The Heinz Fellowship is offered annually and provides for one year of practical, professional, and non-degree educational experiences through the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Heinz Fellowships are granted to individuals from developing countries who demonstrate potential as future leaders in the public, government, non-profit, or private sectors. The goal is to improve the Fellows' capacity to contribute to the development of their country and to enhance their understanding of the United States. This is accomplished through a year of auditing selected courses and participating in practical professional activities while based in Pittsburgh. Courses taken as part of the Heinz Fellowship do not earn credit towards an academic degree.

Applicants should be working in some subsection of one of the following areas:

• Sustainable Development: For example, issues of population growth, economic development, education, environmental change.
• Governance: Including the development of the legal system, the extension and institutionalisation of fundamental rights, the development of civil society, or the development of the voluntary sector.
• Public Health: Local and national approaches towards infectious diseases, development of health services, family planning.
• Conflict Resolution: Arms control and conflict resolution efforts at the local and regional level.

The competition for a Heinz Fellowship is open to men and women from developing countries who have completed a university degree, are proficient in English but not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States of America. Preference will be given to those applicants at the earlier stages of their career.

The deadline for application is March 2 2009.

Click here for more information and to access the application form and the English Language Report, both in RTF or PDF format.

Submitted forms must be hand-signed, and cannot be sent via email. Three reference letters must be signed and submitted electronically or mailed by each professional reference. The complete application package must be received by the Heinz Fellowship office. Late materials will not be considered.

Click here to read about previous winners.

Heinz Fellowship website on December 12 2007 and email from Veronica Dristas on December 1 2008.