Call for Applications For Fellows Year 2011-2012

What is the API Fellowships Program?

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).

API Mission Statement

Public Intellectuals are those—academics, researchers, media professionals, artists, creative writers, NGO activists, social workers, public servants and others with moral authority—who are committed to working for the betterment of society by applying their professional knowledge, wisdom and experience.

The Nippon Foundation Fellowships for Asian Public Intellectuals (API Fellowships Program) is designed to stimulate the creation of a pool of such intellectuals in the region. They aim to promote mutual learning among Asian public intellectuals and to contribute to the growth of public spaces in which effective responses to regional needs can be generated.

What are API Senior Fellowships and API Fellowships? (Categories of Fellowships)

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.

What can I do as a project?

The project may take several forms: a research paper, a film, a series of journalistic articles, data gathering, building networks, a work of art, etc.; but it must fulfill the following three conditions:

It must NOT be part of your regular employment output;

It must contribute to the goals of the API Fellowships Program, and must fit in with the API themes (please refer to below);

It must have a tangible output (a research paper, a film, a photo essay, etc.).

The project must be carried out in one or more of the API Participating Countries (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand), but NOT in your native country or country of residence.

While Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam have become members of the API Fellowships Program from 2010 and Fellowships have been awarded to applicants from these countries, these three countries are not as yet available as the country(ies) to conduct projects.

You will need to identify one institution as the Host Institution in the country or countries where you will be going to on your project. The Host Institution will be your institution of affiliation for your fellowship period in the country.

The fellowship can start anytime on or after July 1, 2011 and ends on or by July 31, 2012. You must complete your project within this period.

Who can 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.


General eligibility for both the API Senior and API Fellowships

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.

Eligibility for the API Fellowships:

In addition to the general eligibility above, the applicants for the API Fellowships must:

Be under the age of 40 as of August 31, 2010 (exceptions may be made);

Have the ability and desire to engage in research projects and/or professional activities in the Participating Countries (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand) other than his/her native or country of residence;

Have a strong potential to contribute to their field in the future;

Undertake the proposed research projects and/or professional activities for a consecutive period of between four to 12 months; and

Undertake the proposed research projects and/or professional activities in up to two of the Participating Countries (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand), but in a country/ies other than the applicant's native country or country of residence.

What are the goals of the API Fellowships Program?

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.

What are the API themes for this year?

Changing Identities and Their Social, Historical, and Cultural Contexts
e.g., the use of historical memory in building regional and national identities; the construction of cultural majorities and minorities; the role of the media and the arts; the dynamics of cultural encounter; the performance of gender, religion, and class roles.

Reflections on the Human Condition and the Search for Social Justice
e.g., the distribution of political rights; economic and physical security; the management of social change; the marginalization of peripheral populations; human interaction with the environment.

Globalization: Structures, Processes, and Alternatives
e.g., the use of historical memory in building regional and national identities; the construction of cultural majorities and minorities; the role of the media and the arts; the dynamics of cultural encounter; the performance of gender, religion, and class roles

What is the API Community?

The API Community consists of (1) all recipients of the API Senior Fellowships or the API Fellowships, who have finished their fellowship activities and participated in the API Regional Workshop, and (2) everyone involved in the API Fellowships Program as selection members, Program Directors, and Coordinators. This growing community now numbers more than 270 individuals of varied backgrounds, but with a shared commitment. Members meet in local and cross-country functions, as well as through informal networks and collaborative projects at the national and the regional levels.

What does the API Fellowships Program provide?

A stipend and housing allowance during the fellowship period. The amount varies by country and the length of the fellowship.

International transportation costs for one round trip.

Domestic transportation allowance.

Research allowance to cover computer costs, field expenses, books, translation fees, etc.

Travel insurance during the fellowship period.

How are API Fellows chosen?

In each Participating Country (Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand), there is a selection committee comprised of established public intellectuals. This committee evaluates all the applications, invites a shortlist for interview, and sends its recommendations to an International Selection Committee which makes the final decision. Currently, there are a maximum of six Fellowships for each country per year. The selection procedure is confidential.

What is the schedule for the selection process?

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.

Selected Fellows will be required:

To attend the orientation in February/March 2011.

To carry out the project between the time frame of July 1, 2011 and July 31, 2012.

To attend the annual API Regional Workshop to be held in November 2012.

To present the results of the project through papers and other materials.

To disseminate the results of the project to a wider audience, whenever possible.

To submit a final Workshop Paper for publication after the API Regional Workshop

By fulfilling all commitments above, you will become a member of the API Community. You will be expected to participate in the various activities of the Community, and you will have opportunities to apply for post-fellowship programs.

Where do I apply?

Apply to the Partner Institution in your native country or country of residence. Click here to get further details on Partner Institutions.

Please click your native country or country of residence to download the application brochures:

Applicants from Indonesia

Applicants from Japan

(Uploaded on June 11, 2010. Pls. also visit API Japan website for more information)

Applicants from Malaysia

Applicants from the Philippines

Applicants from Thailand (Uploaded on June 11, 2010)
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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.

Please note!

You may NOT apply for an API Fellowship for a project in your own country or country of residence. While Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam have become members of API, these three countries are not yet available for the conduct of projects.

You must type the application. Hand-written applications cannot be processed.

Project proposals written by persons other than the applicant himself/herself are not acceptable.

Any form of plagiarism in the project proposal is also strictly prohibited.

Please take careful note of the projects conducted by Fellows in previous years, which you can find from the API website (http://www.api-fellowships.org/body/profile.php). Try to avoid doing a project that is overly similar to any one of them.

You need to identify a Host Institution in the country or counties where you will be going to on your project.

Any misrepresentations made willfully or otherwise, may cause for the revocation of the Fellowship grant at any time.