USIA YOUNG LEADERSHIP FELLOWS PROGRAM

 

Contents:
    1. Program Overview
    2. Organization Descriptions
    3. Application Instructions
1. USIA Alumni Small Grants Program Overview

The Government of the United States of America and the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) are pleased to announce the 1999 Russian-US Young Leadership Fellows program. The program provides one year of intensive academic and professional training to young US and Russian leaders in fields relevant to the democratic transition of Russian society and the US-Russian historical, political, and economic context. Fields of study are limited to American and Russian area studies, conflict resolution, economics, government studies, history, international relations, and political science. The program includes one year of non-degree academic study at qualified universities and colleges, a community service component, and a four-to-twelve week professional development internship. The goal of the Russian-US Young Leadership Fellows program is to enrich the education and experience of young people who show the promise of contributing to the betterment of their own country and to the increased mutual understanding between the Russian Federation and the United States.

All applicants must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, interest in public service or evidence of involvement in community service, and proficiency in written and spoken English. All participants are required to submit a final summary report discussing their program activities, the results of their study, the tangible results of their community service activities, and future plans upon returning to the United States, including plans to continue community or public service activities.

Applicants must be citizens and current residents of the Russian Federation, be under the age of 30 at the time of application, hold an undergraduate degree (four- or five-year program), and achieve a minimum score of 500 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Applicants are not eligible for the Russian - US Young Leadership Fellows program if they are married to US citizens or married to citizens of countries other than the countries of the Newly Independent States (NIS); are enrolled in academic, training, or research programs outside of Russia; earn a salary outside of Russia; have previously participated in a program sponsored or funded by the US Government (including the United States Information Agency or any other US Government agency) since October 1996 for a period of more than six weeks; or have applied for an immigrant visa or political asylum to any country, hold or have applied for a US "green card," or have applied to the US Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery.

All Russian-US Young Leadership Fellows are affiliated with US host universities that have resource materials and specialists in the Fellows' field, and are placed with a host mentor who guides their studies and interaction with faculty and students in the department. Fellows also complete a four- to twelve-week internship following the academic year, and a full year of community service.

The program provides round-trip travel from fellows' home cities in Russia to their US host institution, medical insurance, a monthly stipend for housing and living expenses, and limited allowances for books and tuition.

Post-fellowship opportunities will also be available to alumni of the Russian-US Young Leadership Fellows program for continued professional growth. Opportunities for alumni of US government-sponsored exchange programs generally include: participation in regional conferences, seminars, and lecture series; access to the Young Leaders listserv; and access to and training in e-mail, Internet, and resources of the World Wide Web through the Internet Access and Training Program.

The Russian-US Young Leadership Fellows program is conducted as a merit-based open competition in Russia and the United States with selections by review panels of US and Russian scholars and professionals who are knowledgeable in the fields of American and Russian area studies, conflict resolution, economics, government studies, history, international relations, and political science. All qualified applicants, regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnic group, or physical challenge will be considered equally.

The application deadline for the Russian-US Young Leadership Fellows program is Friday, February 26, 1999. All semi-finalists will be interviewed in person in April 1999. Fellows will begin their fellowships in the US in late August 1999. All Fellows attend a pre-departure orientation in Russia prior to beginning their fellowship at US host institutions. Finalists awarded grants and designated alternates must complete a full medical form certifying that they are in good health. Medical forms are in English and will be sent to the selected finalists together with an official acceptance letter. Fellows without completed medical forms certifying that they are in good health will not participate in the program.

Applications may be obtained by contacting the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) at (202) 628-8188, via e-mail at [email protected], or by downloading the applications from http://www.irex.org. Applications can also be obtained from one of Russian Representational Offices & Advising Centers.

2. Organization descriptions

A. United States Information Agency (USIA)

The United States Information Agency (USIA) has functioned since 1953 as an independent foreign affairs agency within the executive branch of the US government. Academic exchange and training programs and news and information services are at the heart of USIA's work. Through them, USIA seeks to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries and to promote the free exchange of information and ideas. Outside of the United States, USIA is known as the United States Information Service (USIS). USIS posts are located in almost all US embassies or diplomatic missions abroad. USIS officers serve as spokespersons for the US embassies and administer a range of educational, cultural, information, and media programs designed to engage diverse audiences in the host countries and the United States.

USIA's major academic exchange programs with Russia and the Newly Independent States include: the Fulbright Scholarship Program, Regional Scholar Exchange Program, Freedom Support Act Fellowships in Contemporary Issues, and Junior Faculty Development Program for scholars, university professors, lecturers, and practitioners; the Edmund S. Muskie Fellowship Program and Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowships Program for Master's level study in targeted fields of the social sciences; Freedom Support Act Undergraduate Program for non-degree undergraduate study; and the Russian-US Young Leadership Fellows program for college and university graduates.

These academic exchange programs, which are conducted as merit-based open competitions, focus on assisting the development of higher education, market economies, rule of law, free and independent media, and democratic institutions in Russia and the NIS. Alumni of USIA-sponsored academic exchange programs participate in conferences that support their continued professional development and are eligible to receive access to and training in e-mail, Internet, and resources of the World Wide Web through the Internet Access and Training Program. USIA conducts these programs in cooperation with US non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations.

B. International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX)

IREX programs help create the basis for self-sustaining progress in Russia and the NIS. IREX programs for specialists and scholars from the region strengthen local capabilities and academic research. For its programs, IREX draws on US and indigenous academic, policy, and professional communities, including over 5,000 US and NIS alumni spanning 29 years of IREX programs, to provide emerging leaders in the region with skills in ethnic conflict resolution, finance and entrepreneurship, information management, journalism, local governance, nongovernmental organization management, parliamentary democracy and public policy. With its many regional field offices and representatives in Almaty, Bishkek, Erevan, Irkutsk, Kyiv, Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Tashkent, Tbilisi, and Vladivostok, IREX serves each country in the region according to its distinct needs through nowledgeable American and local field staff.

C. How These Organizations Work Together on This Program

The United States Information Agency and IREX work in partnership to administer the Russian-US Young Leadership Fellows program. USIA develops, funds, supervises, and oversees the program, and IREX administers and implements all aspects of the program including recruitment, placement, orientation, and follow-on activities for American and Russian participants. Collaboration on the Russian-US Young Leadership Fellows program builds upon a long history of successful USIA-IREX joint activities and will provide program alumni with enhanced professional opportunities and follow-on activities in the United States.

3. Application instructions

Read all instructions and information carefully before filling out the application form. All forms must be completed in English and must be typed or hand-printed in black ink. All sections of the application must be completed; incomplete applications will not be accepted. Write your full name and citizenship on the upper right corner of each page, and submit the original application and three (3) copies to any of the Russian Representational Offices & Advising Centers listed above. Faxed applications will not be accepted.

A. Additional Required Documents

Recommendations

All applicants must include completed recommendation forms from three colleagues, specialists, employers, professors or other researchers familiar with the applicant's work. Recommendations may be from colleagues from the NIS, US, or other countries. At least one recommendation must be completed in English. All recommendations not in English must be accompanied by an English translation. Recommendations must be submitted with the application. Recommendations submitted separately will not be accepted.

Diploma

A copy of your official degree/diploma/ if you received one by the time of your application for US Young Leadership Fellows Program. Please note that the degree/diploma/certificate must be translated into English by either an official translation service or your university/college

Transcripts

Official undergraduate transcripts. A transcript is defined as an official document issued by your university/college which lists courses and grades received. Please note that the transcript must be translated into English by either an official translation service or your university/college.

Curriculum Vitae (C.V.)

A Curriculum Vitae (C.V.), or resume, must be submitted with each copy of the application. The documents must be in English and include the most current data on your education, work experience, publications and honors.

Biography

Submit a short biography of your recent work experiences, publications, achievements, and work position(s) of authority as they relate to your research topic. Also cite any previous or current collaborative work with US colleagues as it relates to your topic. A sample biography:

B. Submission Guidelines

The deadline for applications for the Russian-US Young Leadership Fellows program is FRIDAY, 5:00 pm, FEBRUARY 26, 1999. You must submit an original and three (3) hard copies of the application and all required documents to any of the Russian Representational Offices & Advising Centers.

IREX/Moscow
Volkhonka 14, ctr.5
119842 Moscow, Russian Federation
Tel: (095) 203-98-89 or 203-96-96
Fax: (095) 203-59-66
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.irex.ru

Faxed applications will not be accepted.

Best regards,

Tatiana Nikitina, EIC Moscow.
E-mail: [email protected]

Education Information Center:

Phone: (095) 234-0145/46
E-mail: [email protected]
WWW: http://www.useic.ru/

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Last updated:    January 29, 1999