Center for Policy Studies
International Policy Fellowships
Nador utca 11, H-1051 Budapest, Hungary (36 1) 327 3863, fax (36 1) 327 3809

MENTOR CRITIQUE FORM

Your thoughtful and honest appraisal will be most helpful. We appreciate your input and will try to implement as many of your ideas as possible. Continue comments on the back if necessary.

Each Fellow works with one mentor who is Soros foundations network-affiliated (usually Open Society Institute and Central European University) and one or two ‘external’ mentor(s) who are experts in the field working outside the Soros foundations network. Mentors should: 1) Work with Fellows to devise a brief policy paper in their field(s) of expertise based on a lengthy research paper written over the course of the fellowship year, 2) Maintain contact with Fellows at least once every six weeks or so by telephone, fax or e-mail to discuss the development of projects, 3) If feasible, meet with Fellows at least once during the fellowship year to discuss the project, 4) Facilitate Fellows’ contact with other relevant experts and participation in appropriate meetings (IPF has discretionary funds to support Fellow attendance at relevant events), 5) Complete brief mid-term and final critique forms supplied by IPF to provide the program with feedback regarding the Fellow’s progress.

Your name, position 
Marieta Popova, Executive director – Bulgarian Association of Information Technologies  

Name of Fellow you have assisted      Ivan Tchalakov

1. What, in your opinion, have you and your Fellow/program/project gained from your cooperation thus far? 

Collecting up-to date economic and sociological information about development of the IT sector in the country; 
Creation of fruitful relationships between business and research communities in Bulgaria with potential for the future
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Access to the daily policy process in defending the interests of the IT companies and improving the business environment 
Access to our information infrastructure; help in providing contacts with BAIT members 
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2. Do certain areas of this Fellow’s work need improvement? Which areas?

I found in general his work is OK, but I will recommend him to enhance his knowledge and skill in policy analysis and policy process. This will be the main field of our cooperation during the second term of the project.

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3. In your opinion, does your Fellow’s project make a significant contribution to the field?
	
YES, his project meets the highest standards of research. Besides, it is one of the few in the field
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4. Would the project be important to other countries in the CEE/fSU region?
	
YES, especially taking in mind his previous research in the region (Romania and Macedonia)

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5. Could the proposed policy research make an impact on the policy environment in specific countries or regions? (Policy makers, experts and policy research community)
	
YES; 
I hope that his research will have specific impact (and will help our efforts too) in bringing the problems of innovative entrepreneurs to the attention of the policy makers; I hope it will provide useful information and arguments to the experts, working in the field 

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6. Is the timetable for the project realistic?

YES, especially after decision to focus on comparative analysis of IT and pharmaceutical sectors only.
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7. Could the project benefit a large number of people?
	
YES; 
If the project fulfils its goals, all BAIT members and its partners in the ICT area will benefit from that.

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8. Does the Fellow show evidence that he/she can think strategically about the relevant project and/or field?
	
YES

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9. If the Fellow were to re-apply for continued OSI funding for follow-up work associated with the project, would you support continued funding?

YES

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10. Are there other appropriate funders that may support the project?

YES, 
Maybe some of the EU funded programmes for Eastern Europe (Phare, for example) 
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Recommendations for other potential senior contacts for this Fellow:

Additional Comments (Please comment on your Fellow’s work and all aspects of the IPF program using the back of this sheet):