Onassis Foundation Scholars’ Association Member Guide
We have been looking for you. We are constantly seeking people just like you. Here, your unique capacity, curiosity, devotion to your goal, excellence, determination, and need to create find their place. As an Onassis Foundation scholar, you are offered the opportunities and the support of a whole community of unique individuals who know how to throw themselves into work and network, collaborate and make a difference, and offer to society and their fellow human beings. And all the above is not the end, but the very starting point itself. The Onassis Scholars’ Association is your new extended family. Together, we can act as catalysts, support and multiply your ideas, and breathe life into your vision, which we now all share, for you to become the best of yourself and always be our source of inspiration. Welcome to the Onassis Scholars’ Association. We have been waiting for you.
The Onassis Scholars’ Association A bold and dynamic community of distinguished academics and active professionals. The extended family that is the Onassis Scholar’s Association first emerged in 1978, when the Onassis Foundation launched its scholarship program for academics from all over the world. Just a few years later, in 1986, the Onassis Scholars’ Association began to take its current form on the initiative of the Public Benefit Foundation’s first scholarship fellows, who had by then completed their studies. Today, the Onassis Scholars’ Association boasts more than 2,500 members, all of whom have been awarded research grants and education scholarships as part of the Onassis Foundation’s scholarship program for Greek and international academics.
Photo © Koralia Dogani
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Values and Mission of the Association The Scholars’ Association reflects the ideals of the Onassis Foundation both within Greece and internationally. Maintaining as its basic premise that higher education constitutes a long-term investment in the progress and development of societies in a sustainable and inclusive manner, the Onassis Foundation’s scholarship program was founded, and continues to operate, on the deep-seated belief that social progress is actuated collectively; on the transformative power of society’s unleashed potential, which in turn further drives societal development; and on an “investment” in excellence – an added value that feeds back into society itself. Through the capacities, talent, knowledge, experience, and willingness for communication, collaboration, and social action on the part of each scholar, and having already established bold professional and personal ties, all members together constitute a vibrant and restless community that is guided by the values of inclusion, democracy, responsible leadership, and social justice. Grounded on these values, the Association holds as its mission the establishment of communication between its members, the support of their achievements and innovative ideas that may contribute to the addressing of national and global challenges.
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© Onassis Scholars’ Association photo archive
Photo © Christos Kavaliotis
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Dynamic spirit and extroversion in actions and synergies A vibrant community of people that implements public benefit actions in the fields of science, culture, and health. With Culture, Education, and Health as its main pillars, the Association undertakes and organizes actions and events addressed both to its members and society at large. Attending to the scientific fields and interests of the Scholars, it takes action with an emphasis on innovation, cutting-edge technologies, the city, diversity, inclusion, and digital development, as well as on issues such as the climate crisis and the role of people as a whole within the society. Among its extensive network of partners are the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, the Onassis Foundation, the Greek Parliament, and the British Council.
Photo © Christos Kavaliotis
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Photos © Christos Kavaliotis
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The Association’s organization The Onassis Foundation Scholars’ Association is a registered organization comprised of three bodies: the General Assembly, the Board of Directors, and the Audit Committee. The General Assembly acts as the highest authority of the Association. It is held annually at the beginning of each year and all members of the Association who have fulfilled their financial obligations towards the Association by the start of the Assembly may participate in it. The association’s administration is performed by a fifteen-member Board of Directors, which is elected by the General Assembly of the members every two years. Following the election of its members, the Board of Directors convenes as a body, which meets on a monthly basis. Moreover, the Board of Directors appoints Special Committees that deal with specific issues, such as the organization of conferences, lectures, and other events, as well as the assessment of proposed actions by the broader network of scholars. The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring the financial management and actions of the Board of Directors by compiling the relevant reports.
The Association is its Members ―Co-shaping the administration of the Association All members that have fulfilled their financial obligations towards the Association are eligible to vote and submit their candidacy. To secure the polyphony and diversity of the Association, we encourage all members, old and new, to submit their candidacy for the Board of Directors at least once.
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Photo © Andreas Simopoulos
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Open calls for annual activities Every year, the Board of Directors invites the members of the Onassis Foundation Scholars’ Association to submit their proposals for the Association’s activities. The said activities pertain to its three main pillars: Education, Health, and Culture. The objective behind this endeavor on the part of the Scholars’ Association is, on the one hand, to encourage the submission of innovative proposals for new activities by its members, which it will later fund and implement in accordance with the values, objectives, and priorities of the Association and the Onassis Foundation, and on the other hand, to enhance the members’ group participation in the activities of the Association regardless of their place of residence. Through its different activities, an ecosystem that supports the scholars and the notion of collaboration is created, while at the same time, it prepares the ground for creative encounters between art, health, entrepreneurship, research, and innovation.
The submission of proposals in the framework of Open Calls for Activities usually takes place at the end of each year and/or at the beginning of the following. All scholars are informed about the Open Calls through email. Every year, the Board of Directors assigns certain themes for the proposed activities and provides thorough information on its assessment criteria. Onassis Foundation Scholars’ Association Member Guide
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Photos © Koralia Dogani
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―Special Grant and Support Program Are you seeking ways to support a research activity? Every year, the Scholars’ Association announces an open call for the Special Grant and Support Program. In 1999, the Onassis Foundation launched the Special Grant and Support Program for the members of the Scholars’ Association, through which it offers a more systematic support to their activities. Throughout the years of its operation, the scholars have been supported with grants regarding: ━ publication in a book of doctoral theses that have received a special distinction or publication on a CD of music works, provided that they have been produced in the context of studies that have been completed with a scholarship from the Foundation ━ research programs, with a member of the Association as its main researcher ━ scientific conferences or artistic events, in which members of the Association and, on a case-by-case basis, eminent international guests participate.
The types of grants are decided and announced by the end of each year from the Onassis Fοundation and the submitted proposals are assessed by Academic Consultants of the Onassis Foundation. All scholars are informed about the Open Calls through email. Onassis Foundation Scholars’ Association Member Guide
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Photos © Koralia Dogani
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―Research Publication Apply for the Academic Article Publication Support Program Since 2015, the Onassis Foundation and the Scholars’ Association have established the Academic Article Publication Support Program, to support the activities of the Association’s members by covering the cost of their articles’ publication in renowned international scientific journals that concern the following specialties: ━ Science and Technology, Environmental Sciences ━ Humanities – Social & Economic Sciences ━ Medicine & Health Sciences ━ Engineering & New Technology Sciences
The call for the program is announced by the end of each year or the beginning of the following one and the deadline for the submission of proposals is usually at the end of March. All scholars are informed about the Open Calls through email. Onassis Foundation Scholars’ Association Member Guide
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Photos © Koralia Dogani
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―Members’ networking activities First, we connect our members, then we connect with the world. Take part in the activities and meet new and old scholars.
The Association, believing in the value and power of “togetherness,” offers each year to its scholars a series of activities aimed at networking and the optimal acquaintance between its members. The activities vary from year to year, but usually include the following fields: ━ Sports: Every year, the Association invites the scholars to participate in a series of sports activities, which include road-running races, such as the Marathon and the Half Marathon, as well as preparation and training activities for the races. ━ Urban Cycling: In the framework of sports offered to scholars, as well as the promotion of a more sustainable mobility within the city, the Association organizes urban cycling learning programs for its members. ━ Cultural Activities: Every year, the Association organizes the visit of its members to various cultural activities held all over Greece. ━ Meetings & Excursions: The Association seeks to organize meetings between its members, as well as one excursion at least per year, aiming to their social and professional networking. ━ Online Meetings: As the above activities are mainly addressed to scholars residing in Greece, the Association seeks to organize online meetings, bringing its members together regardless of their place of residence.
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Photo © Christos Kavaliotis
© Onassis Scholars’ Association photo archive
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―Scholars’ Network Go active online As a network of a large number of people from all over the world, it is important to connect and meet online. For this reason, we have established different ways of communication and interconnection: ━ Share your success story at onassis.org: In the framework of highlighting your activities and achievements, the Onassis Foundation Scholars’ Association invites its members to share their special stories through a brief text, which is published on the onassis.org website and the Association’s social media. This initiative contributes to the effort of highlighting and increasing the visibility of the members’ activities, both among the scholars as well as the wider public. ━ Social media: If you want to learn all the news about the Scholars’ Association, you can follow our page on LinkedIn and join our group on Facebook.
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Connect Locally Due to the extended network of scholars all over the world, the Association seeks to help its members get in contact with other members who live in the same city or work in the same scientific field, creating networks of fruitful exchange and communication. Any new member that wishes to act as a connecting link for Onassis Scholars in their city or with regards to their scientific field, may contact the Association and receive more information on how such an initiative can be further supported.
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Still from Onassis Scholars’ Association 2020-21 video
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Annual Subscription For full participation in the activities and procedures of the Scholars’ Association (e.g., participation in the elections for a new Board of Directors), all Members need to fulfill their financial obligations on an annual basis by paying their symbolical subscription.
Regular update of contact details Communication between the Scholars’ Association and the Members takes place regularly and includes the sending of emails. To ensure your participation in the Association’s activities, please remember – in case of change – to update your contact details maintained by the Association.
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Stills from Onassis Scholars’ Association 2020-21 video
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Stills from Onassis Scholars’ Association 2020-21 video
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onassis.org
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