Call for Projects 2024: Canadian Indigenous Academic Groups Invited by the Mexican Government

Discover the 2024 scholarship opportunity for Canadian Indigenous academic groups to participate in cultural and academic exchanges in Mexico, funded by the Mexican government. Apply now for a chance to enhance your academic and intercultural experience.

Objective of the Call

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) and the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) want to work with higher education institutions (IES) in Mexico. They aim to strengthen cultural and academic links between Mexico and Canada.

They want to achieve this through student and cultural exchanges, especially focusing on indigenous groups from both countries. This will benefit indigenous students and teachers from both nations.

Therefore, they invite higher education institutions in Canada to let their students and teachers participate in short-term academic and cultural stays in Mexico.

Scholarship Offer

AMEXCID offers up to twelve (12) scholarships for eight (8) students and four (4) teachers from Canadian educational institutions.

The groups should be formed with one (1) teacher and up to two (2) students each.

These groups will take part in academic stays in Mexico for up to 30 days between October and November 2024 at the institutions listed in Annex 2.

During their stay, the Canadian academic groups will follow the academic programs of their host institutions (listed in Annex 1). They will participate in various courses, workshops, and field practices in these areas:

  • Art, music, and literature
  • Solidarity economy
  • Territory, space, and traditions
  • Indigenous languages
  • Education, culture, and learning processes
  • Corn, wheat, and related crops
  • Rights of indigenous peoples

The goal of this call is to strengthen academic and intercultural links, promote linguistic enrichment, and encourage the exchange and sharing of knowledge between the nations.

Benefits

AMEXCID will provide up to twelve (12) scholarships for eight (8) students and four (4) teachers from Canadian educational institutions during their stay at one of the receiving universities.

Each selected Canadian will receive:

  • A round-trip air ticket (Canada-Mexico-Canada).
  • Ground and/or air transportation to the receiving educational institution (see Annex 2 for details).
  • Financial support of up to $13,202.12 MXN (thirteen thousand, two hundred and two pesos 12/100 M.N.) to cover lodging and food expenses during the stay.

Please note:

  • The support period cannot be extended beyond the initial grant.
  • The supports are not retroactive.
  • AMEXCID will not cover any additional expenses incurred by the Canadian students and/or academics during academic and/or extracurricular activities.

Application Dates and Results

Activity Date:

  • Start of registrations: July 2, 2024
  • Informative webinar: July 8, 2024 (through Microsoft Teams)
  • Closing of registrations: August 15, 2024, at 18:00 Central Mexico Time
  • Start of activities: October and November 2024

Important: The deadlines are non-extendable. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Application Requirements

Applicant Profile:

  • Group Formation: Form a group of up to two (2) Canadian undergraduate (final semesters) or graduate students enrolled in a Canadian higher education institution, accompanied by one (1) academic or teacher from the same institution.
  • Indigenous Identification: Students must identify as belonging to one of the Canadian indigenous communities: Inuit, Métis, or First Nations.
    • Note: Groups can also include one or two Canadian citizens who:
      1. Have temporary or permanent residency in Mexico.
      2. Have Mexican nationality.
      3. Do not identify with an indigenous population.
  • Teacher Identification: It is preferred, though not mandatory, that the teacher also identifies as belonging to a Canadian indigenous community.
  • Education Level: Each student must be pursuing a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree and be over 18 years old.
  • Academic Performance: Each student must have a minimum average of eighty-five (85) on a scale from 0 to 100 or its equivalent in Mexico.
  • Insurance: Each Canadian student and academic must have comprehensive international insurance for their stay in Mexico.
  • Language Preference: Preference will be given to those who have a basic level of the Spanish language.

Requested Documentation:

  • Language: Documents in languages other than Spanish must be accompanied by a simple translation into Spanish.
  • Format: Submit documentation in color and clear PDF format, individually.
  • Submission: Documentation must be submitted individually through SIGCA (https://sigca.sre.gob.mx/) in PDF format.

Required Documents

Passport Copy: A simple copy of the current passport, in open book format.

Motivation Letter and Request for Participation

In English or Spanish, indicating:

  • The indigenous group to which each member of the academic group belongs (students and teacher if applicable).
  • The program of interest and justification for selection.
  • The relevance of the group’s participation in the program.
  • The potential impact of the group’s participation in the program on their educational institution and their Canadian community of origin.

Letter from the Canadian Higher Education Institution:

  • In the institution’s official format, signed and sealed by an academic authority, stating:
  • Authorization for the academic group to stay for the time considered by the receiving institution.
  • Approval to carry out the activities planned by the receiving institution.

Academic Record: Kardex or academic history of individual grades, greater than 8.0 on a scale of 0 to 10, or the equivalent in the Mexican educational system.

Curriculum Vitae: Maximum 2 pages.

Spanish Language Proficiency: Document proving basic command of the Spanish language (optional).

Insurance Certificate: Copy of the international insurance certificate covering the applicant during their stay in Mexico.

Commitment Letter: Letter of commitment to return to the country of origin (Annex 3).

Declaration Letter: Letter of declaration under oath of truth of knowledge and acceptance of the applicable standards in case of being selected in the call (Annex 4).

Application Process

Submission Period: Interested Canadian student groups must submit their applications electronically through the Academic Cooperation Management System (SIGCA) of AMEXCID-SRE, using the internet link https://sigca.sre.gob.mx/, from July 2, 2024, until August 15, 2024, at 16:00 Central Mexico Time.

Profile Creation: Each member of the group must create an individual profile in SIGCA with their personal information.

Individual Submission: Applications must be submitted individually by each member of the group (students and academics), even if the motivation letter and project proposal are prepared as a group.

Selection Process and Criteria

The selection of applicants will be conducted without any discrimination based on ethnic origin, gender, age, political or any other opinion, national or social origin, economic position, birth, or any other condition that violates human dignity.

Selection Committee: Applications will be evaluated by a Selection Committee composed of officials from the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), authorities, and academics from the receiving institutions in Mexico.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Completeness of Application: All members of the academic group (students and teachers) must submit their applications through SIGCA and individually register all requested documents.
  • Proposal for Cooperation Project or Research: Presentation of a cooperation project or research proposal on priority topics that benefit the Canadian educational institution, the community of origin, and the receiving Mexican institution.

Additional Notes and Information

  • Preference Criteria:
    • Preference will be given to academic groups whose members have not previously received academic support from the Government of Mexico.
    • The selection process will consider forming academic groups with equal representation between Canadian male and female students, acknowledging various situations and conditions of vulnerability within genders and population groups.

Results Announcement:

  • Timing: The results will be announced between August 20 and 30, 2024.
  • Notification: Results will be communicated through the Diplomatic Representations of Mexico in Canada. Selected Canadian institutions will also be notified.
  • Communication: The decision to grant support will be communicated by email to each applicant and their higher education institution of origin through the corresponding Diplomatic Representation of Mexico and by AMEXCID. Only selected candidates will be notified.

Additional Information

  • Non-Transferable Support: The support is not transferable and cannot be deferred to academic years after the year it was granted.
  • No Changes: Once the support is granted, no changes will be accepted in the receiving university or the members of the academic group. If a selected student decides to cancel their participation, they will not be replaced by another applicant.
  • Selection Process: The presentation of proposals or applications and/or all required documentation does not guarantee selection for a scholarship or support. All applications will be subject to the selection process described in this call.
  • Unspecified Matters: Any matters not covered in this call will be resolved by the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID).

Contact Information: For more information, please contact the AMEXCID Scholarship Information Center at infobecas@sre.gob.mx.

Address and Contact: Plaza Juárez 20, Col. Centro, C.P. 06010, Ciudad de México.
Tel: (55) 36865100
Website: www.gob.mx/sre

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