NFP II, MSP II en Atlas

NFP II, MSP II en AtlasNFP team201412Use the arrow keys to move through this presentation. Click on the sound icon for oral explanation.

This presentation informs about changes in the process for Masters degree programmes, short courses, PhD and about the changes for MSP. There are no changes in the application and selection for alumni activities. The process for tailor-made training is already in progress.

As of the deadline of November 2014 the application and selection process of NFP and MSP are identical. After this presentation you should know about the application and selection process for NFP and MSP and what the part of the Netherlands Embassy is in these processes.

2Why this presentation?July 2013: start NFP II and MSP IINew policy means new process for application and selectionNew process means new system to support the processes

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As of 1 July 2013 a new phase of NFP and MSP started. This new phase is accompanied by changed policy. The changed policy and the need for more efficiency induced by budget cuts led to a change in the application and selection process for a fellowship.

Scholarships Online (SOL), the system used so far, could not support these changed processes. Therefore the system called Atlas will take its place.

3Goal and priorities NFP II and MSP IINFPMSPGoal:Build capacity within organisations to enable employees to take part in courses and training. New: focus on economic diplomacy.Goal:Contribute to democratization, support bilateral activities, build capacity. Also contributes to creating a positive image of the Netherlands.Priorities:Policy principles Ministry of Foreign AffairsSupport the bilateral goals of the embassy with regard to development cooperation.Priorities:50% of fellowships have to be awarded to womenSupport the bilateral goals of the embassy.4

Lets start with the goals and priorities of NFP II and MSP II. Both programmes aim at capacity building, although the primary goal of MSP is to contribute to democratization in the MSP countries.

For NFP, the goal to spend 35% of the budget on food security and private sector development still stands, as do the priority for Sub-Sahara Africa, female applicants and the priority countries. However, by determining a focus for NFP the programme will be more an instrument to support the bilateral goals of the Netherlands embassy. The focus is relevant at the assessment of applications.

MSP has women as priority: 50% of the fellowships have to be awarded to women. For MSP embassies can also determine a focus.

4Other important changesAdded focus: economic diplomacySubmit deadlines: changedNovember: SC, PhD, MSPApril: MA, SC, MSPAugust: MA, SC, MSPNFP country list: 51 countriesNo NFP/MSP course list

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There are other important changes.

An added objective of NFP is focus on economic diplomacy. The policy for alumni activities tries to meet this added focus. New activities have been developed and more will be done to promote the activities.

The application deadlines have also changed. Under NFP II and MSP II these are deadlines for Dutch institutions, not for candidates. These new deadlines are in November, April and August of each year.

The NFP country list now consists of 51 countries, as Cuba has been added to the country list. The NFP countries have been divided into 2 categories: category 1 countries will receive more fellowships.

Nuffic will no longer compile a course list and publish this list on the website. Candidates can search for a course in for instance the Studyfinder, and consult the Dutch institution if the course is eligible for NFP or MSP.56Application and selection in short

This slide shows in short the application and selection process for NFP and MSP. These processes are applicable as of the application deadline of 4 November 2014. The application period for these processes starts on 4 September 2014.

A significant change is that candidates register for a fellowship directly at the Dutch institution by using an online registration form.

The Dutch institution can subsequently nominate candidates for a fellowship by requesting a grant. An institution can only nominate a maximum number of candidates. Nominating candidates actually means that the institution requests for a grant.

A candidate can register before a deadline set by the institution. Between the start of the application process and the deadline itself are 8 weeks (2 months). From application deadline to final selection are 7 weeks.

Please note the differences between the process of the previous phase and NFP II/MSP II:1. NFP candidates no longer apply at Nuffic but directly at the Dutch institution. They will inform candidates before, during and after the entire process. Nuffic will no longer inform future candidates about how to apply or about the selection process. 2. MSP candidates do not submit an application at the embassy, but also have to use the online registration form to register. For MSP the change in how to apply will be more significant.3. Could NFP candidates check the status of their application in SOL, with Atlas, this is no longer possible. This is another big change compared to NFP I. Candidates will have to wait until the Dutch institutions inform them about the selection.4. Embassies no longer have to check and assess all applications for a fellowship. They only have to check and assess nominated candidates.

6Application periodStart 2 months before application deadlinePreceded by preparation phase:Nuffic: imports courses in AtlasDutch institution: checks course details in Atlas, prepare registration formRegistration form: for candidates to register for fellowship at Dutch institutionApplication deadline = deadline for Dutch institution to submit grant request7

The application period for the deadline of November starts 2 months before the application deadline. This deadline therefore starts on 4 September 2014. On this date the registration form becomes available for candidates. This is preceded by a period of 2 weeks in which Nuffic and the Dutch institutions prepare for the deadline.

Nuffic will import course details into Atlas. Of these courses the Dutch institution has indicated to participate with NFP. The Dutch institutions can then indicate in Atlas if a course is also open for MSP candidates.

Candidates receive the registration form from the Dutch institution. A Dutch institution can determine how to make the registration form available. It can post the web address of the form on their website for all candidates interested, or they can for instance only inform candidates which have their preference of the web address. This is entirely up to the Dutch institution.

The institution can also add extra information to the registration form. They can add for instance where to find more information, or information about the institution itself. The registration form is specific to an institution. If a candidates registers for institution A, it cannot be used for institution B.

7Eligibility checkDirectly after application deadlineCheck on objective criteria for candidatesIf indicated not-eligible: application not further processed for an NFP or MSP fellowshipEligibility check is identical for sub programmes: Masters, short courses, PhD.Only nominated candidates.8

After the deadline for submitting a grant, the Netherlands embassies are requested to check the eligibility of the applications from their country and to assess eligible applications.

Checking eligibility and assessing are both done in Atlas. The eligibility check is roughly equivalent as it is in SOL. The application has to be checked on objective criteria for candidates. If it does not meet these criteria fellowship officers need to indicate in Atlas for which reason or reasons an application is not eligible. Once an application has the status not eligible it will not be further processed. It will not be considered for a fellowship.

CHANGES IN CRITERIA?

8AssessmentDirectly after checking the eligibility of an applicationOnly eligible applicationsBy means of answering questionsResponse options range from poor to excellent

Deadline for eligibility check and assessment: 4 weeks after application deadline9

The scoring of applications as known under NFP I is replaced by assessment of applications. MSP application were already assessed by the embassies, although via the paper application forms. The assessment questions are however changed.

Assessing is done by answering questions with regard to the application. The embassies determine whether an application is important for the focus areas of an embassy. The embassy looks in its assessment of candidates to the whole of the application: motivation, employer (type and nature) and the chosen program.

9SelectionAssessment leads to a score. Determines position in the ranking of all eligible applicationsHighest ranked => selectedCorrection => if policy principles are not metPriority countrySub Sahara Africa (50% budget)Food security (35% budget)Applications from female candidates (50% of fellowships to female candidates)

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After the deadline for eligibility check and assessment the selection begins.

The assessment of an application leads indirectly to a score. All applications are then ranked, the highest ranked first. The highest ranked applications are selected, until the budget is exhausted. The policy principles have to be met. If this is not achieved the selection will be corrected.

The Dutch institutions will be informed of the result of the selection. They will receive a grant for their grant request. The decision informs which application are not eligible, which candidates are not selected and which are.

Candidates do not have to confirm availability. If a candidate unfortunately has to cancel the fellowship a Dutch institution can use Atlas to replace this candidate.

10Dates application deadline 4 November 201418 August 2014: preparationNuffic imports course details into AtlasInstitution: check course details, prepare form4 September 2014: start application periodregistration form for candidates available. Institutions can submit grant request4 November 2014: application deadline institutions2 December 2014: deadline eligibility check + assessment23 december 2014 (approx): selection11

The new processes are applicable as of the upcoming deadline of 4 November 2014. This is a deadline for NFP short courses, NFP PhD and MSP.

Embassies have an important role to play after the application deadline closes. Directly after the deadline closes you can start with the eligibility check and the assessment of the applications. 11About AtlasSuccessor of SOLTool to manage grant awardsSupports the changed processes for application and selection:Candidate: register for fellowship Dutch institution: submit a grant awardNetherlands embassy: check eligibility and assess applicationNuffic: select applicants

Atlas is the successor of SOL. With Atlas Nuffic can better manage the NFP and MSP. It further supports the changed processes. Next to this it supports the monitoring and follow-up of grants. Institutions can report in Atlas if for instance a candidate or a fellowship holder cancels. 12AtlasNo later than end of August 2014 fellowship officer will receive a notification from Atlas with their account detailsAtlas manual will be published on www.nuffic.nl/nfp/embassies13

Around/on [datum] the fellowship officers will receive their account details for Atlas. After this requesting a new account has to be done by submitting a form.

To support the fellowship officers with the use of Atlas, Nuffic will publish a user manual.13More informationwww.nuffic.nl/nfp/embassies

http://www.nuffic.nl/en/capacity-building/nfp/information-about-nfpii

Telephone: +31 (0)70 42 60 167

E-mail: nfp-fellowships@nuffic.nl14

This presentation primarily informs about the changes that are a result of NFP II and MSP II. We can imagine things are not clear. Therefore more information can be found in the instruction guide, guidelines, videos.

Of course you can also get in touch with us via email or telephone.14