Rotary Peace Fellowship: How to Strengthen your Application

7 February 2017

Host: Samantha Sorin, Rotary Peace Centers Coordinator

Panelist: Susan Carroll, Managing Director Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center

Goals for this webinar

• An overview of Eligibility Requirements

• How to Begin your Application

• How to Choose the Right Program

• Preparing for your Application

• How to Write a Resume

• How to Write the Ideal Essay

• Remembering the Dos & Don’ts

• Application Checklist

Overview Eligibility Requirements

The ideal candidate• Strong commitment to global understanding & peace

• Strong leadership skills

• Strong personal statement

• Meets all application requirements

– All applicants must be proficient in English

– For the master’s program: bachelor’s degree & 3+ years full-time related work experience

– For the certificate program: strong academic background & 5+ years full-time related work

experience

Those not eligible to apply

• Rotarians Employee of a club, district, or other Rotary entity

• Spouse, lineal descendant, spouse of a lineal descendant, or an ancestor of any living person in

the above categories

• Former Rotarian within 36 months of resignation from Rotary

How to Begin your Application

Read the application guidelines

thoroughly before beginning your

application!Questions about the application guidelines?

Ask your Rotary club or district

Ask the Rotary Peace Centers at rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org

How to Choose the Right Program- Take Action!

Our Rotary Peace Centers

1. Duke University & the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA (fact sheet)

Fellows can earn either a master’s degree in international development policy from Duke or a graduate

certificate in international peace and conflict resolution from the University of North Carolina.

2. International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan (fact sheet)

The Department of Public Policy and Social Research offers master’s degrees in social sciences, natural

sciences, and interdisciplinary studies.

3. University of Bradford, Bradford, English (fact sheet)

The Department of Peace Studies at Bradford is the largest in the world and offers several master’s degrees.

4. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (fact sheet)

Fellows earn a master’s degree in international studies and peace and conflict studies in the Graduate Centre of

Governance and International Affairs.

5. Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (fact sheet)

The Department of Peace and Conflict Research offers a master’s degree in social science. It is internationally

renowned for its free and globally accessible collection of data related to conflict.

6. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (fact sheet)

The professional development certificate is awarded to experienced professionals who complete the center’s

intensive three-month program in peace and conflict prevention and resolution.

Visit our webpage and review the fact sheets for

each Rotary Peace Center!

Preparing your Application

Contact your Rotary club or district

Contact your referencesProfessional References: 2 for Professional Certificate Program & 1 for Master’s Degree Program

Ex. Supervisor/Manager, Former Employer, Colleague

Academic References: 1 for Master’s Degree Program

Ex. Professor, Academic Counselor, School Advisor

Master’s Degree Program only:

Register and take exams: TOEFL or IELTS exam and/or GRE exam (Duke-UNC only)

Request academic transcripts Transcripts not in English are required to be translated into English by a

professional certified translator.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

Preparing your Application continued…

Building your Résumé or CV

R

É ÉS U

M C

V

Types of Resumes

• Chronological: List education / relevant work experience in reverse

chronological order (most recent to past).

• Functional: Focus on group experience by particular skills areas and then

list work history.

• Combination: A combination of chronological and functional

Why do we suggest applicants using the combination format?

The combination format allows you to highlight your most relevant skills and

qualifications first followed by a detailed account of your professional work history.

Combination Resume

Qualifications Summary: At the top of your resume put a short qualifications statement that highlights your experiences relevant to the Rotary Peace Fellowship.

Conflict Resolution Practitioner with over five years

experience conducting mediation, training and

facilitation in the US and Latin America. Trained over

500 people in basic mediation techniques in over 10

countries. Specialization includes: youth and conflict,

community-based processes. VA certified mediator

and fluent in English and Spanish.

Resume Tips

Quantify your Experience: Be concrete in what your responsibilities

were and what you accomplished in your previous positions.

– Example: Worked at XYZ Conflict Resolution Organization, managed budget and

conducted training.

– Reframe to: Worked at the XYZ Conflict Resolution Organization, organized and

managed a $400,000 project. Successfully wrote grant proposals totaling over

$50,000 from X source. Conducted over 20 trainings in basic conflict resolution

techniques with high school students and teachers, reaching over 500 people.

Tailor: Ensure that you tailor your resume and essays

to address the skills, leadership experiences, and

knowledge you have that relate to the mission of

Rotary and the Rotary Peace Centers.

– Highlight a few key experiences that show your skills and

motivation to apply for the fellowship

– Tell a compelling story of why your experience qualifies

you to be selected as a fellow

Rotary Resume Example

Remember to

include the number

of hours you

work(ed) per week.

Qualifications

Summary

Professional

Experience

Education

Volunteer

Experience Professional

Memberships or

Organizations

Honors & Awards

The Ideal Essay

The

ideal

essay

Honest

Clearly answers question

Grammatically correct

Organized

Will your essay make the reader feel

something?

Are you directly stating why you are the

best candidate for the program your are

applying to?

Did you put effort into writing the essay?

Important aspects to

remember:

Strengthening your Essays

Personal

Statement

Specific

Not

Vague

Intriguing

Opening

Sentence

Finalize with a

clincher statement

Focus on your

strengths.

Review: 2018 Application Essay Questions

• All applicants: Provide a personal statement that includes significant events in your life

that have influenced your desire to work in the field of peace and conflict resolution.

• All applicants: Describe a meaningful leadership experience, either in an academic,

community service, or professional setting. What challenges is you encounter? What did

you learn?

• Professional development certificate applicants only: Describe in detail how the

professional development certificate will benefit you and contribute to your career goals.

What do you expect to learn from the course that you will apply to your work?

• Master’s degree applicants only: Explain in detail your first and second center

preferences. Describe your proposed area of concentration, including the specific study of

those institutions. How does your academic training prepare you for this fellowship? If

necessary explain and academic shortcomings.

• Master’s degree applicants only: Explain how a master’s degree from a Rotary

Peace Center university relates to your career objectives in supporting peace and

furthering the Rotary Foundation’s mission?

Remembering the DOs & DON’Ts

DO

• Verify if you are eligible for the program.

• Read the application guidelines carefully & thoroughly.

• Research & choose the right program based on your eligibility and career goals.

• Contact your local Rotary club or district and references as soon as possible.

• Request your transcripts and get them translated by a professional certified translator as

soon as possible.

• Register for any exams you need to take and study for them.

• Remember to include whether the positions held in your resume are part-time or full

time to show your relevant work experience.

• Be honest, sincere, & specific throughout.

• Keep a copy of all the forms & documents you submit.

• Double check your application, grammar & spelling errors, and that you have included all

appropriate documentation.

Remembering the DOs & DON’Ts

DON’T

• Don’t leave blank spaces in the any section of the application or write “ to be sent later.”

You will not have the opportunity to make adjustments after you submit your application.

• Don’t wait to search for a Rotary club or district just before the 31 May deadline. Contact

them early and if you are having trouble reaching a club or district contact the Rotary

Peace Centers directly at rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org

• Don’t ask your references if they will provide you a recommendation at the last minute.

• Each essay requires you to be specific, don’t be vague.

• Don’t submit additional documentation that is not required.

• Don’t procrastinate. Rushing and procrastinating will reflect in your application.

Application Checklist

Master’s Program

Résumé or CV

TOEFL or IELTS score: Required for all non-native English speakers

GRE score: Required for applicants Duke/UNC only

Undergraduate transcripts

Two recommendation: one professional & one academic

Rotary club recommendation, optional

District endorsement

Applicant’s certification, signed & dated

Professional Certificate ProgramRésumé or CV

Two professional recommendations

Rotary club recommendation, optional

District endorsement

Applicant’s certification, signed & dated

WATCH

the

Application

Checklist

VIDEO

Resources

Visit www.rotary.org/en/peace-fellowships to access resources

• Review application guidelines on the

Application Webpage

• Watch the Application Checklist Video

• Watch a Peace Fellow’s Journey Video

• Social Media:

• Review the Application FAQs

• Read about Tips to improve your application

Save the date

Important Reminders:

• 31 May 2017: Submit your

application to the district for

endorsement

• 1 July 2017: Completed

endorsed applications due to

The Rotary Foundation

Thank you

Questions?

For additional information, please contact

rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org