Ton Hoek Scholarship for Young Leaders

Applications for the Ton Hoek Scholarship for the 2023 FIP Congress in Brisbane, Australia are now closed.

What is the Ton Hoek scholarship for young leaders?

The FIP Foundation for Education and Research bestows an annual scholarship to an individual young pharmacist or pharmaceutical scientist, or a pharmacy student (undergraduate or postgraduate) with outstanding leadership skills, to assist him or her to attend a Congress organised by FIP.

The objective of this scholarship is to recognise the work of a young leader in inspiring others to advance pharmacy practice, the pharmaceutical sciences and/or pharmacy education, and to give him or her the opportunity to attend the FIP congress and the ECPG Leadership Development Workshop in order to improve his or her knowledge and skills and become better acquainted with the work of FIP. By participating in the FIP Congress and the Leadership Development Workshop, the scholarship winner will learn about global health issues shaping pharmacy and will have the opportunity to meet other global leaders in pharmacy, thus advancing his or her career and expanding the network of FIP.

This scholarship is named after the late General Secretary of FIP, Mr Ton Hoek (1955-2012).

A.J.M. (Ton) Hoek was born in The Hague, in 1955 and studied Pharmacy at the State University of Leiden in the Netherlands. He obtained his Master of Science degree in 1983 and graduated as a pharmacist in 1984. He had training periods in both community and hospital pharmacy. During his student time he was active in the pharmaceutical student organisation Aesculapius and served as president during 1980/1981. After graduation as a pharmacist Ton Hoek joined the pharmaceutical industry and worked in several management positions both in R&D as well as in marketing.
From 1999 until he passed away in 2012, Ton Hoek was the General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of FIP, the International Pharmaceutical Federation.

What does the Ton Hoek scholarship for young leaders include?

FIP Congress registration
ECPG Leadership Development Workshop Registration
Hotel accommodation (maximum 5 nights)
A return ticket to the FIP Congress location
One year Individual Membership of FIP

Apart from the financial benefits mentioned above, you will be recognised as a potential leader in the Global world of pharmacy and pharmaceutical science.

Likewise, the scholarship includes a series of interviews and discussions with the leaders of the FIP Foundation and FIP, and the recipient will also receive free FIP individual membership for one year, and will be recognised at the Opening Ceremony of the selected FIP Congress as a young leader in pharmacy, the pharmaceutical sciences and/or pharmacy education at global level.

Who can apply?

Any individual young pharmacist or pharmaceutical scientist, or pharmacy student, with outstanding leadership skills, under the age of 35 years (by the 15 February of the year of the congress to which the award refers), who lives and works or studies in a country with an income level classified as low, lower-middle or upper middle by the World Bank in the latest available classification.

Candidates may be self-nominated, nominated by colleagues or nominated by Member or Observer Organisations of FIP.

Applicants who have previously received financial support from the Foundation are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Requirements

Applicants are required to provide proof of their identity and of their registration/enrolment in a college or faculty of pharmacy (for undergraduate or postgraduate students), or residency program or professional organisation, or any certification of their current professional or academic status.
Demonstrated leadership in a particular area of expertise and/or influence at national, regional and/or international level for a sustained period of time of no less than two years
Support and evidence provided by peers and/or supervisors who have or are witness to the leadership and engagement and can attest to the impact the applicant has had and continues to contribute to the advancement of pharmacy practice, the pharmaceutical sciences and/or pharmacy education.

How can applications be made?

Applications should submitted via the online form, which is available here. The application should consist of:

The complete application form available here
Proof of identity (e.g. copy of passport)
Proof of registration/enrolment as described under “requirements point 1”.
A two-page (maximum) letter of presentation and motivation by the applicant describing their leadership and sustained engagement with the advancement of pharmacy practice, the pharmaceutical sciences and/or pharmacy education. The letter should also state why the candidate believes that attending the FIP Congress is relevant for him or her, and describe the particular objectives and interests related to the congress. In particular, the letter should describe how the applicant intends to share and/or apply the knowledge and experience gained through the FIP Congress, in order to improve pharmaceutical practice, pharmaceutical science and/or pharmaceutical education at local, national, regional or international level.
The applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV) not exceeding two pages, highlighting the applicant’s academic background, language skills, professional experience and development, contributions in terms of leadership and innovation and any other elements the applicant considers relevant for the application.
Two letters of recommendation from, for example, an applicant’s peer, supervisor, manager, employer, dean of school or president of professional organisation;
A recent photograph of the applicant.

What is the application deadline?

Complete applications must be submitted by 15 February of the year in which the FIP Congress takes place. All applications will be acknowledged. Any applications that do not comply with the formal requirements described in these guidelines will not be accepted/considered.

How are applications assessed and selected?

All valid applications will be reviewed and assessed by the Board of the FIP Foundation, and a decision will be made based on the demonstrated engagement of the applicant and the impact of his or her leadership activities in advancing pharmacy practice, the pharmaceutical sciences or pharmacy education.

The Board’s decision will be final and unappealable. All applicants will be informed of the Board’s decision once it has been made, but no reasons for the decision will be provided. Any attempt to lobby the Board of the Foundation will result in disqualification of the applicant.

The Board’s decisions will be announced at least three months prior to the FIP Congress/conference.

What about successful applicants?

Successful applicants need to register for the Congress with a special code that will be provided to them, to obtain a complimentary registration fee.
Successful applicants will receive 50% of the total amount in Euros (€) before the Congress by bank transfer upon receipt of a completed reimbursement form with as many original receipts attached as possible. The remaining 50% will be transferred after the Congress upon receipt of the final report (see paragraph below) and reimbursement form with the remaining original receipts/invoices attached.

What is expected from scholarship winners?

To attend the entire duration of the FIP Congress
To attend the ECPG Leadership Development Workshop
To be present at the Opening Ceremony of the FIP Congress, where the scholarship will be acknowledged
To attend certain meetings during the congress, as defined by the Board of the Foundation.
To submit to the Board of the Foundation a brief report (maximum two pages) within 30 days of the FIP Congress, including the following elements:
1. A description of the applicant’s activities carried out during the congress and an evaluation of the objectives achieved;
2. The occasions where the FIP Foundation for Education and Research was/will be acknowledged;
3. A description of how the applicant proposes to use the experience and knowledge gained through the Congress;

The report should be submitted electronically and it may be used in the International Pharmacy Journal (IPJ), for publicity purposes, and/or to report to the Foundation’s contributors accounting for the disposition of funds. It should be written with these objectives in mind.

Note: By accepting the scholarship, the applicant automatically grants FIP and the FIP Foundation for Education and Research permission to use any materials associated with the application (including the applicant’s photograph) as described above.