Academic Fellowships -YSEALI (Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative) – Fall 2024

Attention! Applications for the Fall 2024 YSEALI Academic Fellowship are now open!

You can apply online starting from March 18, 2024, until April 18, 2024.

The YSEALI (Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative) Academic Fellowship is a dynamic short-term program designed to equip young leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States, focusing on one of three themes: Civic Engagement, Environmental Issues, and Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. Over the course of five weeks, participants will engage in seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures. They will also have the opportunity to explore educational travel, site visits, leadership activities, and volunteer opportunities within the local community.

During the academic residency, participants will immerse themselves in educational and cultural activities beyond the classroom. If conditions permit, the Fellowship may include an educational study tour to other areas of the United States, facilitating interactions with local, state, private, and nonprofit organizations working in the field. In the event that the program needs to be conducted virtually, participants will engage in similar activities from their home countries.

In the case of a virtual program, participants can expect a minimum of 36 hours of required programming, combining synchronous and asynchronous learning. The virtual format will include lectures, small group discussions, videos, readings, panels, site visits, leadership development, assignments, and individual and group activities. Participants will be expected to fully participate in the virtual program from their locations.

Since Spring 2015, numerous Indonesian YSEALI members have joined fellows from across ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste in completing the YSEALI Academic Fellowship on themes such as Civic Engagement, Environment Issues and Natural Resources Management, and Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your leadership skills and gain valuable insights into key issues. Apply now and be part of this transformative experience!

Who Can Apply:

To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time of application.
• Hold citizenship of one of the following countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, or Vietnam.
• Reside in one of the following countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, or Vietnam.
• Not hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
• Be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student or have graduated less than five years ago from a higher education institution.
• Possess proficiency in English, with the ability to read, write, and speak English in a U.S. university classroom setting. No TOEFL, IELTS, or other test scores are required; English language ability is assessed through the application form and interviews with YSEALI program staff.
• Be eligible to receive a J-1 visa, which is for individuals approved to participate in work-and study-based exchange visitor programs to the United States sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. As an Indonesian recipient of the J-1 visa for the YSEALI Academic Fellowship program, you will be subject to a two-year Foreign Residency Requirement. This means that for two years after your return from the Academic Fellowship program, you will not be eligible to apply for a visa to immigrate to the United States as a Legal Permanent Resident or to apply for a work visa that would allow you to accept employment in the United States without a waiver. However, the Foreign Residency Requirement does not affect your eligibility for U.S. student, tourist, or business visas.

Selection Criteria:

• Strong leadership qualities and potential in their university, workplace, and/or community.
• Interest, knowledge, or professional experience in one or more YSEALI themes: civic engagement, entrepreneurship and economic growth, environmental issues.
• Commitment to or interest in community service, volunteerism, or mentorship.
• Serious interest in learning about the United States and ASEAN as a region.
• Willingness to actively participate in an intensive academic program, community service activity, and study tour.
• Commitment to return to their home country to apply leadership skills and training to benefit their community, country, or the Southeast Asia region.
• Little or no prior experience in the United States.

How to Apply:

To apply, submit an electronic application by 10.00 WIB (10 AM Jakarta time) on April 18, 2023, using the link provided HERE.

Please note: Only shortlisted candidates will be notified to schedule an interview.

For further inquiries email: YSEALIjkt@state.gov.