About the program
The Public Intellectuals Program (PIP), launched by the National Committee in 2005, is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of China specialists who, in the tradition of earlier China hands, have the interest and potential to venture outside of academia to engage with the public and policy community.
Through a varied set of activities spread out over two years, the program helps twenty young American scholars and specialists working in various disciplines to expand their knowledge of China beyond their own interests by introducing them to each other as well as to specialists outside their fields. By requiring each of the fellows to organize a public outreach program, PIP also encourages them to actively use their knowledge to inform policy and public opinion.
PIP program activities include two Washington, D.C.-based workshops on U.S.-China relations, including government and private sector briefings and media training (see recent PIP media placements in the sidebar to the right); a workshop in San Francisco designed to expose fellows to China specialists and institutions on the west coast; participation in one of two ten-day study tours to China; and possibilities to participate in a National Committee-sponsored conference or serving as a scholar-escort for a Committee delegation (in China or the United States)
The fifth cohort of PIP is being funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York as was the fourth; the first three cohorts were funded by The Henry Luce Foundation and The Starr Foundation.
The Public Intellectuals Program is an enrichment opportunity intended to complement participants' primary academic or professional positions; stipends are not provided, but costs are covered. The program offers unique opportunities for professional development, mentoring by senior scholars, networking, and exposure. PIP fellows gain access to senior policymakers and experts in both the United States and China, and to individuals and fields they would not typically be exposed to, include, the emerging business and nonprofit sectors in China, as well as the media. The program’s ultimate objective is to upgrade the quality of American public understanding of China by strengthening links among U.S. academics, policymakers, opinion leaders, and the public.
Eligibility and Requirements
- Academics with a degree of Ph.D. (or highest degree in one’s field) in any discipline; a limited number of slots are available for established professionals and policy makers
- Demonstrated expertise in Chinese studies
- Several years of experience teaching or in a professional field
- Fluency in Chinese
- Applicants age between 30 to 45 years old will be given priority
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States; priority will be given to those applicants who reside in the U.S. or Greater China
Timeframe Two years, from December 2016 to fall 2018.
Commitments During the program period, Fellows will be expected to commit to the following:
- Attend two four or five-day Washington, D.C.-based workshops (early 2017 and late summer/early fall 2018);
- Attend one two and a half-day San Francisco-based workshop (fall 2017);
- Participate in one ten to twelve-day Fellows trip to China (summer 2017 or summer 2018);
- Develop at least one local public education program with up to $2,000 funding from PIP; and
- Possibly serve as a scholar-escort for a National Committee delegation (one to two weeks in China or the United States).
Information on the first four rounds of PIP, including a list of past participants, can be found at official website.
Application Process
Applicants must complete an online application, which includes an essay of no more than 750 words stating how they would benefit from the program, a CV, and the names of three references (one outside of academia or your profession). If you don’t already have an account on the NCUSCR website, you will be asked to create one in order to access the application. Semi-finalists will be contacted in late November to arrange telephone interviews at a mutually convenient time. Notification will be in December.
For more information click "Further official information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://www.ncuscr.org/pip