Scholarship : The Nippon Foundation Fellowships for Asian Public Intellectuals

FOR FELLOWS YEAR 2010-2011

API Mission Statement

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

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

What are the goals?
# To create and nurture a community of public intellectuals in the Asianregion;
# To promote mutual learning among Asian public intellectuals; and
# To contribute to the growth of public spaces in which effective responsesto regional needs can be generated.

In selecting Fellows, API Fellowships Program will favor projects thataddress critical issues for the region, which use creative andmultidisciplinary approaches, and which have some element of advocacy.

What are the themes?

- Changing Identities and their Social, Historical, and Cultural Contexts:e.g., the use of historical memory in building regional and nationalidentities; the construction of cultural majorities and minorities; the roleof the media and the arts; the dynamics of cultural encounter; theperformance 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 peripheralpopulations; human interaction with the environment.

- Globalization: Structures, Processes, and Alternatives: e.g., the impactof economic integration on states and societies; human and capitalmigration; the changing role of borders; the meaning of self-reliance; theglobal marketing of culture; civil society in the era of globalization.

What can I do as a project?

The project may take several forms: research paper; film; series ofjournalistic articles; data gathering; building networks; work of art, etc.,but must fulfill three conditions: it must NOT be part of your regular employment; it must contribute to the goals of the API Fellowships Program,and fit with the API themes; and it must have tangible output (researchpaper, film, photo essay, etc.).

The project must be carried out in one or more of the API ParticipatingCountries, but NOT in your native country or country of residence. Thecurrent Participating Countries are: Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, thePhilippines, and Thailand.

You will need to find a Host Insitution in the country where you carry outthe project.

Who can apply?

Anyone involved in the production and exchange of knowledge or ideas in linewith the goals of API Fellowships Program. This includes academics,researchers, media professionals, artists, writers, NGO workers, socialworkers, public servants and others who work for the betterment of society.

General eligibility requirements:

- Applicants must hold the nationality or proper resident status in one ofthe five (5) Participating Countries and reside in the country at the timeof application;
- Applicants must attend an interview at a designated date and place;
- The proposed project by the applicant must take place and should becompleted within the period of July 1, 2010 to July 31, 2011 (Note: Thefellowship period must be continuous.);
- Applicants must have a basic knowledge of English or a laungage(s) spokenin the country(ies) where the proposed research and/or activities areconducted; and
- Applicants must be based in the region/country and will continue to be soin the future.

API Senior Fellowships and API Fellowships?

(Categories of Fellowships)
The API Fellowships Program offers two (2) categories of Fellowships: APISenior Fellowships and API Fellowships. The categorization is basedessentially on the age of the applicant.

The API Senior Fellowships are meant for those with an established trackrecord as a public intellectual and who are at least 40 years of age, as ofAugust 31, 2009. The project may be carried out for a minimum of one (1)month to a maximum of twelve (12) months. Up to four (4) API Participating Countries may be visited.

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

- Be 40 years of age or more as of August 31, 2009 (exceptions may be made);
- Have the ability and experience to conduct research projects and/orprofessional activities in the Participating Countries other than theapplicant's native country or country of residence;
- Undertake the proposed research projects and/or professional activities inup to four (4) of the Participating Countries, but in a country(ies) otherthan the applicant's native country or country of residence;
- Undertake the proposed research projects and/or professional activitiesfor a continuous period of between one (1) and twelve (12) months (Note: Thefellowship period must be continuous.); and
- Have the ability, influence, and means to disseminate the results of theirresearch projects and/or professional activities.

The API Fellowships are for those under 40 years of age, as of August 31,2009. The project may be carried out for a minimum of four (4) months to amaximum of twelve (12) months. Up to two (2) API Participating Countries maybe visited.

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

- Be under the age of 40 as of August 31, 2009 (exceptions may be made);
- Have the ability and desire to engage in research projects and/or professional activitites in the Participating Countries other than the applicant's 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 fora consecutive period of between four (4) and twelve (12) months (Note: Thefellowship period must be continuous.); and
- Undertake the proposed research projects and/or professional activities inup to two (2) of the Participating Countries, but in a country(ies) otherthan the applicant's native country or country of residence.

What are commitments involved?

After the project year, you must attend the annual API Regional Workshop,which usually takes place in November (for applicants for Fellows Year2010-2011, it will be in November 2011), and present your results bysubmitting the papers and other materials. You are strongly encouraged to disseminate the results of your project to a wider audience wherever possible.

By fulfilling your commitments, you will become a member of the APICommunity. You will be expected to participate in the activities of theCommunity, and will have the chance to apply for post fellowship programs.

Note 1: Project proposals written by persons other than the applicanthim/herself are NOT acceptable.
Note 2: Plagiarism in the project proposal is also strictly prohibited.

Please submit the all above documents in one envelope addressed to the Partner Institution in your country.

Please note!
- You cannot apply for an API Fellowship for a project in your own country.
- You must type the application. Handwritten applications cannot beprocessed.
- If you make any misrepresentation, willful or otherwise, in theapplication and accompanying documents, it may cause for revocation of theFellowship grant at any time.

More details on:http://www.api-fellowships. org/body/api_fellowships.php
(Application submission deadline: August 31, 2009)