About API:
The API Fellowships Program is a regional program, operated through the partnership of The Nippon Foundation (TNF) with five institutions in Asia. There is one designated academic institution (called Partner Institution or PI), which operates as the secretariat of the Program in each of these five Participating Countries: Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Among PIs, Thailand PI has been serving as the Coordinating Institution since 2005 and played the role as a secretariat for regional level activities.
Detail:
It is a fellowships program that provides a grant to successful applicants to carry out a project during the fellowship period of one month to one year in a country or countries (currently confined to Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand).
Categories:
The fellowships are offered under two categories: API Senior Fellowships and API Fellowships. The API Senior Fellowships are meant for those with an established track record as a public intellectual and who are at least 40 years of age, as of August 31, 2010. The fellowship period should be a minimum of one month to a maximum of twelve months in up to four of the countries participating in the API Fellowships Program (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand). The API Fellowships are for those under 40 years of age as of August 31, 2010. The fellowship period should be a minimum of four months to a maximum of twelve months in one or two of the countries participating in the API Fellowships Program (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand). For both categories, the fellowship period must be continuous and the minimum period of visit to a project country is one month and cannot include the native country or country of residence.
Eligibility:
# Applicants must hold the nationality or proper residence status of one of the five Participating Countries and reside in the country (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand) at the time of the application;
# Applicants must attend the interview at the designated date and place;
# Applicants must propose research projects and/or professional activities which start after July 1, 2011 and should be completed on or by the end of July 2012;
# Applicants must have a basic knowledge of English or a language/s spoken in the country/ies where the proposed research project and/or professional activities are conducted; and
# Applicants must be based in the region/country and will continue to be so in the future.
# When selected, they must attend the orientation in February/March 2011. Absence from the orientation may cause for the cancellation of the selection.
Eligibility for the API Senior Fellowships: In addition to the general eligibility above, the applicants for the API Senior Fellowships must:
# Be 40 years of age or more as of August 31, 2010 (exceptions may be made);
# Have the ability and experience to conduct research projects and/or professional activities in the Participating Countries (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand) other than his/her native country or country of residence;
# Undertake the proposed research projects and/or professional activities in up to four of the Participating Countries (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand), but in a country/ies other than in the applicant’s native country or country of residence;
# Undertake the proposed research projects and/or professional activities for a continuous period of between one to 12 months; and
# Have the ability, influence, and means to disseminate the results of their research projects and/or professional activities.
Goals:
The API Fellowships Program aims to:
# Create and nurture a community of public intellectuals in Asia;
# Promote mutual learning among Asian public intellectuals; and
# Contribute to the growth of public spaces in which effective responses to regional needs can be generated.
In selecting Fellows, the API Fellowships Program will favor those whose projects address critical issues in the region, use creative and multidisciplinary approaches, and have some element of advocacy.
How To Apply:
Anyone involved in the production and exchange of knowledge or ideas in line with the goals of the API Fellowships Program can apply. This includes academics, researchers, media professionals, artists, writers, NGO workers, social workers, public servants, and others who work for the betterment of society. You will need sufficient knowledge of the English language to conduct your project and to share the results with the wider audience afterwards.
Selection:
# The application period is from July 1, 2010 to August 31, 2010.
# Interviews will take place in September/October 2010.
Note: There will be no make-up interview if the applicant is not able to attend the interview on the designated date. Therefore, those who cannot be present on the interview day will be automatically dropped from the selection process.
# The results will be announced in February 2011.
Application materials must consist of the following:
1. Application Form and Datasheet (Please download it and type-in. To download the form, please click your native country or country of residence below.)
# Application form and datasheet for applicants from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines
# Application form and datasheet for applicants from Japan (Pls. also visit API Japan website for more information)
# Application form and datasheet for applicants from Thailand (Uploaded on June 11, 2010)
Note: For applicants from Thailand, it is required to submit your application materials both in English and Thai.
2. A Covering Letter: Your covering letter with a brief introduction of yourself and details as to why you are applying for the API Fellowships Program.
3. A Full Curriculum Vitae: Your curriculum vitae written in English. It should not be more than three pages in length and should contain details on your education, professional career, publications, and achievements.
4. A Project Proposal: Your project proposal addressing the following questions (written in 5 pages or less in total):
(1) Why are you applying for the API Fellowships Program?
(2) Who are “public intellectuals” in your definition?
(3) What is your project? Please answer in detail.
(4) Why do you want to carry out this project?
(5) Why are you the right person to do this project? (Mention relevant previous experience.)
(6) How are you going to do it? (Methodology)
(7) What will the outputs of your project be (Research paper, video, performance, etc.) and how will you disseminate them?
(8) How will your project contribute to the goals of API?
(9) What are your past achievements and future plans as a public intellectual (organization,advocacy, publications, etc.)? How will this Fellowship help you?
5. Two Reference Letters: Two reference letters with the original signatures of the referees. If these are not in English, you must provide an English translation. These letters should be addressed to the API Fellowships Program, and should have been written within three months before the deadline for submission.
Contact:
Institute of Asian Studies (IAS), Chulalongkorn University
3rd Floor, Prajadhipok-Rambhai Barni Building, Chulalongkorn University
Phyathai Road, Bangkok 10330 Thailand
Contact Persons: Ms. Michiko Yoshida / Ms. Thamonpat Cooperider / Ms. Akiko Kuwajima
Tel: +66-2218-7422
Fax: +66-2652-5283
E-mail: api_fellowships@chula.ac.th
Source: http://www.api-fellowships.org