Visegrad Fund introduces grant programs and scholarships in Baku

Visegrad Fund is an international organization based in Bratislava, founded by the governments of the countries of the Visegrad Group (V4)-the Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Poland, and the Slovak Republic- June 9, 2000.

The budget of the Fund consists of equal contributions of the Visegrad Group's governments. The Fund runs the following programs: three grant programs (Small/Standard/Strategic Grants), three scholarship schemes, artist residencies and a curriculum-building program for universities. Visegrad Fund will celebrate the 10th anniversary in June.

The main areas of the financing of the Fund in Azerbaijan are the cultural cooperation, scientific research, education, exchange of youth delegations, cross-border cooperation and tourism development, Visegrad Fund representative Linda Kapustova-Helbikhova said.

Anybody with a bachelor's degree may apply for a scholarship to study at universities of Visegrad Group and grants for research activities. The Fund finances the Master's and Post-Master's training. Terms of filing are the same for all countries.

The Fund allocates 2,300 for each semester.

The total number of applications in 2009 was 105 from 11 countries outside the Visegrad Four, including 6 from Azerbaijan. The scholarships were allocated for three students to study in the Central European University in Budapest. About 220 students received grants from the Visegrad Fund in 2009.

The total number of applications in 2010 was 509 from 14 countries outside the Visegrad Four, including 16 from Azerbaijan. The scholarships were allocated for four students, including  two - to study at Central European University in Budapest and  two - at the University of Gdansk, Warsaw. About 187 students received grants from the Visegrad Fund in 2010.

The directions of research activities, for which the Fund provides grants, are numerous.

The fund's grants are divided into small and standard. The differences between them are in terms of supply and allocation of funds. Small grants are designed for small seminars and funded in the amount of 5,000 euro. Standard grants are designed for larger-scale study period to one year, they are funded up to 20,000 euro.

The main requirement when applying for a grant is the presence of two partners in the Visegrad countries. A university or a research center can be as a partner. The Fund also has grants for so-called strategic programs, which provides an amount of up to 50,000 euro.

The priorities of the Visegrad Strategic Programme Fund for 2010 are "Building a green Visegrád", which include applications for environmental projects, as well as exchange of experience in the field of know-how with neighboring countries.

There are also programs for the financial support of artistic activity for up to 3 months. It gives the opportunity to artists from the Visegrad Four countries to work in other countries Quartet. The program's budget is 108 million euros.


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