Wanted: ethnic talent

The selection process for the various awards for ethnic talent - to be presented in March 2010 - has started. This year the prizes will include a new award: the NOS Media Award. Do you know a highly talented student from an ethnic background? If so, make sure they know about these awards. Maybe you yourself fit this bill. Put your natural modesty to one side and apply.

Ten years of the ECHO Award

What started ten years ago with the ECHO Award has since developed into an array of awards with other organisations also contributing prizes.  As well as the ECHO Award there is the Science/Technology Award, the Teaching for Excellence Award and – the latest addition - the NOS Media Award. Each university and university of professional education can nominate a maximum of three students for these awards. In Leiden, the applications are made via the faculties and the ICLON, a university committee then selects the three candidates to be nominated per award.   

Leiden University is becoming ian ncreasingly diverse institution.



High demands

The demands placed on these nominees are by no means insignificant: the students ECHO is looking for distinguish themselves by their exceptional and pioneering performance and by their active social involvement. Their talent, their strong and instrinsic motivation, their resilience and determination make them excellent candidates. Students can nominate themselves or a fellow student; lecturers are also invited to put forward talented students. Nominations should be made to the study counsellor or the mentor, who will assist with obtaining the required letter of recommendation and completing the application form. 

Expanding the potential

ECHO is a national expertise centre that offers support to organisations and businesses that aim to increase diversity. ECHO established the ECHO Foundation for the purpose of expanding the potential of excellent ethnic talent. This organisation includes the Ambassadors' Network ECHO, the ECHO Foundation Scholarships and the ECHO Award(s).

Diversity and SABR are open, multicultural student associations. SABR focuses specifically on students with an Islamic background.


Awards

The ECHO Award
This Award is offered by ECHO as an incentive to two top students from ethnic, non-Western backgrounds. One of the awards goes to a student at a university of professional education and one to a student at an academic university. Students from all Leiden's faculties - except the Science Faculty - and the ICLON qualify for nomination.  

Science Technology Award
This award provided by ECHO in partnership with the Platform Bèta Techniek is given to the two best ethnic minority science students (one from a university of professional education and one from an academic university). The Platform Bèta Techniek intends to use this award to focus attention on the need to increase the number of excellent, highly-qualified science and technology students. The Science Faculty can nominate suitable candidates for this award.

Teaching for Excellence Award
This Award is made by ECHO in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science to a highly talented student from an ethnic background who is studying at a teacher training college for primary school or secondary school education. The award is intended to create awareness of the need for more teachers from ethnic backgrounds. Leiden's ICLON can nominate candidates for this award. 

NOS Media Award
This Award offered jointly by ECHO and NOS Nieuws will be made in 2010 and will be given to a talented student from an ethnic background who is studying journalism at a university of professional education or at an academic university. The award aims to encourage young ethnic talent to make an informed choice in favour of the profession of journalism. All faculties may propose candidates for this award provided they meet the additional criteria.  

The exact requirements and any additionial criteria can be found via the registration form.

The winners of the awards will be offered a summer course at UCLA, the University of California Los Angeles, in the United States. They will also be invited to take on the role of ambassador. ECHO organises network meetings, master classes and participation in debates and thinktanks for the ambassadors. 

Final meeting of the Diversity projoect in February 2009. Although this was the final meeting of the project, it does not mean the end of promoting diversity at Leiden University.


Nominate a candidate

The faculties and the ICLON can nominate candidates for the ECHO Award, the Science Technology Award, the Teaching for Excellence Award and/or the NOS Media Award by submitting a written nomination to the Administration and Central Services Department/Academic Affairs: J. Boesveld, Rapenburg 70, room B1.13.


(1 December 2009/CH)

Web Editor
Last Modified: 03-12-2009