project summary
Tibetan Medium Higher Education Scholarships Project

project goals & context | project description | planned activities | achievements to date

project goals & context

Commenced in 2005, Trace Foundation's Tibetan Medium Higher Education Scholarships (TMHES) project is a six-year initiative designed to support students and professionals proficient in Tibetan and committed to enhancing Tibetan language education through teaching, administration, or the production of new Tibetan-medium resources. Though the Foundation has been awarding scholarships since 2000, TMHES is distinct in that it was designed to allow the foundation to focus its efforts and resources on its longstanding commitment to Tibetan-medium education. Scholarships further reflect Trace's commitment to investing local communities with the tools and skills needed to promote socially and environmentally sound, locally-based development.

project goals & context | project description | planned activities | achievements to date

project description

Higher education is integral to the economic and social development of Tibetan regions. In Tibetan-medium schools, however, the majority of faculty members are trained only in Tibetan language and literature fields, limiting the quality of Tibetan-medium primary education. Through direct scholarships and grants to partner universities, the TMHES project seeks to expand the number of Tibetan-medium education professionals and resources in a wide range of subjects. Scholarships are awarded for study at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional training levels. In addition, graduate-level students undertake service projects designed to strengthen the Tibetan-medium education system.

project goals & context | project description | planned activities | achievements to date

planned activities

2,745 undergraduate scholarships in China: By the end of the six-year project term, up to 2,745 undergraduate scholarships will have been awarded under the following program components:

Tibetan-Medium Senior Middle School Graduate Scholarships (TMSMGS):

Up to 270 one-year scholarships: Graduates of partner Tibetan-medium senior middle schools in Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan provinces will receive scholarships for their first year of undergraduate study.

Meritorious Impoverished Student Awards (MISA):

Up to 2,475 scholarship grants to select higher education institutions: Scholarships will be awarded on a matching funds basis to selected higher education institutions offering Tibetan-medium majors. Those institutions, monitored by TMHES, manage scholarship awards and select scholarship recipients based on merit and need.

Up to 315 graduate and professional training scholarships: Graduates and faculty members of Tibetan-medium educational institutions will receive support under the following programs for study within China and abroad:

Post-Graduate Bridging Scholarships (PGBS):

Up to 75 one-year post-graduate scholarships: Recent graduates, primarily from Tibetan-medium programs, will receive one-year Post-Graduate Bridging Scholarships. These scholarships support training to prepare grantees for graduate entrance exams or graduate-level study in disciplines relevant to the development of the Tibetan-medium education sector.

Post-Graduate Direct Scholarships (PGDS):

Up to 135 three-year post-graduate scholarships: Graduates, primarily from Tibetan-medium undergraduate programs, will be awarded three-year Post-Graduate Direct Scholarships. These scholarships support students pursuing graduate-level studies relevant to the Tibetan-medium education sector immediately following their undergraduate degrees.

Professional Training Scholarships (PTS):

Up to 105 scholarships for established professionals: Grantees will receive scholarships for graduate or professional training in subjects relevant to the development of Tibetan regions, especially Tibetan-medium education. Support is available for full-time or part-time, degree or non-degree, and domestic or international study for a maximum of three years. Professional training scholarships are awarded in the following areas:
Professional Training Domestic Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded for professionals pursuing training within China. Most PTS scholarships are awarded in this category.
Professional Training International Scholarships: A small number of scholarships are awarded each year for professionals whose fields require them to study internationally.
Professional Training for In-Service Education Professionals: Launched as a new activity in 2007, these scholarships target in-service education professionals. Qualified candidates are given the opportunity to study abroad for either degree or non-degree training.

240 service projects to be implemented: Service projects will be undertaken by individuals supported through the graduate degree and professional training components. At least 80% of these projects will be directly relevant to the development of the Tibetan-medium education sector, and at least 20% will contribute towards other development goals in Tibetan regions.

For information on applying to the TMHES program, please refer to our application materials.

project goals & context | project description | planned activities | achievements to date

achievements to date

As of the end of 2007, 1,080 Tibetan students and professionals have received advanced training in various fields through the TMHES project. Many of them have graduated and are making valuable contributions to the development and maintenance of Tibetan culture and society. More details can be found on the Scholarship Alumni Profiles page.

Undergraduate scholarships:

551 Tibetan-Medium Senior Middle School Graduate Scholarships helped talented Tibetan-medium senior middle school students enter undergraduate degree programs.
284 Institutional Meritorious Impoverished Student Awards enabled outstanding Tibetan-medium students to continue their undergraduate studies.

Graduate and professional training scholarships:

58 Post-Graduate Direct Scholarships have made it possible for recent, high achieving Tibetan-medium undergraduates to pursue graduate-level studies.
73 Professional Training Scholarships were granted to exceptional professionals and teaching faculty dedicated to improving the Tibetan-medium education system. 63 scholarships were awarded for study within China, 7 for international study, and 3 for in-service education professionals to study abroad.
1 Post-Graduate Bridging Scholarship is currently preparing a promising grantee to undertake further higher education studies.

project goals & context | project description | planned activities | achievements to date

project: quick facts

duration: January 2005 – December 2010

budget: $10,184,920
(TF Contribution $5,390,880; 53%)

location :
Cross regional in China and international

TMHES project partners:

• Qinghai Normal University (QNU), Nationalities Normal College
• Qinghai Tibetan Medical Institute
• Qinghai Nationalities Institute
• Qinghai Vocational Police Academy
• Northwest Nationalities University
• Sichuan Provincial Tibetan Institute
• TAR Tibetan Medical Institute
• Repgon (Tongren) Nationalities Middle School, Malho (Huangnan) Prefecture
• Dowi (Xunhua) Tibetan Middle School, Tsoshar (Haidong) Prefecture
• Chentsa Nationalities Middle School, Malho Prefecture
• Bayen (Hualong) Nationalities Middle School, Tsoshar Prefecture
• Yüshü Prefecture Integrated Vocational School
• Tsolho (Hainan) Prefecture Nationalities Middle School
• Tsö (Hezuo) Tibetan Middle School, Ganlho Prefecture
• Pari (Tianzhu) Tibetan Middle School, Kartsen (Wuwei) City
• Dzögé (Ruo’ergai) Tibetan Middle School, Ngawa Prefecture
• Kakhok (Hongyuan) Tibetan Middle School, Ngawa Prefecture
• Kangbei Nationalities Senior Middle School, Kardzé Prefecture
• Kardzé County Middle School-Tibetan Section, Kardzé Prefecture
• Dartsedo (Kangding) Tibetan Middle School, Kardzé Prefecture
• Ngawa Prefecture Nationalities Senior Middle School
• Luchu Tibetan Middle School, Ganlho Prefecutre
• Labrang (Xiahe) Tibetan Middle School, Ganlho Prefecture
• Machu Tibetan Middle School, Ganlho Prefecture
• Choné Tibetan Middle School, Ganlho Prefecture
• Guinan Nationalities Middle School, Tsolho Prefecture
• Guide Nationalities Middle School, Tsolho Prefecture
• Individual scholarship recipients

project summary Tibetan Medium Higher Education Scholarships Project

project goals & context

project description

planned activities

achievements to date

project: quick facts

project summary
Tibetan Medium Higher Education Scholarships Project