WorldCALL2023: Meet the Winners of Our Scholarship Competition
We are delighted to announce the six exceptional individuals who have been selected as the winners of our highly competitive scholarship competition for the 6th WorldCALL conference, to be held on November 09-13, 2023 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The selection process was not an easy task, as there were numerous well-qualified candidates vying for the opportunity. However, after careful consideration, we have chosen a group of scholars who not only possess impressive qualifications but also represent a diverse range of backgrounds and aspirations.
The six scholarship winners are:
- Muhammed Shahriar Haque, Bangladesh
- Lemmuela Alvita Kurniawati, Indonesia
- Piyumi Udeshinee Wickramasinghe Arachchige, Sri Lanka
- Kyria Finardi, Brazil
- Vichet Song, Cambodia
- Kuheli Mukherjee, India
We would like to note that the first two candidates listed were unable to attend the WC5 event in Concepción, Chile. WorldCALL has decided to allow these two to join as scholarship winners in Chiang Mai.
We received 26 applications from 15 countries. During the selection process, we placed emphasis on maintaining a balance in geographical distribution, varied interests, and career aspirations. By doing so, we aim to create an environment that encourages cross-cultural learning and collaboration.
It is worth mentioning that out of the selected candidates, only one is from outside the Southeast Asian region. This strategic decision was made to ensure that costs associated with the program remain manageable while still upholding our commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
These scholarship winners will receive financial support to pursue their education, but the benefits extend far beyond monetary assistance. They will also gain access to a network of accomplished professionals and mentors in their respective fields. This support system will enable them to maximize their potential and thrive in their academic and professional endeavors.
We extend our warmest congratulations to the winners and commend all the candidates who participated in the competition. Each one of them demonstrated exceptional qualities and potential, making the selection process truly challenging. We are confident that these scholars will not only make a positive impact in their own lives but also contribute to the betterment of society.
About WorldCALL2023 Scholarships
One of the goals of WorldCALL is to provide as many scholarships as possible for professional development to those who are working with CALL in developing countries so that they can benefit from the exchange of ideas and come into contact with leaders in the field.
Scholarship Awards include
• Return air transportation (economy class) from current residence to Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Accommodation during the conference (5 nights, November 8-13, double occupancy).
• Waiver of conference participation fees.
• A daily allowance for meals and miscellaneous expenses.
• Scholarship recipients are expected to pay for their own expenses from their home to the nearest airport.
Arrangements for air transportation (e-tickets) will be made by the scholarship committee on behalf of the awardees. Recipients are expected to return to their point of departure within a period of 10 days from the time that they left.
Criteria for Scholarships
Each recipient must
• speak English fluently
• not have sufficient funds to afford to attend WorldCALL without scholarship aid
• be a native of, and currently be residing in a country that is NOT considered to be a "High Income Economy" by the World Bank nor a citizen of an EU country.
• have made a significant accomplishment towards the implementation or development of CALL or ICT for language learning, in either research or practice
• not have received a grant for a previous WorldCALL conference.
Application for a scholarship is NOT tied to having a presentation accepted for WorldCALL. All scholarship recipients, however, will be asked to participate in one or more panel discussions or other events during the conference
Application Procedure
Applications are now being accepted at: https://tinyurl.com/WC2023-Application
The following documents are required from all applicants:
• Statement of Purpose: Post a personal "Statement of Purpose" in 200 words or less specifying what your current area of interest in CALL and educational technology for language learning and how you hope to benefit from attendance at WorldCALL 6. Posts longer than 200 words will disqualify you.
• Upload a curriculum vitae (CV) which lists your personal background, education, employment, a list of any publications and oral presentations and any previous awards or scholarships that you might have received.
• Two letters of recommendation are to be submitted to: https://tinyurl.com/WC2023-Recommendation. Please note that a Google account is required in order to submit recommendations.
o Please tell each recommender that the subject line should read: Recommendation:
o At least one recommendation should come from someone who has recently worked closely with you and who is familiar with your efforts in CALL and Information technology.
o The committee prefers recommendations that come from a variety of sources, rather than all from the applicant's current educational institution.
o Please be sure that the recommenders have sufficient time to prepare your recommendation by the submission deadline. Late recommendations will not be accepted and you will be disqualified.
Important Dates
• Deadline for Scholarship Applications: June 15, 2023
(Includes the receipt of all CVs and references)
• Notification of Scholarship Decisions: July 15, 2023
High Income Economies as determined by the World Bank, countries with a GNI (Gross National Income) of 12,230 (USD) or greater.
Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Chile, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guam, Hong Kong SAR, China, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Rep., Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao SAR, China, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Oman, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Martin (French part), Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan*, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Virgin Islands (U.S.)
*Not a World Bank member economy, so added based on other indicators.
Scholarship Committee
- Thomas Robb, Kyoto Sangyo University (Emeritus), Japan – Co-Chair
- THANG Siew Ming, HELP University, Malaysia – Co-Chair
Please address any queries to: trobb49@gmail.com