Mastercard Foundation & Arizona State University – Baobab Digital Innovation Scholarships: (Deadline 7 October 2022)

Mastercard Foundation & Arizona State University – Baobab Digital Innovation Scholarships: (Deadline 7 October 2022)

Scholarship Overview

In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University will provide graduate scholarships to train 25 young African professionals at the Master’s level for various programs over 4 years (2021 – 2025). This scholarship program is situated within EdPlus, a central enterprise unit for ASU, focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models to increase student success and reduce barriers to achievement in higher education.

This is a fully immersive and traditional on-campus 2-year Master’s program with a focus on training EdTech experts for Africa. While classes are in session, Scholars have the opportunity to work part-time with the Baobab team to gain hands-on experience implementing the strategic objectives of the Baobab Platform. The Baobab Platform consists of the implementation of an online learning community that will eventually include over 70,000 aspiring young African leaders around the globe. Between the first and second year, Scholars will be supported to participate in a 2-month Africa-based internship that aligns with their program of study.

10 Scholarships are available for students admitted for the 2023/2024 academic year, which will cover the full tuition fees, expenses for accommodation, and comprehensive support for the 2-year graduate program. On top of financial support, Scholars will participate in activities as part of the wider Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Arizona State University, including leadership curriculum, individual mentorship, and other events and programming.

A strong expectation of the Scholars Program is that participants return to their home countries to invest their gained skills and education in their country’s social and economic growth. Women, refugees and displaced persons, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. ASU is committed to enhancing the quality of students’ educational experience by ensuring accessibility for all programs and services.

Scholarships are available for the following full time, on-campus graduate programs:

• User Experience, MS
• Graphic Information Technology, MS
• Computer Science, MS
• Information Technology, MS
• Learning Sciences, MA
• Digital Culture, MS
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • MBA concentration must be in either Business Analytics or Marketing

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must want to apply for one of the eligible programs listed above.
• Applicants must qualify academically for admission to the degree of their choice, that includes a high level of English proficiency.
• Applicants must be a citizen of an African country.
• Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 on or before the application deadline.
• Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service in their community.
• Applicants must present economically disadvantaged financial circumstances, and be able to show lack of financial means from family or other sources to pursue graduate education in their home country or elsewhere.
• Applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree with a required minimum 4 years of study.
• Applicants must not have started or completed other graduate degrees before August 2023.
• Applicants must be able to live in Phoenix, Arizona for the duration of the program.

Value of the Scholarship

The Scholarship will cover the following:

• Costs incurred for visa application processing
• Costs incurred for English language tests
• Costs incurred for GRE or other equivalent exams
• Airfare to and from Phoenix, Arizona
• Full tuition, books and fees
• Housing
• Participation in Scholarship programming

Awards are tenable for the duration of the graduate program of study, and at the end of the award, candidates will be expected to return to Africa.

The deadline for all applications will be 16:00 GMT (9:00AM AZ time) on Friday, 7 October.  No exceptions.

All applicants are advised to apply for the scholarship first and, if successful, will be assisted in the process of applying for admission to Arizona State University. Interviews via video or phone calls will be held during November 2022, with final decisions made by February 2023. All successful applicants will travel to Phoenix, Arizona to join the Program in July 2023.

Please note that applicants are entitled to make one application per year to the Program. All applicants, once registered, should have read and understood the Application Guidance before submitting an application to the Program to avoid any errors or incorrect information. Arizona State University and the Mastercard Foundation reserve the right to cancel incomplete and/or late applications, to effect changes to the conditions of the scholarship or to make no awards at all. Admission to one of the eligible academic programs does not guarantee admission to the scholarship program.

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions here and direct any other questions to scholarship@scholarsbaobab.org.

For more details and application, please visit https://asu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1FSFzi4btD70ASO