ERDT SCHOLARSHIP

Implementing Guidelines INTRODUCTION Based on a 2002 UNESCO study, the Philippines has 48 research scientists and engineers (RSE) per million population. This number is low compared to the UNESCO benchmark of 340 per million population. The number of RSEs is often used as a yardstick for economic development. The lack of RSE weighs down on the countrys ability to achieve further economic growth as we are not attracting enough technology-based investors who look for the availability of high-level scientific and engineering manpower. Moreover, it hinders the country from competing with our neighbouring countries that have started to embark on knowledge-based economy. The Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) Consortium composed of UP College of Engineering (UPCOE), De La Salle University College of Engineering (DLSU-COE), Ateneo de Manila University College of Engineering (ADMUCOE), Mapua Institute of Technology College of Engineering (MIT-COE), Central Luzon State University College of Engineering (CLSU-COE), San Carlos University College of Engineering (SCU-COE) and the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology College of Engineering (MSU-IIT COE), offering mature engineering graduate programs in the country, has the manpower, to train highly skilled research engineers/ educators who can perform high-value added activities and who can train other engineers. This will produce a multiplier effect that will enable the country to achieve and exceed the UNESCO benchmark. The ERDT Scholarship is thus established as a way of achieving this goal. This is consistent with the medium term development plan (MTDP) and the National Science and Technology Plan (NSTP) of the country. With generous privileges, the scholarship encourages engineers to pursue graduate studies. COVERAGE Who may apply: The scholarship is available to incoming graduate students of the ERDT member institutions and to current graduate students (lateral entry) who have earned at least 6 units of graduate courses at the ERDT member school. Applicants must not have pending application to other scholarships. Application for scholarship of faculty members of Higher Education Institutes (HEI) will not be given priority in lieu of existing CHED scholarships specific for faculty members. Graduate Programs: The scholarship grant is offered for all Masters and Doctoral Programs of the ERDT member school on a full-time basis and shall devote his/her full time towards the completion of his/her degree. The scholarship covers actual tuition and other fees, stipend, book allowance, research grant, thesis (dissertation) grant and transportation assistance. QUALIFICATIONS Masters Degree by Thesis The applicant must 1. have a BS degree in engineering or related field. 2. not be more than 40 years old at the time of application 3. be a Filipino citizen 4. be in good health 5. not have criminal/ administrative cases (NBI certification is required)

Doctoral Degree The applicant must 1. have an MS degree (by research) or a BS degree with exceptional academic record in engineering or related field 2. not be more than 40 years old at the time of application 3. be a Filipino citizen 4. be in good health 5. not have criminal/ administrative cases (NBI certification is required) APPLICATION PROCEDURE The applicant must 1. first apply for admission into the graduate program of the ERDT member school. 2. accomplish the ERDT Scholarship form. 3. submit the accomplished form and the following documents to the Graduate Office of ERDT member school. (a) curriculum vitae covering personal, educational (including research projects if applicable), and professional (type of work and position occupied) background. (b) photocopy of official transcript of records (c) Recommendation letter from 3 past professors or supervisors (d) a narrative, not more than 1000 words, describing the applicants current work or project (or research) that he/she worked on and his/her contribution towards the completion of the project (e) a narrative, not more than 500 words, describing what the applicant intends to do (e.g., work, business, etc) after earning his/her graduate degree. (f) For PhD applicant, a narrative describing his/her intended research area (g) Birth certificate (original NSO copy and photocopy) (h) NBI clearance 4. Wait for notification by mail SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION 1. Application forms and related documents submitted to the Graduate Office will be forwarded to the Department Chairmen. 2. A Selection Committee, headed by the Department Chairman, will rank the applicants based on: (a) academic records (b) research experience (if applicable) (c) recommendation letter 3. The selection committee may ask for additional documents from the applicants for ranking purposes. 4. From the ranking, the Selection Committee shall select qualified applicants for interview. The Selection Committee shall forward the list of qualified applicants and interview schedule to the Graduate Office of ERDT member school to notify qualified applicants of the same. 5. Based on the interview, the Selection Committee shall then select successful applicants for the scholarship. 6. The Chairman shall then submit the names of the successful applicants to the GRADUATE OFFICE who will then forward the list to the Dean for approval. 7. Upon the approval of the Dean, the GRADUATE OFFICE will notify all applicants of the results of their application by mail. NB: The Selection Committee is not obliged to fill the scholarship quota allotted to their department. The Dean can re-assign unused scholarship slots to Departments that have over-subscription of successful applicants.

CONTRACT SIGNING The Grantee shall enter into a scholarship contract with the ERDT member institution together with his/her Co-maker. DURATION OF SCHOLARSHIP The scholarship shall be for 2 years for those enrolled in the Masters program and 3 years for those in the Doctoral program. Except in meritorious cases, scholars may be allowed to go on leave of absence (LOA) not exceeding one semester. During the course of the LOA, the scholar is not entitled to any of the scholarship privileges. The privileges will be restored once the scholar returns from LOA. SCHOLARSHIP PRIVILEGES ERDT Scholars are entitled to the following privileges: 1. Full tuition and other fees 2. Monthly Stipend of P12,000.00 per month for MS or P20,000.00 per month for PhD 3. 1 roundtrip ticket for the duration of the scholarship of not more than P10,000.00 4. Book allowance of P5,000.00 per semester 5. Thesis (dissertation) grant of P30,000.00 (P60,000.00) RESEARCH GRANT The ERDT scholarship provides research grants of P200,000.00 for each masters program and P400,000.00 for each doctoral program. The following table indicates the distribution of research grant for Masters and Doctoral programs. Advisers Honorarium P36,000 P72,000 Equipment P100,000 P200,000 Research Dissemination P50,000 P100,000 MOOE P14,000 P28,000 Total P200,000 P400,000

MS/ME PhD/DE

RESPONSIBILITIES ERDT Member School The ERDT member school shall: 1. request the release of scholarship privileges to the Grantee in a timely manner. The Grantee The Grantee shall: 1. enter into a contract with the ERDT member school. 2. enroll in the program of study approved by the Department Selection Committee 3. take the required academic load per semester 4. devote full time on his program of study 5. not engage in any professional practice in the duration of the scholarship 6. not have other scholarship contracts 7. reimburse the ERDT Member School, with interest, the total assistance released to him/her + 20% of the released amount to cover administration costs, in case of willful abandonment of the scholarship, gross misconduct and non-compliance with the terms and conditions stipulated in the Scholarship Contract 8. submit a notarized Co-Maker Undertaking and a copy of the Co-Makers Income Tax Return for the duration of the scholarship;

9. render return service to the country equivalent to the length of time that the scholar enjoyed the scholarship one year of service for every year of scholarship or a fraction thereof. This will hold even for the non-completion of the course including failure to complete the required courses. TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Only Grantees officially enrolled are entitled to receive the Scholarship privileges. 2. Only Grantees enrolled in the prescribed load requirement shall be entitled to full stipend 3. For Grantees who received scholarship privileges during the term but went on approved leave of absence, the total amount granted to him/her will be deducted from his/her entitlements for the succeeding semester. 4. 50% of the thesis (dissertation) grant may be given to the Grantee upon the start of writing the thesis (dissertation) as certified by the Grantees adviser. The rest of the amount may be given when the Grantee has written 80% of the thesis (dissertation) as certified by his/her adviser. 5. Enrollment eligibility of scholars on succeeding semesters will be based on grades obtained from the previous semester. 6. The Scholarship allows a Grantee to enroll in a particular subject only once. Should the Grantee fail the subject, he shall shoulder the tuition and school fees for the subject to be re-taken. TERMINATION OF SCHOLARSHIP The scholarship shall be terminated for any of the following reasons: 1. The Grantee fails to meet the grade requirements of the graduate program 2. The Grantee willfully fails to enroll in the required subjects required of the program 3. The Grantee goes into absence without leave 4. The Grantee exceeds the time allotted to finish the program 5. Commission of misconduct as specified in the Rule and Regulations on Students Conduct and Discipline of the Institution 6. Conviction of any crime by a court or proper administrative body 7. Other acts as may be considered by the school as inimical to its interests and those that adversely affect the integrity of the ERDT Scholarship. REPAYMENT OF OBLIGATIONS In cases where the Grantee fails to finish his/her degree and/or unable to render the required years of service to the country, except due to incapacity or death, the Grantee shall repay all the privileges he/she received from the scholarship + 20% of this amount to cover administration cost for the scholarship plus interest. Scholarship privileges enjoyed by the Grantee during the period of the grant shall include tuition and other fees, stipend, book allowance, transportation assistance, research grants and thesis (dissertation) grants (if applicable). TRAVEL ABROAD The Grantee who will travel out of the country for official or personal reasons, while still under scholarship or return of service or financial obligation may be issued temporary clearance upon submission of the required documents and posting of bond.