Pls everyone, I need help reviewing my SOP for scholarship. The instruction goes thus;
"In not more than 500 words, give reasons for applying for the XXX scholarship explaining your educational goals and clearly describe how you will use the experience gained from your master's degree studies to help in the development of your home country"
this award provide "full" sponsorship to cover tuition, accommodation, travel and other living expenses. The scholarship is competitive as only one candidate is selected in each year.
Here is my first draft, the total words is 732 and I need to reduce it to 500 and make all necessary corrections. Any assistance will be highly appreciated. Thanks.
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PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR MASTER'S DEGREE SPONSORSHIP
Harbison (1973) contends that "Human resources constitute the ultimate basis for wealth of nations, capital and natural resources are passive factors of production; human beings are the active agents who accumulate capital, exploit natural resources, build social, economic and political organizations, and carry forward national development. Clearly a country which is unable to develop the skills and knowledge of its people and to utilize them effectively in the national economy will be unable to develop anything else" The message is that qualitative education is sine-qua-non to nation building and since the profession of teaching plays pivotal roles in educational advancement, I have always aspired to be at the center-point of positive and developmental change in my country through my intellectual sagacity and professionalism. This desire is strengthened by number of factors which include the discovery of my pedagogical skills and the passion for engaging in active teaching and writing which I did through out my university days.
My studies in Manpower Planning also enabled me observed "misplacement of priorities" on the part of government and educational policy makers in my country which has since the 1990s till date, forced Nigeria to witness tumults of industrial acrimonies and crises mostly perpetrated by workers in both oil and educational sub- sectors. The impact of which is mostly felt by paupers and their wards. As a result of the resultant uncertain and unstable state of everything (education, employment, securities etc), there have been situations in which the Nigerian youth especially, those of poor family background were used as tools for disrupting the political democratic system through rigging, thuggery and ethnic conflicts. These factors in addition to economic mismanagement, leadership personal ambition or selfishness among others, were the factors that terminated the Nigerian First and Second Republic and has degenerated to the social and economic menace of corruption which today adversely hampers the Nigerian development, resulted in youths hooliganism, hoodlumism and terrorism thereby threatens the peace, security and federalism of the country. I believe with bold confidence that the only certain solution to this ugly trend is a complete overhaul in educational systems and policies which will pave ways for establishing educational institutions with global standards and programmes needed for youth reorientation and capacity building for development in the country. I am committed to becoming an erudite in Human Resources Management and Labour Relations so as to be part of the brains that will be formulating such policies for my country, carrying out researches and developing educational programme that are of positive changes. Becoming an erudite requires adequate theoretical knowledge and substantial practical skills acquired in a well equipped university and especially in multicultural context. I am convinced that the HRM that Salford Business School offers and the resourcefulness of the university will aid me in building a research work experience, boost my academic and professional strength in teaching and give me the confidence and contacts that will aid successful realization of this dream.
Despite the self-motivation, diligence, and epistemic curiosity in me which aided my outstanding academic achievement in my undergraduate days, my financial incapacity threatens to render my long-nurtured ambition a chartered dream. The offer of admission granted to me in Salford University which is conditional upon my payment of a £4500 study deposit cannot be taken by me without adequate financing. This was also understood by the university scholarship scheme who also has already granted me a sum of £3000 tuition fee reduction from the total sum of £10140 and the total fees payable by me is £7140. I am certain that I cannot successfully raise this fund and cater for other expenses such as accommodation, feeding, travel fees etc. This is why I seek for sponsorship of the XXXX so that I can successfully complete the masters' programme and immediately proceed to my doctorate degree in the same university after which I intend to return to my country as an erudite in HRM, work/teach in Nigerian universities and further my professional understanding while contributing to the pace of development in Nigeria. My undergraduate training in pedagogy will serve as good instrument in this regard. I therefore plead that I am granted this award and pledge that it will judiciously serve the purpose for which it is meant.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to your positive response.
