A. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The U.S. Mission to Vietnam seeks candidates for the spring 2018 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellowship on civic engagement, environmental issues, and social entrepreneurship and economic development. Vietnamese citizens between the ages of 18 and 25, full-time undergraduate students or those who have graduated from college, university, or other institutions of higher learning, who demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university or place of work, an interest in community service and volunteerism, and have a good command of English, are invited to apply for the program.

The application deadline is 11:59 PM,Monday, October 30th, 2017.

The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is a public diplomacy program of the U.S. Department of State designed to advance regional strategic goals, break down barriers that separate thenext generation of leaders in ASEAN, and link those emerging leaders to the United States. The YSEALI Academic Fellowship will bring exceptional young leaders from ASEAN countries to the United States for 5 weeks to further develop their professional and leadership skills. All programs will conclude in Washington, D.C. to allow for networking with policy makers, government representatives, businesses, and think tanks.

The 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. The program will define civic engagement, examine its development in the U.S., and explore topics such as citizenship, community building, economic development, grassroots activism, political leadership, and volunteerism. Other topics such as civil rights, entrepreneurship, ethics, leadership, and media will be discussed. Fellows will also have the opportunity to leave the classroom to meet withcommunity leaders, entrepreneurs, and representatives of non-profit organizations. The academic residency will include an educational tour that will take participants to another area of the U.S. where they will meet with local, state, private, and not-for-profit organizations working in the field. The program will then conclude with a visit to Washington, D.C.

The YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Environmental Issues will explore the role thatenvironmental policy has played in the economic and political development of the United States. The program will use experiential learning techniques to expose participants to current themes in the field, including natural resource management, sustainable development/sustainable agricultural practices, food security, ecotourism, energy generation (new and traditional forms), and water management and treatment. The issues will be explored from numerous angles: local grassroots activism and civic initiatives, market-oriented approaches, and federal government policies and regulation. Finally, theprogram 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 have the opportunity to leave the classroom to meet with community leaders, and representatives of nonprofit organizations. The academic residency will be complemented by an educational tour that will take participants to another area of the U.S. where they will meet with local, state, private, and nonprofit organizations working in the field. The program will then conclude with a 3-day program in Washington, D.C.

The YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development will provide Fellows with an overview of entrepreneurial approaches that are employed to address social issues. The program will review the development, history, challenges, and successes of social enterprises and community leaders, in the United States and globally. Topics may 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. Studentswill also have the opportunity to leave the classroom to meet with community leaders, entrepreneurs, and representatives of nonprofit organizations. The academic residency will include an educational study tour that will take participants to New England and the Mid-Atlantic where they will meet with local, state, private, and nonprofit organizations working in the field. The program will then conclude with a 3-day program in Washington, DC.

All participant costs, including program administration, international and domestic travel and ground transportation, book, cultural, mailing and incidental allowances, housing and subsistence expenses will be paid for by the U.S. Department of State.

B. ELIGIBILITY ENTITY & SELECTION CRITERIA

• Be a YSEALI member. Join YSEALI at https://asean.usmission.gov/yseali/
• Be between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time of application;
• Be a Vietnamese citizen;
• Be a resident of one of the following countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, or Vietnam;
• Be a full-time undergraduate student or have graduated in the past four years from college,university, or other institutions of higher learning;
• Be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English;
• Demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university, place of work, and/or community;
• Demonstrate interest, knowledge, or professional experience in civic engagement,environmental issues, or social entrepreneurship and economic development;
• Demonstrate a commitment or interest in community service, volunteerism, or mentorship;
• Have a serious interest in learning about the United States and ASEAN 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 ASEAN region; and
• Have little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States.

3. Program timeline

• Submission deadline: 11:59 PM, Monday, October 30th, 2017
• Application screening and shortlisted candidates interviewed by selection committee:November 2017
• Final selection results available: February 2018

C. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Submission Requirements

Step 1: Complete application dossier includes:

1. Complete application form;2. Official transcripts for years of university study, and university degree if you already graduated3. A letter of recommendation from teacher/professor (for undergraduate students); or from current supervisor (for working people)

Step 2: Combine these three documents into one PDF file,

Step 3: Submit it online through:

Eligible candidates from Quang Tri province and to the north are requested to submit theircomplete application dossier online goo.gl/7fc2jQ, and send any questions to:

• Public Affairs Section
• United States Embassy
• YSEALI Academic Fellowship7 Lang Ha,Ba Dinh, HanoiTel: 84-24-3850 5000, ext. 6034Email: [email protected]

Eligible candidates from Thua Thien-Hue province and to the south are requested to submit their complete application dossier online at goo.gl/ya2mvS, and send any questions to:

• Public Affairs Section
• United States Consulate General
• YSEALI Academic Fellowship4 Le Duan, District 1Ho Chi Minh CityTel: 84-28-3520-4657Email: [email protected]

Application Deadline

The application deadline is 11:59 PM, Monday, October 30th, 2017. No exceptions will be made regarding the deadline.

FAQs about the program can be found at: https://vn.usembassy.gov/education-culture/yseali/ysealifellows-faqs/