Call for Applications: YSEALI Academic Fellowships 2024 (Philippines)

These five-week, in person programs will take place from mid-April through mid-May. The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is the U.S. government’s signature public diplomacy program, providing skills training to youth in Southeast Asia.

YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurture a community of leaders who work across borders to solve shared issues. The YSEALI Fellowship brings exceptional young leaders from Southeast Asian countries to the United States to further develop their professional and leadership skills. The Study of the U.S. Branch implements the YSEALI Academic Fellowship for young leaders aged 18-25.

Program Themes

• The YSEALI Academic Fellowship is an intensive short-term academic program whose purpose is to provide groups of young leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States and a particular theme while enhancing their leadership skills. The Fellowship will focus on one of three themes: Civic Engagement, Environmental Issues, or Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.
• The five-week program will include seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures. Educational travel, site visits, leadership activities, and volunteer opportunities within the local community will complement the coursework and classroom activities. During the academic residency, participants will also have opportunities to engage in educational and cultural activities outside the classroom. If conditions allow, the Fellowship will include an educational study tour to other areas of the United States where they will meet with local, state, private, and non-profit organizations working in the field. Note that if the program must take place virtually, Fellows will engage in similar activities online.
• The YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Civic Engagement will provide Fellows with an overview of how citizens have shaped U.S. history, government, and society. The Fellowship will define civic engagement, examine its development in the United States, and explore active citizenship, community building, economic development, grassroots activism, and volunteerism. Other topics, such as civil rights, social justice, entrepreneurship, ethics, leadership, and media, will be discussed.  Fellows will also meet with community leaders, entrepreneurs, and representatives of non-profit organizations. Throughout the Fellowship, participants will develop innovative and practical plans to become engaged citizens in their own communities. The University of Nebraska – Omaha and Arizona State University will each conduct and host one Institute. The Fellowship on Civic Engagement will be held from April 20 to May 22, 2024.
• The YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Environmental Issues will explore the role that environmental policy has played in the economic and political development of the United States. The Fellowship will use experiential learning techniques to expose participants to current themes in the field, including climate change, sustainable development/sustainable agricultural practices, food security, ecotourism, renewable energy generation, and water management and treatment. Fellows will explore the issues from numerous angles: local grassroots activism and civic initiatives, impacts on marginalized communities, private sector approaches, global multilateral efforts, and federal government policies and regulation. Finally, the Fellowship will explore environmental issues in the context of a globalized society and draw comparisons between the United States and the participants’ home countries. Fellows will also meet with community leaders, and representatives of non-profit organizations. The University of Montana and the East-West Center in Honolulu, HI will each conduct and host one Institute.  The Fellowship on Environmental Issues will be held from April 17 to May 22, 2024.
• The YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development will provide Fellows with an overview of entrepreneurial approaches employed to address social and economic issues. The Fellowship will review the development, history, challenges, and successes of enterprises and community leaders, in the United States and globally. Topics include, but are not limited to, trade, investment, financial literacy, banking, microfinance, organizational development and management, grant writing, innovation, emerging markets and risk analysis, strategic business planning, corporate social responsibility, and diversity in entrepreneurship.  Students will also meet with community leaders, entrepreneurs, and representatives of non-profit organizations. The University of Connecticut and the University of Texas-Austin will each conduct and host one Institute. The Fellowship on Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development will be held from April 14 to May 18, 2024.

Candidate Description and Qualifications

• The YSEALI Academic Fellows are either full-time undergraduate students or have graduated in the past four years, who demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement, extracurricular activities, or their profession.
• Applicants must be:
  • Between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time of application, although exceptional applicants over 25 may be considered if they meet all other eligibility requirements
  • A citizen and resident of the Philippines
  • A full-time undergraduate student from college, university, or other institutions of higher learning; or have graduated in the past four years
  • Proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English
  • Not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States;
  • Eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 visa
• Applicants must:
  • Demonstrate interest, knowledge, or professional experience in Civic Engagement, Environmental Issues, or Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
  • Demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university, place of work, and/or community
  • Demonstrate a commitment or interest in community service, volunteerism, or mentorship
  • Indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States and Southeast Asia as a region
  • Be willing to actively participate in an intensive academic program, community service, and study tour
  • Have a commitment to return to their home country to apply leadership skills and training to benefit their community, country, or the region of Southeast Asia
  • Have little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in the Philippines.