The EWC, also known as East-West Center together with the United States and the Philippines government agency established this fellowship organization known as US-Philippine Alliance Fellowship to support policy-inclined individuals by providing some privileges mentioned in the article below.
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This fellowship aims to help our political analysts since they have a great contribution to our policy development and other social issues provided that they must exert efforts to establish analysis in the form of a written report and other social policy studies and research.
What is the US-Philippine Alliance Fellowship?
The US-Philippine Alliance Fellowship was established to support Filipino analysts that are currently Master’s or Ph.D. degree graduate that have interests in research such as cases in the policy-making communities like the policy problems or issues that needs to be examined. Eligible applicants of this fellowship alliance can be considered as fellow or fellow candidates.
Qualified chosen fellows opt to create any related analysis concerning policy integration that will be under a peer review process together with the policy experts and analysts. In short, they are obliged to dwell with other fellows and other policy experts. This is one of the basic requirements of this fellowship alliance. Interested applicants must also provide a J-1 visa and must have a high level of English proficiency. In short, they must be fluent in English both in writing and speaking because fellows don’t have a choice but to interact and learn with their socio-cultural values.
On the other hand, applications for the said fellowship alliance program are usually announced on their social media sites, and eligible applicants are informed either through their respective emails, text messages, or phone calls.
The complexity of being a policy analyst does not just revolve around evaluating the social policy issues within the communities but also delivering an effective opportunity. This is to uphold well-conscious solutions to each unsettled matter of the society by developing written reports and studies in the means of research and findings, which prospects positive intentions to the policy developing body of the states in which the work of the political analyst could help them carry out potential solutions that could resolve policy issues and problems.
Benefits
The qualified candidates can enjoy the following opportunity and privileges if they are qualified for the said fellowship stipend. Thus, the following are the benefits that the eligible applicants can acquire:
- A US $3, 000 monthly stipend.
- Accommodation includes the personal computer and office space area, housing, and medical insurance.
- Round trip economy airfare to Washington, DC.
- An opportunity to discover Washington’s culture and economy.
- A chance to showcase your knowledge in creating social-policy analysis through certain studies and dissertations.
Qualifications
The following is the list of qualification requirements that aspiring applicants must meet to be eligible for the said fellowship stipend.
- Must be a Filipino national.
- Fluent in English both in speaking and writing.
- Eligible applicants should be taking a Master’s Degree, Ph.D., or any graduate degree.
- Willing to conduct policy-relevant analysis publications in any form of dissertations.
Requirements
Here is a list of the necessary application documents that you must provide before the deadline for submission to qualify for the said alliance fellowship stipend.
- Duly accomplished application form.
- A complete curriculum vitae
- Two recommendation letters
- A double-space research proposal that has 3-5 pages and must be aligned with any of the relevant policy topics including:
- The national security
- International relations, and;
- International trade
How to Process
To the students who wish to apply and avail of a US-Philippine Alliance Fellowship, the following are the step-by-step guide and process that the applicants need to know.
Step 1: Before applying to the said educational scholarship program, interested applicants must know first what is the US-Philippine Alliance Fellowship all about and understand the qualification expectancy as an applicant.
Step 2: Interested applicants can apply online by clicking this link https://www.eastwestcenter.org/apply.
Step 3: Click the apply button and read the information including the instructions and conditions carefully.
Step 4: Fill out the required information needed. Do not leave any missing parts in your application because it might cause disapproval. Just put N/A if it is not applicable.
Step 5: Prepare the digital copy of the following requirements mentioned above. Upload it together in your application portal together with the information needed.
Step 6: Review your information carefully and click submit if you are done. Wait for their response regarding your application.
Important Reminders
Attached hereof are some important points that aspiring applicants need to remember before applying.
- For more questions and concerns, you can contact them using JacksonL@EastWestCenter.org through Lance Jackson of the East-West Center.
- East-West Center J-1 visa sponsorship will be needed during the residency of the fellows’ participants in the US. For more information regarding J-1 visa requirements, you can visit this link https://www.eastwestcenter.org/node/33028.
- During the term residency of fellow candidates, they are expected to participate in the organizational briefings of the officials and experts. It is necessary to attend such activities to customize such research concepts to the relevant scenarios.
- You can also visit their FB Page at East-West Center.
Video: Transforming the US-Philippine Alliance
Check out the video above as this will strengthen your knowledge and understanding of how the program of the East-West Center in Washington works and what it is all about. The video is an example of a presentation video regarding social-economic policy concerning. It will also give you a glimpse or an overview of what to expect during the fellowship program such as the things that happened in the said deliberation of each issue concerning the said fellowship program that the policy analyst usually does.
This allows you to at least glance at the presentation examined by the policy experts and the things that they do. Hence, you’ll get a chance to see it yourself and to gain firsthand experience to orient yourself to the things you should expect when you apply for the US-Philippines Alliance Fellowship.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do they select qualified applicants as a part of their selection process?
All the application that meets the deadline is evaluated and screened by the selection committee of the said program. The total number of fellows that will be selected depends upon the available fund that the program has. The selection may also vary on the quality of the research proposal that the fellows pass during the application including the relevance of it the latest issue of the Indo-Pacific policy.
2. What are the rules and regulations that interested applicants need to follow?
Interested applicants may have the responsibilities most especially in making various analyses that need to be presented and published. Fellows may opt to make a policy-relevant analysis and research findings on her approved research content. This will be published in the designated publication industry and will be submitted through a legal process to the different policy stakeholders like government policymakers, government officials, policy experts, or the media. The fellows will still keep on working with EWCW even if the state of residency ends because of the peer review discussion process. The fellow must need to discuss their findings in a seminar just like in the video presented above. Aside from that, smoking is prohibited in any East-West Center buildings, this includes residential houses and lodging.
3. What is the format of the research proposal that the applicants need to submit?
The research proposal must be aligned to the relevant topic mentioned above that is also relevant to the latest policy issue in the Indo-Pacific community wherein the research proposal must discuss the problem including the hypothesis and arguments. Propose a case that can be completed in two or three months and explain how beneficial it is to the state and the allied partners.
4. Aside from the application requirements mentioned above, are there other necessary documents needed for the online application?
Aside from the requirements mentioned in the article, other required documents will be submitted online so applicants are expected to produce a digitalized copy of the documents; it is either a scanned or digital copy of your documents and need to submit in your online application portal.
5. How do we know the schedule and the deadline for the application?
There is no fixed date schedule for the start of the application and application deadline but usually, they post it on their social media sites most especially on their FB page and social media sites so it is suggested to follow them on their Facebook page or sent them a private message for inquiries.
6. For Non-US residents, is it required to have a Test of English as a Foreign Language Certificate?
For Non-US residents, one of the latest revised requirements of the J-1 Visa is the proof or any evidence of English Language Proficiency of the applicants that are also beneficial for the applicants to acquire literacy in the English Language.
7. How do I get to the East-West Center directly from the airport?
You can hail a cab or taxi to go to the East-West Center and prepare for a transportation fee of approximately $30 to $35. Just tell the driver to take you to the East-West Center located on the University of Hawaii campus. If you’re using a car, you can use the Internet for directions here at mapquest.com. You’ll be going to see all the East-West Center buildings on your right side in order, John A. Burns Hall, Hale Halawai, Hale Mānoa, Imin Conference Center, Hale Kuahine, and Lincoln Hall.
8. Are the housing and lodging free?
Students or fellows are responsible for securing their respective housing and medical insurance during their residency. EWCW is going to provide you with suggestions for accommodation options. The said fellowship program only includes a US$3,000 monthly stipend, office space and computer, and other office resources, as well as round trip economy airfare to Washington, DC from the Philippines.
9. Where can I get a TB skin test and what are the requirements needed?
You may get a TB skin test at the University of Hawaiʻi Health Services office which is located across the street from the East-West Center’s Hale Mānoa dormitory at nominal costs only and the State of Hawaiʻi’s Lanakila Health Center for chest x-rays at no charge.
For the requirements, residents staying for more than 30 days shall provide a Health Clearance form. A medical certificate from the University of Hawaii Health Services is also accepted. The results of your TB skin test (PPD/Mantoux) must also be submitted within two weeks of arrival at the East-West Center. Your negative TB skin test is accepted only if it is administered in the United States for up to 1 year before your arrival. When it turns out to be positive, a follow-up chest x-ray is required. Take note, skin tests or x-rays administered abroad are not accepted.
10. Are bus services available on campus?
There is a free bus shuttle service available at the University of Hawaii during the academic year. These buses stop at several locations on the campus. For the fare rates and current bus schedules, check out the TheBus website.
Summary
Hence, this is the process of applying for the US-Philippines Alliance Fellowship Program.
To sum it up, the US-Philippine Alliance Fellowship captures the ambiguous mind of Filipino scholars in the policy-making communities wherein they can be able to use their professional well-being and competitiveness for the common good of the Indo-Pacific policy. Scholars of the said program must be fluent in the English language and have a J-1 visa during the fellowship program. Aside from that, they must also secure their apartment or place to stay while in the US.
If you are interested to apply in this fellowship program, you must also prepare yourself for the medical test that they may require you.