Scholarship / I have graduated a Bachelor of Science in geology - INTERNATIONAL MASTER'S SCHOLARSHIP application [7]

Dear Selection Committee of the University XXXX,
With this letter, I, full name, citizen from (Country )would like to submit you my application for obtaining the XXXX International Master's scholarship for the XXX-XXXX academic year.

I have been interested in geology since I realized the exceptional mineral resources my country, recognized as geological scandal, is endowed with and figure out how I can help my country overcome challenges related to mineral resources.such goal can't be accomplished at the Bachelor of Science in geology, the degree I hold from the University of Lubumbashi but it requires to have an expertise in a specific field of geology I am aspired to; Hence, attaining a master's and a PhD degrees in areas connected to economic geology could best respond to my aim and the current lack of such expertise my country is facing.Therefore,by completing the master's study the Université Paris-Saclay is offering through its scholarship, i plan working in different areas such as lecturing in universities as experts in Geology are rare in my country, delivering expertise services to DRCongo's officials as well as to international organizations implemented in DRCongo aiming at providing transparency and accountability in mining activities to fill the gap that often exists between huge profit generated by Mining activities and impoverished congolese communities. Ideally, I hope to help my country by generating profit in mining sector which is the main driver of the economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

My education goals are to complete a Master of Science in Geology (especially in topics related to economic geology) and then to continue toward a Ph.D.To improve my knowledge and get a practical experience, I spent two years at Rubamines Sarl (an Exploration mining Company) as a junior exploration geologist where I was in charge of supervising the drilling and doing detail logging as well.Basically,I hold a bachelor of Science in geology in topics related to hydrogeology and geotechnics and performing an exploration job was not so easy to handle as I didn't get a prior good background knowledge in exploration and mining geology. I used to work hard by reading materials related to the position and I soon develop the appeal of wanting to know the new area of geology I discovered in my job. There started my commitment to deepen my knowledge in exploration and mining geology with a stress in economic geology and this vision can be easily accomplished through an academic career I would like to embrace. My passion to mineral resources is regarded as a natural calling that I am destined to follow. This intuitive notion solidified and propelled when I have been awarded a research fellowship program that I am still undertaking in modelling of mineral deposits for 6 months (from October 2015 to March 2016) at AGH University of Science and Technology (in Krakow, Poland).Such a unique opportunity, in a top-ranked Polish university in mining research is shaping me more and more in academic career by improving my geological knowledge and understanding which will be the underpinning of my future studies.

Many times ago, exploration tenements covering the study area were awarded to mining companies short of equipments to conduct serious exploration programs; Moreover, any prior program aiming at knowing resources and reserves of the area hasn't been conducted by the government agencies of research, universities or any other independent research. Hence, all exploration permits have been mismanaged and sold off to the disadvantage of the country and its population as disparaged by international organizations. This fact is easily supported by the late discovery of the Kamoa deposit (in the Congolese Copperbelt) recognized ,so far ,as the world's largest high-grade copper discovery in which the government owns only 20 % of interest compared to 80% of Zijin Mining group and Kamoa holding limited joint venture. To tackle the said issue, the DRCongo government has taken measures to possess prior knowledge of mineral resources and reserves of tenements before awarding them to mining investors. There lies the struggle for geological information obtained through different sources: DRCongo's government research agencies, research conducted by universities and independent researchers as well.

Through this scholarship, as an independent researcher, I plan to conduct my research in the poorly known metallogenic province of Manono Kitotolo (in the Tanganyika province) in different geological aspects under the mentorship of the professor of the Université Paris-Saclay in collaboration with the local professor of the University of Lubumbashi. Petrographical, mineralogical, geochemical, petrological studies and the metallogenesis constraints will be the main topics of my master's thesis applied to the world's class Sn, Nb-Ta and Li mineralization of Manono Kitotolo. Not only will the project lead to master's thesis but also in completing my PhD with a view of delivering geological knowledge of one of the valuable deposits of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In this perspective, the Université Paris Saclay Master's scholarship is the only path to further my research project by delivering its research facilities (laboratories, academic researchers...).To attain my objective, in the aim of pushing forwards my studies and research, expenses concerning my geological fieldtrip will be partly covered by myself at 70%.

The number of qualified lecturers is declining in my country (DRCongo) and the existing teaching force in public institutions is stretched across the large number of private institutions. This is because there are few students joining master's program and doctorate's program as well. Accordingly, the master's scholarship the Université Paris-Saclay will award me will be for great value to my country especially in the field of geology as the mining sector is the cornerstone of the DRCongo's economy. Furthermore, the master's degree will not only provide me with more specific knowledge and research opportunities, but it will serve my country as a foundation for an academic career in the field of geology.

I grew up in a poor family in the conflict-stricken eastern part of the DRCongo, what motivates me to help to improve the situation. My commitment to study helped me to obtain sponsors to cover my scholarly fees until my graduation. Due to difficulties I experienced since my childhood, my parents played important role as they deeply instilled in me the lesson that education is vital and is all to succeed in life.Hence,studies have been taken seriously since I was kid and permitted me to receive financial resources from gracious people from my primary to my secondary studies. My university studies were not easy to pursue because I didn't have enough financial aid and this difficult situation shaped me to develop personal skills by doing part time job to finance the rest of my studies' fees cost. As I am that kind of person very active, always trying to find something constructive to do for earning money and therefore supporting expenses connected to my studies other than fully begging, through the help of the scholarship, I can look for a part time job to help bear the cost for my future fieldtrip, and other imponderable facts!

In essence, the excellent education and therefore knowledge I will receive at the Université Paris-Saclay will then be applied to my home country in the academic and mining sectors which are by far the Congolese essential pillars. In addition, our expertise will be valuable to international NGOs involved in mining sectors as they help the mining government policy to be more effective by impacting the social life of the population.