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Now Accepting Applications: 2018 YSEALI Summit Singapore, December 3-5 “The United States and ASEAN: Partners in Growth and Innovation”
4 October, 2018 - 5 October, 2018
The Asia Foundation is now accepting applications for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit, a program of the U.S. Department of State. This summit will take place December 3-5, 2018 in Singapore at the Carlton Hotel, bringing together 150 participants from ASEAN countries and the United States. Applications will be accepted through the online application form until October 5, 2018.
Background
Launched in 2013, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is the U.S. Department of State’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in Southeast Asia. Through a variety of programs and engagements, YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurture an ASEAN community of leaders who work across borders to solve common issues.
The 2018 YSEALI Summit, which marks YSEALI’s fifth anniversary, will gather participants around the theme “The United States and ASEAN: Partners in Growth and Innovation.” The summit will showcase innovative approaches to economic cooperation and growth by U.S. companies, organizations, and institutions present in ASEAN and allow young innovators and entrepreneurs from both the United States and ASEAN to connect with each other and with participating experts. Throughout the summit, participants will showcase projects, receive mentorship, explore opportunities to expand their work, exchange ideas on how to foster economic growth in their communities, and find avenues for stronger economic cooperation between the United States and ASEAN. The summit will also explore topics such as: best practices in innovation and partnership; the role of public private partnerships and corporate social responsibility in spurring economic growth; incubators; expanding digital literacy; entrepreneurship as a driver for community development; and healthy start-up ecosystems.
The Innovation Slam competition will be a central activity of the 2018 YSEALI Summit. Throughout the course of the summit, participants will learn the “lean startup methodology” of creating a successful enterprise, and will work on collaborative group projects, developing a minimum viable product showcase that satisfies the above-mentioned criteria, while employing each group members’ skills and expertise. These projects will have social impact; be potentially scalable across ASEAN; have a solid revenue generation model; and have implications for support or partnership with U.S. business, organizations or institutions. Throughout the development of the collaborative projects, teams will be coached by industry experts to enable participants to gain understanding of a variety of skills necessary in developing an enterprise.
The Asia Foundation is implementing the 2018 YSEALI Summit, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Singapore and the American Chamber of Commerce Singapore. All program and travel costs including flight/transportation, meals, and accommodation will be covered. Please note that only direct flights are eligible; additional costs are the responsibility of participants.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
To qualify as YSEALI Summit participants, YSEALI Alumni from Southeast Asia must:
- Have a demonstrable record of high achievement, and must show evidence of outstanding potential for professional advancement and significant impact in their chosen field;
- Have a demonstrable record of experience and accomplishment related to YSEALI’s four pillars economic growth, sustainable development, education, and civic engagement;
- Be alumni of one of the following YSEALI programs: YSEALI Academic Fellowship, YSEALI Professional Fellowship, YSEALI Generation Regional Workshop, YSEALI Seeds for the Future Grants Competition;
- Be thoughtful, committed, respected and inspirational leaders within their professional fields and within their larger community;
- Be between 18 years of age and 35 years of age at the time of the beginning of the Summit, 3 December 2018;
- Be conversant in English (TOEFL exam results are not required);
- Be available and able to participate in all three days of the Summit (3-5 December 2018), no exceptions;
- Be resident in and citizen of an ASEAN country (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam).
To qualify as YSEALI Summit participants, YSEALI Alumni from the United States must:
- Have a demonstrable record of high achievement, and must show evidence of significant impact in their chosen field;
- Have a demonstrable record of experience and accomplishment related to YSEALI’s four pillars economic growth, sustainable development, education, and civic engagement;
- Be alumni of a YSEALI Reverse Exchange;
- Be thoughtful, committed, respected and inspirational leaders within their professional fields and within their larger community;
- Be available and able to participate in all three days of the Summit (3-5 December 2018), no exceptions;
- Be resident national or citizen of the United States of America.
To qualify as YSEALI Summit participants, Young American Entrepreneurs and Innovators must:
- Have a demonstrable record of high achievement, and must show evidence of significant impact in their chosen field;
- Have a demonstrable record of experience as an entrepreneur and/or innovator, and record of accomplishment related to YSEALI’s four pillars economic growth, sustainable development, education, and civic engagement;
- Be thoughtful, committed, respected and inspirational leaders within their professional fields and within their larger community;
- Be available and able to participate in all three days of the Summit (3-5 December 2018), no exceptions;
- Be resident national or citizen of the United States of America.
Selection Process
Applications will be evaluated by the Asia Foundation together with U.S. Embassy staff in ASEAN countries. Participants will be chosen without regard to gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic background, marital status, or financial need. All submitted application information will be treated as confidential unless stated otherwise in the application. The identities of nominees will remain confidential throughout the selection process. The Asia Foundation will announce the final selection in late October 2018.
How to Apply
Please read the application instructions to check for eligibility, prepare materials, and submit the final application. Applications will only be accepted through our online application form.
The deadline to submit is Friday, October 5, 2018 at 11:59pm PDT.
