YSEALI Academic Fellowship Announcement

Spring 2024 Cohort YSEALI ACADEMIC FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

The U.S. Embassy, Yangon is pleased to announce the opportunity to compete for the Spring 2024 YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Civic Engagement, Environmental Issues, Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.

WHAT: 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 simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills.  The Fellowship will focus on one of three themes: Civic Engagement, Environmental Issues, and Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. The five-week programs will consist of a balanced series of seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures. The coursework and classroom activities will be complemented by educational travel, site visits, leadership activities, and volunteer opportunities within the local community. During the academic residency, participants will also have opportunities to engage in educational and cultural activities outside of 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 nonprofit organizations working in the field. Note that if the program must take place virtually, fellows will engage in similar activities but online from their home countries.

YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Civic Engagement will provide Fellows with an overview of how citizens have shaped U.S. history, government, and society both as individuals and groups. 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.

YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Environmental Issues will explore the role that environmental policy has played in the economic and political development of the U.S. Fellows will explore the issues from numerous angles: local grassroots activism and civic initiatives, private sector approaches, global multilateral efforts, and federal government policies and regulation. 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.

YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development will provide Fellows with an overview of entrepreneurial approaches that are employed to address social and economic issues. 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 women and minorities in entrepreneurship. 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.

WHO: A full-time undergraduate student from college, university, or other institutions of higher learning; or have graduated in the past four years. All candidates must have a strong interest in a related topic but can come from any field of study.

ELIGIBILITY:

An applicant must:

Be between 18 and 25 years of age
Have a strong interest in ASEAN-related issues
Proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English
Demonstrate interest, knowledge, or professional experience in Civic Engagement, environmental issues or Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
Strong leadership qualities and commitment or interest in community service, volunteerism, or mentorship
Have approval from your current employer or university to take a leave of absence
Be committed to returning to his/her home country to apply leadership skills and training to benefit their community and country after completion of the program
Be willing to join the broader YSEALI network, in country workshops or activities and YOUnified program

A complete application set includes:

Completed, signed application form via google form
A cover letter (only 250 to 350 words)
Two letters of recommendation (All letters of reference should be written by teachers under whom you have studied or pursued research or by someone who has supervised you in the work related to your proposed field of study. Letter of reference should not be written by persons related to you either by blood or marriage or by personal friends.)

The deadline for application is October 9, 2023 at 23:59.

For more information, please contact us at Cultural Affairs Unit, Public Affairs Section, American Embassy, 110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Yangon, Ph: 01-7536509/01-7505114 Ext: 4869 email: RangoonUSECA@state.gov, and visit to the U.S. Embassy website: https://mm.usembassy.gov/education-culture/yseali/. Sign up to be a YSEALI Member on the website https://asean.usmission.gov/yseali/. Visit to the YSEALI Myanmar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mmyseali/. You can submit your application and other documents only via google form here.