USGUIDE

IISH Fellowships

tucr21 — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:13:21 GMT

IISH Fellowships

The International Institute of Social History (IISH) of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) is located in Amsterdam. Founded in 1935, it is one of the world's largest documentary and research institutions in the field of social history in general and the history of the labour movement in particular. IISH holds over 3,000 archival collections, some one million printed volumes and about as many audio-visual items. Gathered from across the globe, the IISH collections provide a unique body of materials on social conditions and social movements in many parts of the world.

Facilitating the use of these materials for research by the global scholarly community is central to the mission of the IISH. Whereas scholars from Western Europe and North America regularly find their way to Amsterdam, the institute's collections are less widely known among social historians from other parts of the world, in particular from developing countries. With the generous help of the retail financial service provider SNS Reaal, IISH can now launch a fellowship programme for researchers located in these regions who wish to use its collections for the study of social history, preferably labour history, whether from a regional, national, or comparative and transnational perspective.

Period: Fellowships are awarded for five months. Each year there are two rounds. This is a call for applications for fellowships for the periods 1 February - 30 June 2011 and 1 September 2011 - 31 January 2012. The call for applications for both of these rounds is open until 1 October 2010. Candidates should clearly indicate on their applications which of these two rounds they are applying for. After award the fellowships cannot be transferred to a period of stay different from the one indicated in the original application. A call for fellowships to start in 2012 will follow in due course.

Regions: For the current two rounds we invite applications from the following regions: South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union. For scholars from Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus fellowships are awarded in honour of the renowned Iranian sociologist Dr Gholam-Hossein Sadighi. In future rounds we expect to expand the regional coverage to include Africa and Latin America as well.

Minimum requirements: a Ph.D. degree or equivalent academic track record. The fellow's research plan should fit the Institute's focus on social history. A close link with the Institute's research programme on 'Global Labour History' is strongly recommended. Fellows are expected to write a report on their research activities at the end of the fellowship period, to take part in the activities of the Institute's Research Department, and to give at least one public lecture.

Applications should be submitted no later than 1 October 2010, using the application form which can be downloaded here, to be returned after completion to: fellowships@iisg.nl.
- download the Application Form (word document)

Fellows receive a monthly stipend of €1,500. The fellowship also includes an economy return flight to the Netherlands, visa support, as well as arrangements for accommodation and health insurance in Amsterdam.

For general information on the International Institute of Social History, please refer to the IISH website, in particular the sections on the IISH collections, the institute's research projects and its Global Labour History research programme. For specific information regarding the fellowship programme send your inquiries to: fellowships@iisg.nl

Selection of applications will take place according the following main criteria:
1) the applicant's qualifications

2) quality and novelty of the proposed research project, as well as its affinity to social and labour history research conducted at the International Institute of Social History

3) relevance of the IISH archival, library and documentary collections to the proposed research project

4) applicant's abilities to interact with other fellows and the IISH's research staff in the English language.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection procedure no later than 15.

Contact detail: fellowships@iisg.nl
Moreinfo: http://www.iisg.nl/research/fellowships.php

Relocation from Texas to Washington

peter — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:05:59 GMT

Mình chuẩn bị moving từ Texas qua Washington State nên có 1 số câu hỏi mong các bạn nào biết thì chỉ giùm. Thanks trước.

Status của mình: F1 student & 1 cái used car

1. Trên đó bị tuyết nhiều nên chắc phải thay tires, oil, còn phải thay gì nữa ko nhỉ? Nếu tuyết nhiều mà để xe ở ngoài trời ko có mái che thì sáng ra sợ chết máy? Winter trên đó thì xe có cần yêu cầu gì special ko?

2. Registration and Inspection nên làm ở TX hay len WA? Có nên đổi Driver License ko? Cả ID của TX nữa chứ? Để 2 cái được ko? Nếu registration ở WA thì insurance có phải đổi ko và có nên đổi ko?

3. Nghe thằng bạn nói winter trên đó lạnh lắm, bác nào có bí quyết chống lạnh chỉ với: mặc thiệt nhiều đồ ấm? có miếng dán nào cho ấm người ko nhỉ ???

Mình chưa sống ở vùng lạnh bao giờ nên câu hòi có vẻ hơi ngu ngơ, mấy bạn có gì thông cảm heng :P Có bí quyết gì chỉ giùm ha.

Thanks much.

Erasmus Mundus - IMMIT Scholarships

tucr21 — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:16:43 GMT

Erasmus Mundus - IMMIT Scholarships

International Master in Management of IT (IMMIT), which is jointly offered by IAE Aix Graduate School of Management, Université Paul Cezanne Aix-Marseille III (France), Turku University (Finland) and Tilburg University (The Netherlands). You will find relevant information about this exciting two-year Master’s programme on this website, including course descriptions, interviews with students, alumni and professors and case examples. As the international reputation of the IMMIT programme continues to grow, so will your credentials in the eyes of future employers around the globe.

IMMIT offers you:

* a highly innovative programme for top students
* outstanding academic quality
* experience with the international classroom and a broadening of your views on Business and IT
* small sized classes
* a strong international orientation
* guaranteed internships, which means fast track career opportunities
* exposure to cutting edge research and education in a fast growing discipline
* a coherent and well-structured programme

Scholarship for third-country nationals, eligible for an Erasmus Mundus Category A scholarship, are citizens from all other countries than: the 27 EU Member States.

Erasmus Mundus Scholarships receive a total of approx. €48.000 during the 2 years of studies. This is a full scholarship that should cover yearly tuition fees, living expenses and travel expenses. A more detailed description of the amount will be given to the student as soon as the scholarship has been awarded.

Applicants need to meet the following admission criteria:

* The IMMIT programme is open to students with a Bachelor’s or equivalent undergraduate degree (180 ECTS) either in Management/Economics/Business Administration or in Computer Science/Information System. Students with an engineering degree can be admitted if their previous education includes IT and information systems.
* A satisfactory scholastic average, a minimum of 3.0 (B) grade-point average, in course work completed during the Bachelor’s degree.
* If you are required an English proficiency test then include an official copy of one of the following English proficiency tests: Academic IELTS (min. 6.5 overall/6.0 on parts), TOEFL (min. paper based: 575, computer based: 233, internet based: 90) or Cambridge Proficiency
* An official copy of your GMAT test. The average GMAT score of accepted students is 600. Or an official copy of your GRE test score. Our incoming students usually score above the 75% percentile on the quantitative section.
* Students with a relevant Bachelor degree from one of the partner institutions of the Tilburg School of Economics and Management, IAE Aix-en-Provence and Turku University do not need to submit the GMAT/GRE test score. (Note: a GMAT/GRE is however required in case a student wants to qualify for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship Category A or Category B).
* A statement of purpose (motivation letter).
* Two letters of recommendation
* Complete resume in English

Contact detail: immit@uvt.nl
Moreinfo: http://www.immit.eu/default.htm

Erasmus Mundus - EMSRHS Scholarships

tucr21 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:51:13 GMT

Erasmus Mundus - EMSRHS Scholarships

European Master in Sustainable Regional Health Systems aims to fill the gap in Health Management by approaching the theme of health system management and planning on a regional level. This Master promotes the benchmarking of the different health system models helping to construct the comprehensive health system management and planning, including both, health care and promotion, as well as the interrelation between health and socio-economic areas. It aims to spread out the European model of health promotion and health planning, sustainability and the role of health system in social cohesion and strengthening of social capital.

Admission
* A university degree in Sociology, Psychology, Law, Political Science, Anthropology, History, Medicine, Social Work, Social Education, Nursing, Public Health etc, that they want to specialize in the scope of the health.
* Candidates are required to have a recognized qualification in the language of instruction of the university that they plan to attend. Knowledge of languages of the place of study is an asset.
* A sufficient score of one of the following English language certificates (TOEFL, First Certificate, IELTS).
* Statement of intent. Applicants must submit a statement of intent indicating why the Master’s is relevant for future carrier.

Non-EU student (Category A):

* Contribution to travel, installation and any other type of costs: € 8000
* Maximum contribution to the EMMC participation costs (including insurance coverage):
€ 4000 / semester
* Monthly allowance: € 1000 / month

If you are an EU student inside the EU (Category B):

* Maximum contribution to the EMMC participation costs (including insurance coverage):
€ 2000 / semester
* Monthly allowance: € 500 / month

Registracion Form is available here.

Contact detail: marija.veniute@mf.vu.lt
Moreinfo: http://erasmusmundus.tprs.vu.lt

Erasmus Mundus - EMTM Scholarships

tucr21 — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:56:19 GMT

Erasmus Mundus - EMTM Scholarships

Erasmus Mundus European Master in Tourism Management (EMTM) is a two-year world-class integrated programme aimed at qualifying graduates to deal with the huge challenges in contemporary tourism.

Tourism is a total social and economic phenomenon, which calls for a holistic approach to tourism education where broader aims of the industry and society are explicitly addressed in tourism curricula. The European Master in Tourism Management (EMTM) provides students with a far-reaching and integrated understanding of the multiple disciplines and paradigms concerned with the subject which are bound together through the framework of sustainability.

The EMTM is a fully integrated two-year joint European programme promoted and tailor-made by three university partners: The University of Girona (Spain), known for its research and pursuit of teaching excellence in tourism product innovation and destination management; the University of Southern Denmark (Denmark), internationally recognized for its research and education in the field of sustainable tourism development; and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), renowned for its excellence in tourism policy design and tourism environmental management and economics. The medium of instruction is English.

Admission criteria
* Completed university Bachelor or Master degree/s (=180 ECTS credit points or more) in the field of: tourism, economics, business administration, geography or other related fields in the social sciences and humanities.
* Excellence on obtaining the university degree/s (the average grades must be A or B).
* English language proficiency proved by TOEFL with at least 230 points (computer based) / 575 points (Paper-based test) / 88 points (Internet-based Test), IELTS at grade minimum 6.5 or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) with minimum level C. An English proficiency certificate is not required in case the applicant comes from English speaking country or if the applicant has been instructed in English to obtain the first degree.

Erasmus Mundus Category A scholarship – are awarded to students selected by EMTM consortia, who are nationals of a Third Country (all countries outside the EU Member States, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland).

Category A scholarship

* 1,000€ per month for two years (24,000€)
* 8,000€ for mobility
* Tuition fees which are paid by the EU to the EMTM coordinating institution.

EMTM application form (click to download)

Contact detail:emtm@emtmmaster.net
Moreinfo: http://www.emtmmaster.net

Câu hỏi về grading Mỹ - Úc, liên quan đến ngành Edu

LWT — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:21:05 GMT

Dear các anh chị, và các bạn,

Mình mới xem qua các post trên usguide và thấy rất có ích, nhất là mục chia sẻ kinh nghiệm. Nhân đây mình mún hỏi anh chị em, bạn bè trên này 1 tí, mong nhận được lời khuyên của mọi ng.

Mình hiện đang học MEd (master of education) ở Úc, học coursework. Nhưng đi học ở Mỹ vẫn là mong ước của mình nên mình có ý định: về sau hoặc là học cao hơn (tsỹ); dù cg hơi ngán ngẩm chuyện học hành nhưng mình cg biết ngành của mình thì có cái bằng tsỹ sẽ tốt hơn hẳn về nhiều thứ; hoặc có thể sẽ học thêm 1 bằng nào đó. Nói chung cái đó là ý định tương lai chứ mình chưa có cụ thể lắm, nhưng honestly mình rất muốn có thể làm tsỹ ở M. Vì sao mình thích M đến thế thì chắc ko fải cái cần bàn nhiều ở đây. hihi.

Lằng nhằng quá, sozi cả nhà, mình vô thẳng vấn đề đây: mình đọc thấy cư dân mạng (Tây í, còn ta mình chưa tìm thấy post nào nói), thì đa số nói là: Úc hệ thống điểm strict hơn M nhiều. MÌnh hiện đang học mình cg thấy là ở trường mình (unsw) chấm ko dễ. Nếu >=75 thì là distinction; >=85 là high dis. Bạn mình hiện học bên Mỹ cũng nói là bên đó nếu học tử tể, bài tốt thì thậm chí essay cg có thể cho 100. Mình ko rõ có fải là norm ở M ko, cũng có thể chỉ là ý kiến của 1 vài cá nhân. Còn bên Úc này mình và các bạn mình đều thấy khá "thú vị': hay có kiểu distribute điểm cho đồng đều, 1 lớp có 5% high dis chg hạn, 10% dis v.v. Và essay cg ko có chuyện 90 đâu.

Đấy, mình mô tả tình hình là như thế. Nói chung mình ko có issue ji lắm với grading của Úc, ngoại trừ việc nó fân bổ quota điểm.

Kì vừa rồi điểm mình cg ok. >80/ 100 GPA. Với mình thế là rất fine rồi vì mình ko ham mê máu me điểm.Mình bít 1 số anh, chị, bạn VN mình học ơ Úc cùng ngành mình, ở queensland hoặc mêlbourn điểm cao lắm, toàn dân hb :D Hệ thống thì khác với trường mình, thiên hạ bảo thấp hơn nhưng m nghĩ chắc khác quy định thôi, chứ cao thấp khó so.

Mình muốn hỏi là: như thế về sau mình mún xin financial aid hoặc TA/ RA khi apply Phd hoặc Dr of Education --> điểm vậy là ok chưa? (mảste học coursework nên chắc nhìu trg cho em Dr of ed, ko phd) Cách đây ko lâu nói chuyện với 1 người thì họ bảo là rất quan trọng, và có vẻ theo ý họ điểm vậy ko dễ xin.

Mình biết là điểm chỉ là 1 yếu tố, và k fải yếu tố quan trọng nhất. Nhưng mình cg muốn biết là nó quan trọng đến mức nào, đbiệt nếu anh/ chị/ bạn nào cho advice về ngành mình thì tốt quá. :D

Ngoài ra nếu apply PhD/ DrEd để có TA/ RA thì yếu tố quan trọng nhất là ji?

Xin cảm ơn!

Lớp tiếng anh TOEFL thầy Mạnh

redlee — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:37:22 GMT

Thầy Mạnh nổi tiếng tớ ko phải giới thiệu nữa. Tớ đã gọi điện hỏi thầy mở lớp mới. Lớp dự kiến sẽ học vào buổi sáng thứ 2 và thứ 4, khung giờ 6h30-8h30. Thầy đã kín hết lịch buổi chiều và tối rồi. Các bạn đăng ký nhanh để đặt lịch hẹn kiểm tra với thầy nhé!
Lớp sẽ có khoảng 20-25 bạn, giá mỗi buổi khoảng 50-60k, thời gian học cả khóa là 1.5 năm
Địa điểm học: 20 Lê Thánh Tông – Hoàn Kiếm – Hà Nội

Các bạn đăng ký theo mẫu sau:
Họ tên:
Sinh viên năm thứ mấy:
Trường nào:
Thời gian thi: tháng, năm ( thống nhất là đầu năm 2012 nhé)
Nước: (đừng ghi là Sing nhé)
Địa chỉ:
Sđt:
E-mail:

Rồi gửi vào mail cho tớ: redlee.chau@yahoo.com

Erasmus Mundus - SUTROFOR Scholarships

tucr21 — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:44:17 GMT

Erasmus Mundus - SUTROFOR Scholarships

The MSc programme in Sustainable Tropical Forestry (SUTROFOR) is a top-level programme aimedat preparing qualified graduates to deal with contemporary tropical forestry. It providesstudents with direct access to the best tropical forestry teaching in Europe.

The programme is offered by a five university consortium from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Wales. The programme consists of a year of study in one of three institutions (Bangor, Copenhagen, Dresden) followed by a second study year at one of the four other institutions. The aim of the first year is to provide a thorough and broad introduction to sustainable tropical forestry. This allows students to choose freely among the five specialisation options in the second year. The first year ends with the Joint Summer Module including field work in a tropical country. Specialisation options in the second year are agroforestry systems (Bangor), socio-economics of tropical forestry (Copenhagen), tropical forest management (Dresden), environmental management and policies for tropical forests (Montpellier), or ethics in forestry and responsible trade in tropical forest products and services (Padova). The teaching staff is very active in research and students profit from their global expertise.

The SUTROFOR offers an integrated study programme with a resulting double degree that is fully recognised in all the participating countries. Selection requires a strong Bachelor's degree, the applicant's CV, documentation of proficiency in English (and if choosing Montpellier, French in some cases), the applicant's personal statement of motivation, and recommendations from two references. The language of instruction is English with a French option in Montpellier.

Admission Criteria
- A good first university degree in Forestry, Biology or related fields such as Environmental Science or Geography, alternatively in Economics, Management or Political Science
- Language proficiency and C.V.
- Experience from relevant practice may be an advantage.
- Personal statement of motivation.
- Recommendations from two referees.

The EM Masters course, SUTROFOR, is open to non-EU and EU students. Every year approx. 17-20 EU scholarships are available.

Category A Scholarships for Third-country nationals: Total 48.000 EUR

Category A scholarships can be awarded to masters students from all countries other than the 27 EU menber states and EEA/EFTA states: Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway. Furthermore, you must comply with the 12 months rule: You must not be a resident nor have carried out main activity (studies, work etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in one of these countries.

Category B Scholarships for European nationals: Total 20.000 EUR

Category B scholarships can be awarded to any masters students who do not fullfil the criteria A defined above, i.e nationality requirement and 12 months rule.

For both categories please note:

1. You must study in two of the consortium partner countries.

2. The two countries must be different from the country in which you have obtained your last university degree.

It is possible to be admitted to the Course, even though you are not awarded a scholarship. You will then have to cover EM SUTROFOR participatory costs. If you finance your study yourself, you are allowed to study in the country of your last university degree.

Application form for Non-EU students
Application form for EU students

Contact detail: sutrofor@life.ku.dk
Moreinfo: http://www.sutrofor.net

Erasmus Mundus - MsGT Scholarships

tucr21 — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:07:18 GMT

Erasmus Mundus - MsGT Scholarships

The International Masters Program (Master of Science, M.Sc.) in Geospatial Technologies is a cooperation of:

* Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU), Institute for Geoinformatics (ifgi), Münster, Germany.
* Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Castellón, Dept. Lenguajes y Sistemas Informaticos (LSI), Castellón, Spain.
* Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Instituto Superior de Estatística e Gestão de Informação (ISEGI), Lisboa, Portugal,
* selected within the Erasmus Mundus Programme, project reference: 2007-0064/001 FRAME MUNB123.

Medium of instruction: English
Awarded joint degree: Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Geospatial Technologies

The three-semester Masters program targets holders of Bachelor degrees in application areas of Geographic Information (GI), e.g., environmental planning, regional planning, geography, logistics, transportation, marketing, energy provision, computer science. GI is a rapidly growing market, lacking qualified GI personnel and offering excellent career chances. Therefore, the Masters Program targets life-long learning for graduates and professionals in the fields of geography, surveying, planning, local adminstration, etc., who are willing to acquire additional GI skills for applying them in their respective GI application area.

The applications will be checked regarding the fulfillment of all formal requirements.
Further criteria:

Students
The students’ application will be evaluated by an equal number of representatives of the three partner universities. Evaluation criteria are:

* Bachelor degree (grade)
* Bachelor degree (relevance of study program, see "to whom")
* English language skills
* High-level academic achievements
* Expertise in GI application areas
* Professional or other experience in application areas that can benefit from GI technologies
* Motivation for the study program
* Social and multi-cultural competencies
* Formal aspects of application

The European Commission will provide ~ 10 full scholarships for non-EU students, ~ 2 full scholarships for students from the Western Balkans and Turkey Window, ~ 8 financial contributions for EU students (including EEA-EFTA countries and Switzerland), and ~ 4 scholarships for scholars (visiting researchers) per edition.

Please click here to proceed to the application system.

Contact detail:broxc@uni-muenster.de
Moreinfo: http://geotech.uni-muenster.de

Obama ends Iraq combat effort: Time to turn page

hnguyen — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:17:54 GMT

Chào các bạn,

Tối hôm nay tổng thống Obama mới phát biểu về kết thúc đánh nhau ở Iraq thật khích lệ. Đúng là tin của ngày.

YouTube Video
ERROR: If you can see this, then YouTube is down or you don't have Flash installed.

Chúc các bạn một ngày tuyệt vời,

Hiển
.
Obama ends Iraq combat effort: Time to turn page

By BEN FELLER, AP White House Correspondent Ben Feller, Ap White House Correspondent Tue Aug 31, 7:32 pm ET

WASHINGTON – Opposed to the war from the start, President Barack Obama on Tuesday formally ended the U.S. combat role in Iraq as promised, declaring: "It is time to turn the page." He said the nation's most urgent priority must be fixing its own economy.
In advance excerpts of his prime-time speech to the nation, Obama said the United States "has paid a huge price" to give Iraqis the chance to shape their future. That toll has included more than 4,400 dead, tens of thousands of troops wounded and hundreds of billions of dollars spent since March 2003.

"Ending this war is not only in Iraq's interest — it is in our own," Obama said.

Yet for all the finality, the war is not over, and the American sacrifice will continue.

Obama is keeping up to 50,000 troops in Iraq for support and counterterrorism training, and the last forces are not due to leave until the end of 2011 at the latest. Still, he sought to mark Aug. 31, 2010, as a milestone in one of the defining chapters in recent American history.

In a telling sign of the domestic troubles weighing on the U.S., Obama reserved part of his war address to campaign for his efforts to revitalize the economy.

On a night focused on his role as commander in chief, he said his "central responsibility as president" was to get people back to work.
The ending of the combat mission on this date had been known for 18 months. Given the stakes, the toll in American lives and dollars and the long consuming debate, Obama sought to explain it to the country.

"Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country," Obama said. He made sure to remind the nation that he had promised to meet this goal and shrink U.S. involvement by now, "and that is what we have done."

Obama's rise to the presidency was built in part on his fierce opposition to the war, an American-led endeavor that lost public support as it rolled on and American casualties rose. Obama has long held that the war inflamed anti-American sentiments abroad and stole resources from the fight in Afghanistan.

In a defense of his foreign policy, Obama said capping the combat mission in Iraq would send a message to the world that the U.S. "intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership."

Obama sought to close a divisive chapter without declaring victory.

His opposition to the war presented him with a tricky moment — standing firm in his position without disparaging the sacrifice and courage of those who fought.

On Tuesday he was intent on assuring the nation and the stretched military that all the work and bloodshed in Iraq was not in vain, declaring that because of it "America is more secure."

Though the U.S. commitment in Iraq is winding down, Obama is sending more troops to Afghanistan, the home base of the Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaida terrorists, where Americans have been fighting for nearly nine years.

"It is going to be a tough slog," Obama said of Afghanistan in remarks earlier Tuesday to soldiers at Fort Bliss, Texas. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said success in Afghanistan was possible but "is not inevitable."

Tuesday night, the president's speech was never intended to be celebratory.

"It's not going to be a victory lap," Obama said at Fort Bliss, a post that has lost 51 soldiers in the Iraq war. "It's not going to be self-congratulatory. There's still a lot of work that we've got to do to make sure that Iraq is an effective partner with us."

In fact, Iraq is in political turmoil, its leaders unable to form a new government long after March elections that left no clear winner. In Baghdad on Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden pressed Iraqi leaders anew to break the impasse. The uncertainty has left an opening for insurgents to pound Iraqi security forces, hardly the conditions the U.S. envisioned for this transition deadline, which Obama announced 18 months ago.

Since the war began, more than 4,400 U.S. troops have been killed and almost 32,000 have been wounded. The war is one of the longest in the nation's history, even as the one in Afghanistan continues.

Obama's big day was defined by what it was — a turning point, a promise kept — and by what it was not.

It is not the end of the war. More U.S. troops are likely to die.

All U.S. troops are not expected to leave Iraq until the end of 2011, a final agreement that was secured before Obama took office.
Obama has accelerated the end of the U.S. role in Iraq by pulling home nearly 100,000 troops.

The American public has largely moved on. The prevailing worry now is joblessness at home.

Almost forgotten are the intense passions and protests that defined the Iraq debate through much of the past decade. Or that lawmakers of both parties authorized President George W. Bush to go to war.

What emerged was not just a war but a Bush doctrine of pre-emptive force against perceived threats, one that reshaped how the world viewed the United States. In Iraq, the intelligence that made the case for war was faulty; no weapons of mass destruction were ever found.

Saddam Hussein was toppled, and Iraqis now live in greater freedom, but those were not the rationales for war. The aim was, as Bush put it in his own Oval Office address in 2003, "to defend the world from grave danger."

The national focus has turned to Afghanistan and to the staggering economy in the U.S. In particular, weeks ahead of a vital congressional election in the U.S., Obama wants Americans to see a linkage between getting out of Iraq and investing more money at home.

A major thrust of Obama's speech was to honor the service of U.S. troops and civilian workers in Iraq. Another was to assure Iraqis that the United States is not abandoning them.

And yet another mission was to remind the country, in Obama's view, about where the true threats to national security lie, including in Afghanistan.

Just 38 percent of people support the war in Afghanistan, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll, and only 19 percent think things will get better in the next year. On Iraq, unsurprisingly, Obama finds more support in pulling troops home: 68 percent approve of his ending the formal combat mission.

The cost has been financial, too. Congress has allotted more than $1 trillion for both wars.
The Iraq war linked Obama and Bush before the Democrat won the White House, and has ever since.
Fittingly, Obama called Bush on Tuesday to talk about this moment in the war. It is more than seven years after the former president declared that major combat operations were over.

The White House said the call was private and would not say more.

Erasmus Mundus - IMACS Scholarships

tucr21 — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:51:29 GMT

Erasmus Mundus - IMACS Scholarships

The Erasmus Mundus Masters Course “International Master in Advanced Clay Science” plans to form high level graduates in the field of clay science by providing them the competence, fundamental knowledge and skill necessary to perfectly assimilate the more recent developments in clay science and their applied perspectives.

IMACS is an integrated Master of Science designed by 5 institutions with a wide range of leadership in clay science :UP : University of Poitiers in France ; TUC : Technical University of Crete (Chania) in Greece ; UA : University of Aveiro in Portugal ; UO : University of Ottawa in Canada ; UFRGS : Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre) in Brazil.

In order to make the programme more attractive for Third-Country nationals, the amount of the full study scholarship will be higher for Third-Country master students (Category A scholarships) than for European master students (Category B scholarships).

Each year for students and scholars applying for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, the deadline is December 31st (Third country applicants) and April 30th (European applicants).

The qualitative selection criteria, and their relative weight in the final evaluation score, against which all applicants will be assessed by IMACS Selection Committee are the following :

Minimum requirements :

Fluent level in English certified by a TOEFL score of 550, IELTS 6.5 or equivalent (excepted for native speaker).
A Bachelor of Science with a minimum grade of "B" in the ECTS grading system (at least a score of 70% of the maximum) or an academic equivalency based on the professional experience of the applicant (validation of acquired experience)

Academic ability (60%) : Evaluation based on...

... quality and recognition of home institution having awarded the first degree, quality and recognition of the degree, quality of transcript of records, suitability of past curriculum with aims of IMACS.

... both letters to be asked to two reference persons.

... additional language skills. According to the specialisation preferred in the 2nd year, a fluent level of understanding in French, Greek or Portuguese, or a higher level in English could be taken into account.

Motivation (25%): Evaluation based on...

... applicant's free letter of motivation (2 pages at a maximum, in English, type-written or word-processed)

... brief responses (200 words each) to the following questions : Why should you be selected in EMMC IMACS ? and How your participation in EMMC IMACS will be helpful in your professional project ? (included in the online application report)

Work experience (15%) :

Evaluation based on present and past work experience, professional qualifications, leaded projects and so on.

You need to be registered for a full access to the application process and for updating your data. Once registered, please, use the "Intra-IMACS\Student" in order to modify your application.

Moreinfo: http://www.master-imacs.org

Erasmus Mundus - MESPOM Scholarships

tucr21 — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:50:40 GMT

Erasmus Mundus - MESPOM Scholarships

MESPOM is an Erasmus Mundus Masters course in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management operated by four leading European and two North American Universities and supported by the European Commission. MESPOM prepares students for identifying and implementing solutions to complex environmental challenges, especially in an international context.

The MESPOM study programme is in English and lasts two years. The students study in at least three out of six consortium universities: the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at Lund University (Sweden), the University of Manchester (UK), Central European University (Budapest), the University of the Aegean (Lesvos, Greece), Middlebury College and its affiliate Monterey Institute for International Studies (MIIS) (USA), and the University of Saskatchewan (UoS) (Canada).

MESPOM invites applications from all countries. Successful candidates must have a good first degree in a subject related to environmental sciences, policy and management such as biology, geography, other earth sciences, civil engineering, urban or landscape planning, resource economics or specialised disciplines (environmental engineering, environmental management, environmental economics, environmental policy). Candidates with other first degrees are also considered if they show commitment to environmental careers, usually through work experience. Admission is based on the academic and intellectual excellence of applicants as well as their motivation and prior experience. All candidates should demonstrate proficiency in English. In order to create a multicultural learning environment, the Consortium strives to achieve a balance between various geographic and disciplinary backgrounds of MESPOM students.

General requirements
Applicants to MESPOM must have earned a first (Bachelor’s or equivalent) degree (not less than 3 years of full-time studies) from a recognized university or institution of higher education, or provide documentation indicating that they will earn their first degree from such an institution by the time of enrolling in MESPOM.

Language Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English. Those applicants whose first language is not English must submit standardized English language test scores, e.g., the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Students taking TOEFL should request a copy of their results to be sent to the CEU Admissions Office. The CEU test code is 0069. Other substitute tests of English language are noted below.
Minimum Test Scores Required by MESPOM

On-line application form

Contact detail: info@mespom.org
Moreinfo: http://mespom.eu

Oak Human Rights Fellowships

tucr21 — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:49:17 GMT

Oak Human Rights Fellowships

The Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights was established in 1998 by a generous grant from the Oak Foundation. Each year, it hosts an Oak Human Rights Fellow to teach and conduct research while residing at the College. The Institute organizes lectures and other events centered around the fellow's area of expertise.

The purpose of the fellowship is to offer an opportunity for one prominent practitioner in international human rights to take a sabbatical leave from front-line work to spend the fall semester (September-December) in residence at Colby. This provides the Fellow time for respite, reflection, research, and writing. While all human rights practitioners are eligible, we especially encourage applications from those who are currently or were recently involved in "on-the-ground" work at some level of personal risk. Following the period of the fellowship, the fellow is expected to return home to continue her/his human rights work.

Fellowship will offer a semester in residence at Colby, giving respite from front-line human rights work, a $32,000 stipend, plus medical insurance, transportation, housing and utilities.

Eligibility for the Oak Fellowship is restricted to those whose work takes place primarily outside the United States; selection criteria include achievements in the struggle for human rights, the need for respite,
removal from danger, and the ability to contribute to the Colby community.

1. Download the application by clicking here
2. Complete the downloaded application and save to your computer
3. Fill in your name and email in the yellow box below
4. Upload your COMPLETED Oak Application below
5. Upload your RESUME or C.V. below
6. Click APPLY NOW
7. All recommendations should be sent directly to oakhr@colby.edu

Moreinfo: http://www.colby.edu/academics_cs/goldfarb/oak

Building/Developing/Mastering Skill for the TOEFL iBT

Vipho — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:19:02 GMT

Chắc có rất nhiều anh em đang cần nó. Đây là links đầy đủ bộ này. Mình mới load được hai bộ
Building Skills for the TOEFL iBT- Beginning

Trích:

http://www.uz-translations.net/?cate..._the_toefl_ibt

Link download
Ebook
Audio

Developing Skills for the iBT TOEFL- Intermediate 2nd
Ebook

Trích:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zjdyywmmtmi

Audio các bác load ở đây dùng từ khóa "Developing Skills"

Trích:

http://englishtips.org/

Mastering Skills for the TOEFL iBT

Trích:

http://www.uz-translations.net/?cate..._the_toefl_ibt

Link download
Ebook
Audio part1
Audio part2

Lập nhóm tự học toefl cho beginner!

smartcat — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:59:04 GMT

Mình hiện thấy rất đáng tiếc vì đã bỏ lỡ thời gian không ôn toefl sớm hơn. Hiện với mình đang rất gấp. Nhưng không thể vội vàng được. Mình muốn tìm những bạn có cùng mục đích ôn luyện nghiêm túc, giúp đỡ nhau quá trình ôn luyện về mọi kỹ năng. Vì là begin nên mình có xây dựng quy trinh ôn luyện như sau:
- giai đoạn đầu tổng hợp ngữ pháp + từ vựng
- Tập viết cách essay cơ bản, nâng cao cấu trúc câu. dựa trên tài liệu các thành viên tổng hợp.
- Các thành viên chia sẻ củng cố thêm về kiến thức backgroud knowleage:16:-
- Tiến hành luyện nghe, nói chủ điểm...vvv
- Tiến tới luyện các dạng bài thi theo tài liệu toefl cơ bản đến nâng cao.
Nhóm đòi hỏi bạn có tinh thần học tập cao, mục đích rõ ràng. ko bỏ dở giữa chừng.
xin liên lạc với mình qua: nickname: ngocnguyen20387
số đt: 0977868630
nhóm học giới hạn 4-5 bạn.