Asian Public Intelectuals Fellowships Program - The Nippon Foundation

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 the goals?
# To create and nurture a community of public intellectuals in the Asian region;
# 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.

In selecting Fellows, API Fellowships Program will favor projects that address critical issues for the region, which use creative and multidisciplinary 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 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 impact of economic integration on states and societies; human and capital migration; the changing role of borders; the meaning of self-reliance; the global 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 of journalistic 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 (research paper, film, photo essay, etc.).

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

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

Who can apply?
Anyone involved in the production and exchange of knowledge or ideas in line with the goals of API Fellowships Program. This includes academics, researchers, media professionals, artists, writers, NGO workers, social workers, 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 of the five (5) Participating Countries and reside in the country at the time of application;

- Applicants must attend an interview at a designated date and place;

- The proposed project by the applicant must take place and should be completed within the period of July 1, 2010 to July 31, 2011 (Note: The fellowship period must be continuous.);

- Applicants must have a basic knowledge of English or a laungage(s) spoken in the country(ies) where the proposed research and/or activities are conducted; and

- Applicants must be based in the region/country and will continue to be so in the future.

http://www.api-fellowships.org/body/api_fellowships.php