Application invited for ICWA Fellowship Program

Fellowship title: Application invited for ICWA Fellowship Program

Deadline: 15th June 2019

About:

The ultimate aim of the ICWA fellowship program is to cultivate deep expertise in foreign countries and cultures. We achieve that by supporting fellows over two-year periods during which they carry out immersive programs of self-designed, independent study abroad. An ICWA fellowship represents a generous investment in a fellow’s future.

ICWA’s mission is to identify and cultivate rare potential, so we are looking for promise, curiosity and enthusiasm in our candidates. We consider whether a candidate is ready for the rapid personal growth the fellowship makes possible. Candidates with a passion for their project country and who are sufficiently prepared to take advantage of the opportunity we offer have the best chance of being awarded an ICWA fellowship. Extensive professional experience in the proposed area is not always necessary; fellowships are aimed at developing advanced knowledge and professional skills, not necessarily awarding research or reporting opportunities to those who already possess them.

Strong candidates generally propose compelling fellowship topics. Given our interest in achieving wide geographic distribution over time, we generally are less inclined to select projects in countries where we currently or very recently have had fellows. We are naturally drawn to areas of the world and topics that are less well understood and are relevant to the United States. Candidates are encouraged to browse ICWA’s archives to see the kind of projects that the institute has supported.

Requirements

Language Skills

They expect candidates to have the necessary language skills to allow to them to carry out their proposed project. Candidates proposing to go to China, Russia, Indonesia, India or Brazil, for example, should have proficiency in Chinese, Russian, Bahasa, Hindi (or another relevant language) or Portuguese. It is too costly and time consuming to start from scratch, so we expect enough language proficiency for candidates to be able to function in the local language within a few months of arriving in the country. Exceptions have been made for unusual languages or situations, but they are rare

Criteria for Consideration

Candidates must be under 36 years of age at the time of the due date for the initial letter of interest.

U.S. citizenship is not a requirement, but candidates must show strong and credible ties to U.S. society. A proposed fellowship must hold the promise of enriching public life in the United States by enhancing the understanding of foreign countries, cultures and trends. Public service, social activism or contribution to wider understanding in the United States is our ultimate purpose, from a belief that the public can benefit from the knowledge and wisdom our fellows acquire.

Fellowship Opportunities

Donors’ Fellowship

• The generous support received from contributors enables ICWA to periodically appoint a Donors’ Fellow every two years. Topics and areas of study are unrestricted.
• Fellows with appropriate topics may receive support from specially endowed funds, including:
• John Miller Musser Memorial Forest & Society Fellowships offer people with graduate degrees in forestry or forest-related specialities an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the relationship of forest-resource problems to humans, including policy-makers, environmentalists, farmers, scientists and forest-product industrialists.
• John O. Crane Memorial Fellowships provide support for study in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Applications and Deadlines

• Those interested in applying for an Institute of Current World Affairs Fellowship should send an initial Letter of Interest and a resume or CV in English to the institute via email. (Post is also accepted.)
• In your letter of interest, tell us what you would do if you had a two-year, self-designed fellowship overseas and why you’re the right person to carry it out. There is no fixed length for the letter of interest. Take the space that you need to make a cogent case for yourself. Please indicate your age, as applicants must be under the age of 36 at the time that the letter of interest is due.
• Selected fellows are expected to depart for their fellowships within six months of their selection.
• This is a competitive process. The strongest applicants will be invited to submit a more detailed application.

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