IPDET - FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question about IPDET? We've listed some of the most frequently asked questions in this section and hope we have anticipated some of your concerns. If you don't find the answer you need, don't hesitate to contact us.

Are there any scholarships available?
There are a limited number of scholarships available each year. For detailed scholarship information, please see the Scholarships page.

What is covered by the “Tuition, Room and Board” option?
The “Tuition, Room and Board” option covers tuition fees, course materials, accommodation up to two nights before the start of your program and the Friday night at the end of your program, three meals per day provided on campus (including weekends) plus two health breaks per day from Monday to Friday. In addition, access to Carleton’s athletic facilities is provided. If this option is chosen, participants should budget to cover their personal needs, souvenirs, any restaurant meals they choose to have off campus, transportation costs to and from the airport, train or bus station to Carleton University campus (approximately CA$25), and personal sightseeing excursions.

What is covered by the “Tuition Only” option?
The “Tuition Only” option covers tuition fees and course materials. Participants are responsible to make their own arrangements for accommodations and for payment of accommodation and meal expenses with the exception of special event luncheons, dinners, and receptions, which are included in tuition fees. In addition, participants should budget to cover personal needs, souvenirs, the cost of transportation from the airport, train or bus station to and from Carleton University campus (approximately CA$25), and personal sightseeing excursions.

If I choose the “Tuition, Room and Board” option, where will I be housed? Will I have a private room?
IPDET has made special arrangements with Carleton University Tours and Conferences to house IPDET participants in Leeds Residence, one of Carleton's newer, upgraded residences. Each participant has a private, secure room furnished with a double bed, desk, storage space, telephone, and computer hook-up. Four private rooms are arranged in a suite that has two bathrooms (two occupants share a bathroom) plus some common living space and a kitchenette (with refrigerator) that is shared by all occupants of the suite. In addition, each floor of the residence has lounges furnished with comfortable chairs and a wide-screen television. International newspapers are delivered to the lounges on a daily basis.

Can family members stay with me?
In the suites reserved for IPDET participants, occupancy is limited to one person per room. Participants planning to bring family members must make their own arrangements for accommodation. The IPDET Secretariat will be pleased to assist you by providing a list of suggested hotels.

Should I pay the US$500(CA$500) deposit at the same time as I submit my application?
There is no cost to apply to program. Only after you are accepted is payment of a non-refundable deposit of US$500 (CA$500) required to hold a space for you at IPDET.

Do you offer any discounts on program fees?
A 5 percent discount in tuition fees will be offered on total tuition fees when three or more participants from the same organization enroll in one year; the discount increases to 10 percent when organizations send 10 or more staff. A similar 5 percent discount in tuition fees will be offered to any returning IPDET participant, including individuals who have participated in a "mini-IPDET".

Is there a program for family members accompanying participants?
No, IPDET is unable to offer special activities or excursions to persons accompanying program participants.

Do you provide babysitting services?
No, IPDET does not provide babysitting services or children’s activities. Adequate supervision at all times of minor children accompanying a participant is the participant’s responsibility.

How do I submit my Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Letter of Support?
Your CV may be submitted by one of two methods:

Microsoft Word

PDF

Your Letter of Support from an employer or institution must be submitted separately from the application by fax (+1 613-520-7815) or by email to scholarships@ipdet.org as an attachment in Microsoft Word or PDF format. The letter of support should detail how attending IPDET would assist the organization to better meet its vision and mission if a scholarship is awarded. Please note: this is the only method to submit a Letter of Support.

What’s the deadline for application submission?
Applications will be accepted until May 10, 2010 OR until classroom limitations are met. In order to avoid disappointment, it’s recommended that applicants interested in specific workshops apply at their earliest convenience to ensure registration in their first choice workshops.
To receive consideration for scholarship assistance, complete application must be submitted by Friday, March 19, 2010. Due to the volume of funding requests already received, scholarship applications submitted after March 19th will not be accepted.

Are there any scholarships available?
There are a limited number of scholarships available each year. For detailed scholarship information, please see the Scholarships page.

Where does the scholarship funding come from?
Scholarship monies are given to IPDET through a number of bilateral donors and development cooperation agencies.

What types of scholarship are available?
Both full and partial scholarships are available. In some cases, IPDET is more easily able to find funds for a partial scholarship. Applicants are strongly encouraged to mobilize alternate sources of funding and to make a partial contribution, where possible, to the overall costs of attending the program.

What expenses does the scholarship cover?
Sponsors pay only for the direct costs associated with each individual participant: tuition, transportation, accommodation, and visas. The amount of scholarship funding is subject to decisions by donor countries and varies from year to year.

Who is eligible for scholarship funds?
Priority for scholarship funding is given to those individuals who are from developing countries, work in evaluation in the public sector, and can stay for the entire four-week program.

Who is ineligible for scholarship assistance?
Employees of U.N. agencies, development banks, or other financial institutions are ineligible for scholarship funds. Employees of private sector companies and private consultants are also ineligible.

What are the criteria for scholarship funding?
IPDET uses multiple criteria for awarding scholarships. For a complete listing of criteria, please see the Scholarships page.

Who chooses the scholarship recipients?
The Selection Panel consists of the two core faculty, as well as the program manager from Carleton University.

How do I apply?

There is no separate scholarship application form.

To apply for a scholarship, first register on our website and then complete the on-line application form. This form contains a section where applicants must indicate if they are requesting full scholarship, partial scholarship or no scholarship funding.

What documentation is required?
In addition to curriculum vitae, a letter of support from your employer/supervisor is required. Specific instructions for format and submission of these documents are provided in the application form.

Is there a deadline for submitting a scholarship application?
Scholarship applications will be accepted up to and including Friday, March 19, 2010.

Is there a fee for submitting an application?
There is no charge to submit an application.

If I’ve received a scholarship previously to attend IPDET, can I apply again for scholarship funding?
Because of the very limited scholarship funds available, it is IPDET's policy that those who have already received a scholarship to IPDET are low priority for financial assistance. In the interest of fairness, eligible candidates who have not yet attended the program are given first priority for financial assistance.

If I’m awarded a scholarship to attend IPDET 2010, can I defer it to another year?
No, unfortunately scholarship awards are valid only for the current program year and cannot be carried over from one year to the next.

Can you suggest other sources of scholarship funding?
Regretfully we are unable to assist your search for financial aid by suggesting possible scholarship funding sources.

When will the scholarship application process for IPDET 2010 begin?
We anticipate registration for IPDET 2010 will begin in late-January. To receive notification as soon as the on-line application form is available, please send an email to info@ipdet.org.

Can I bring a Laptop?
Yes, you may bring a laptop. A computer technician will be available to help configure your computer upon your arrival. Please bring an Ethernet Cable in order to access the internet from your residence room.

*IPDET has a limited supply of Ethernet Cables if you require one upon your arrival. A modest deposit may be required, but will be returned upon departure.

Will my electronic devices i.e. Laptop, Digital Camera, cell phones, etc. work in Canada?
Participants travelling from any country other then the U.S. will generally need adaptors to plug their electronic devices into Canadian outlets. These adaptors are most easily purchased in your home country before you depart for IPDET. They are available in Canada, but the variety is limited and your country's specific outlet adaptor requirements may not be readily available. Please come prepared. Please be informed that cell phones/ blackberrys need to be specifically intended for international use or they will not operate in Canada.

Can I drink the water?
The drinking water is perfectly safe in Ottawa. Feel free to bring along a water bottle and fill it up in bathrooms and water fountains throughout the day. (Remember Canada can get extremely hot during the summer, it is important to keep hydrated just like in any other warm climate)

Can I buy additional food?
All food vendors are required to pass food health inspections on a regular basis. The food is generally very safe.

Supermarkets are readily available and have long operating hours. Fresh produce, additional snacks, drinks, and basic pharmaceuticals can be purchased at these locations if you happen to forget something or require something extra; however as an IPDET participant the program staff will do their best to provide you with all basic amenities.

Can I smoke?
Please be informed that smoking is prohibited inALLindoor facilities in Canada including campus housing facilities. There are designated smoking areas across campus that the IPDET secretariat will happily show you, but please be informed that smoking indoors anywhere in Canada or in non designated areas on campus can result in a hefty fine.

If cigarettes are a necessity please also be sure to bring your cigarette brand with you as the brands supplied in Canada may differ from what you are used to.

What are the weather conditions?
Canada is very warm during the summer months ranging between 15° C to 35° C. It sometimes rains in Canada during the summer months. Umbrellas will be provided, but please remember to pack closed shoes and appropriate clothing.

How should I dress indoors?
All public facilities on campus and throughout Ottawa are air conditioned which can be cold for visitors from warmer climates. Please remember to pack warmer cover-ups such as sweaters and shawls. Avoid sandals when you are going to be indoors for long periods of time, it can be chilly. Women should consider wearing slacks when planning to be indoors for long periods of time as opposed to skirts.

How much should I pack?
Please be aware that airlines have baggage weight requirements. Please research this before your departure. The information is generally specified on your airline ticket. IPDET provides participants with approximately 11kg (25pounds) of materials throughout the course of the four week program. Please accommodate for the additional weight upon your return as IPDET willNOTtake responsibility for shipping any materials.

What do I do if I lose my luggage?
Lost luggage is common, especially among international connecting flights. Please inform the IPDET staff immediately if your luggage is lost. While the IPDET staff will do everything possible to assist you, be aware that it is your responsibility to track down any lost luggage via your airline. Most lost luggage is recovered within 24-72 hours. Please be prepared. Pack 2 days worth of clothing and other essential items in a carry on bag that you keep with you at all times.

How safe is living/ travelling in Ottawa?

In general Canada is a very safe country and Ottawa is a very safe city. Pickpockets are rare; nonetheless guard your personal belongings as you would in any foreign city.
Women should feel comfortable travelling and walking around the city alone during the day. While the city is generally safe at night, make sure to travel with a partner in unpopulated or dark areas.
Cabs/ Taxis are readily available in all central parts of town and can be called to all other areas. Feel free to flag down a cab/ taxi, it is safe, but if you feel in anyway uncomfortable, travel with a partner.
Nightlife closes at 2am on weekends in the city. The buses stop running between 11pm and 3am. Make sure that you have planned a safe way to get home before the 2am rush of patrons exiting Pubs/ Restaurants/Bars.
Bus schedules are available online and will be provided at your accommodations. Busses run throughout the city at very reasonable rates. Bus drivers speak both French and English. Feel free to ask them to alert you when you arrive at a particular stop, or just to get general directions.
Sitting up front in the bus will ensure that you hear the bus driver’s announcements. At night it is also a good idea for women travelling alone to sit in the front of the bus.
After 9pm the bus driver will make stops for women at any place in between stops on his/her route that may be closer to your destination. Feel free to use this service; it is for your own safety.
After 9pm all major bus terminals have only one well lit stop area. All buses will stop at this one brightly lit sign regardless of other signage.

Can I get medication in Ottawa?
Bring along any over the counter medication that you use frequently. While Canada carries a wide variety of North American brands at reasonable costs it may be more difficult to track down brands that you are used to from overseas. It is important to also be aware that over the counter medications in your country may also require a prescription in Canada.

Remember to bring along any prescription drugs that you may require for the duration of your Ottawa stay. While a Doctor is available on campus it can be difficult to get an appointment on short notice.

How do I say “Hello”?
Canadians are accustomed to saying “Hello” and shaking hands upon first introductions. However, Canada is an extremely multi- cultural country and most Canadians are more then happy to learn a new greeting, so feel free to educate people that you meet on your customary greeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Scholarship Questions

Travel Questions