaluated based on:
•   Academic performance and/or relevant professional experience
•   Research experience and analytical skills
•   The QES program’s relevance for a candidate's future goals
•   Interest, work and/or experience related to climate resiliency
•   Leadership and community engagement
•   Required qualifications and skills for chosen internship projects

UWI students who are selected for interviews will be contacted by February 21st, 2022.