Linking Minds Scholarship

The Linking Minds Scholarship is a prestigious international award for young teachers who identify themselves as emerging leaders.

The scholarship has been available since 2003 and is sponsored by the British Council, the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Teachers Council and the NZ-UK Link Foundation.

The scholarship aims to recognise and promote effective teaching by providing international experience for teachers early in their careers. The teachers who are awarded this scholarship will have opportunities to develop new knowledge, skills and confidence in their leadership capacity, both as classroom teachers and as leaders in their schools.

2012 Linking Minds Scholarship

The theme for 2012 is professional leadership. Scholarship winners will travel to Wales for 2 weeks, expected to be in the October 2012 school holidays, to link up with Welsh teachers and principals, develop their leadership potential, reflect on their teaching practice, and examine language immersion settings in Welsh schools. The costs of travel, accommodation and general living expenses, including interview and selection costs will be met by the scholarship sponsors.

How many scholarships are available for 2012?

There are 4 scholarships available in total for teachers or principals working in early childhood, primary or secondary education.

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for a Linking Minds Scholarship you must be (at the time of applying):

• in your first five years as a New Zealand fully registered teacher, currently working in a state or state-integrated school or ECE centre, and
• under 35 years old

How do I apply for the scholarship?

To apply for the scholarhip download the application form on the right hand side of this page. Once completed send your application form, including leadership statements, to us postmarked no later than 25 May 2012.

Please post or courier your application to one of the following addresses:

Post: Study Awards, TeachNZ, Ministry of Education, PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140
Courier: Study Awards, TeachNZ, Ministry of Education, 45-47 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wellington, 6011.

How are selections made?

Each application is assessed by a selection panel made up of representatives from the sponsors. 6-7 applicants will be shortlisted to attend an interview at the Ministry of Education in Wellington. Shortlisted applicants will have the chance to discuss and build on the answers from their written application at their interview.

Previous Scholarship Winners

The four winners in 2010 were Aimee Warrender (Little Lights Kindy, Rotorua), Alison Derbyshire (Saint Kentigern College, Auckland), Tim Watson (Wellington Girls’ College) and Zoe Bridewell (Henry Hill School, Napier). They travelled to Wales in 2010 to ‘link’ up with Welsh teachers and principals and experience the Welsh bilingual teaching system.  Click here to read more about these Linking Minds scholars in the Education Gazette.  

The four winners in 2008 were Tina-Maree Hooper (Cambridge Primary School), Hayley Ryan (Dawson Primary School), Joanna Blick (Saint Paul’s School) and Steven Moudley (Wellington College). They travelled to Hampshire, England in 2008 to look at examples of human rights based education.   

Sponsor Organisations

• Ministry of Education
  www.minedu.govt.nz

• British Council
  www.britishcouncil.org/nz
  The British Council is the United Kingdom's cultural relations agency and its activities are funded by British taxpayers and through partnerships with local agencies that share similar values and objectives. It works with emerging leaders globally, to create mutual trust and mutually-beneficial relationships. In NZ, the British Council works specifically on issues of cultural identity and language, in the area of arts and educational leadership.

• New Zealand Teachers Council
  www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz
  The New Zealand Teachers Council is the professional and regulatory body for teachers in New Zealand.   The Council registers teachers in the early childhood and schooling sectors.  They provide professional leadership in teaching, enhance the professional status of teachers in schools and early childhood education, and contribute to a safe, high quality teaching and learning environment for children and other learners.

• NZ-UK Link Foundation
  www.nzuklinkfoundation.org 
  The NZ-UK Link Foundation exists to enhance links between New Zealand and the United Kingdom, through establishing and maintaining a series of educational exchanges and by awarding scholarships, grants, allowances and prizes to individuals to visit the other’s country. These exchanges are facilitated in the widest range of educational disciplines – economic, social, cultural and scientific.  Since 1990, over 250 individuals and groups have been supported by the NZ-UK Link Foundation.

Contact Us

If you have any questions please contact TeachNZ by calling 0800 165 225 or emailing teacher.studyawards@minedu.govt.nz.

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