2023/2024 Canada-Asia Young Professionals Fellowship Program

This nine-month, non-resident programme is for eight-to-10 current students and young professionals aged 22-to-30 with prior knowledge of contemporary Asia and an interest in understanding and advancing Canada’s relationship with the countries and peoples of that region.

While part of the fellowship will focus on the Asia Pacific as a whole, participants will also take a deeper look at Southeast Asia and its growing importance to Canada. Fellows convene twice monthly for 60-minute virtual meetings (with breaks during major holidays).

The focus of these meetings is one of the following:

• Overview of key issues and debates related to Canada’s evolving and deepening engagement with Asia; a major point of discussion will be the federal government’s forthcoming Indo-Pacific Strategy.
• Q&A with experts.
• Group discussions.
• Workshops to help fellows sharpen their written and oral communication skills. These workshops will support fellows in publishing one piece of analytical writing as part of the programme.

Benefits

Through this programme, fellows will have the opportunity to:

• Examine and discuss the key debates around how Canada should respond to Asia’s growing strategic importance.
• Connect with key thinkers and stakeholders in the Canada-Asia relationship.
• Network with like-minded peers.
• Strengthen communication skills.
• Publish one analytical piece of writing on the Canada-Asia relationship.

Eligibility

Ideal candidates will meet the following criteria:

• Be aged 22-to-30 at the start of the fellowship (September 15, 2023).
• Hold a degree in political science, international relations, business, economics, Asian Studies, or a related programme.
• Have a demonstrated interest – through coursework, professional or volunteer experience, or lived experience – in contemporary Asia and/or the Canada-Asia relationship.
• Be available for twice-monthly virtual meetings (60 minutes each).
• Be available to travel to Vancouver for a two-day concluding event in early May 2024 (travel costs to be covered by APF Canada).
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

How To Apply

To apply, submit the following items to Erin Williams (Ms.) at erin.williams@asiapacific.ca:

• Current CV.
• Official or unofficial transcripts for all post-secondary education.
• A two-page cover letter addressing the points described below.
• The names, titles, and e-mail addresses of two references, either professional or academic. Note that according to the referees’ preference, they would also accept a written reference letter. Those letters should be submitted directly to APF Canada and addressed to Erin Williams (Ms.) at erin.williams@asiapacific.ca.

Shortlisted candidates for the next intake will be contacted for an interview in early August 2023. Successful applicants will be notified of their acceptance by the third week of August.

In your cover letter, address the following:

• On Page 1: Introduce yourself and describe what you hope to gain from participating in this programme. Provide any information you would like them to know about you that is not included in your other application materials.
• On Page 2: Describe a recent or current event in Asia (i.e. 40 years ago to the present day) that you have followed. What about this issue interests you most? In your view, why should Canadians care about it, or how could they relate to it (the connection to Canada can be either direct or indirect)? What 2-3 questions would guide you if you wanted to explore this issue further?

For more information, visit APF Canada

Application Deadline: Rolling Basis

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