NEW SCHOLARSHIPS OF THE FUND OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF KARADJORDJEVIC

Belgrade, 04 November – On the occasion of the opening the new contest for this year’s scholarships of the Fund of the Royal House of Karadjordjevic to the most talented senior undergraduate students from universities in the country, a press conference at the Media Center in Belgrade was held today. HRH Crown Prince Aleksandar II as the founder and the Chairman of the Board, the director of the Fund Mr. Dragomir Acovic and the member of the Board academician Dragomir Vitorovic spoke about the conditions of the contest and the criteria of the selection of the candidates.

HRH Crown Prince Aleksandar II emphasized how he decided to grant scholarships to the senior undergraduate students for he believed that special talents had been confirmed in the final years of studying, and it should be supported so that it could bring benefit to the people and the country. He added the results of the first contest were encouraging, that a number of students had graduated in the meantime, and that some of them were already at postgraduate studies or specialization at the leading universities of the world.

Speaking of the conditions of the contest that was published in the daily papers these days, the director of the Fund Mr. Dragomir Acovic pointed out the differences in relation to the last year’s: minimum average grade 8.3 instead of 8.0 last year; submitted portfolio with the works for the students of certain faculties ; testing of the candidates that passed the first round, according to the method of Serbian Foundation for Scientific and Artistic Development.

Mr. Acovic added the contest was opened until 20 November, and the applications that fulfilled the conditions would be forwarded to the Commission until 10 December. After that the Commission will select one hundred scholars who will be granted scholarship in the amount of € 2,500 (in dinars) and the Fund Charter at the end of January or beginning of February 2003.

The member of the Fund’s Board academician Dragomir Vitorovic said the last year’s experiences were very good, that the great number of the grantees graduated in September, and that some of them were accepted to postgraduate studies in Great Britain, the USA and Switzerland without any problems.

Crown Prince Aleksandar II added this year’s contest was a chance for another hundred best of the best, and that he was looking forward to the opportunity to meet the best senior undergraduate students of our universities.