Overview and objectives of the program
The Japan Foundation and United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney have established two parallel and interrelated Australia-Japan fellowship programs to strengthen connections between Australian and Japanese policy experts and research institutes and to cultivate the next generation of policy-savvy Japan experts based in Australia and Australia experts based in Japan. Participants will experience field trips to Japan or Australia, writing opportunities, research engagements with key government and industry players, and mentorship by senior USSC experts – including Dr Michael J. Green, CEO of the USSC and Professor Peter Dean, Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Program.
Application
Applications for 2024 have now closed.
Eligibility of applicants
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Applicants must be citizens of Japan or Australia.
- Applicants must have a total of three or more years of work experience in relevant fields or must be MPhil/ PhD candidates (or hold MPhil/PhD) in relevant fields. *Applicants who are currently employed by governmental organisations must submit written permission from their managers to apply for this fellowship program.
Field of research
The main theme for 2024 is maritime security and Australia-Japan security/defence relations.
Fellowship period
- The fellowship period will be from July 2024 to March 2025.
- The field trip for Japanese participants to Australia will be from 29 July to 9 August 2024 (TBC).
- The field trip for Australian participants to Japan will be in mid-October (TBC).
- Each fellow will be required to produce two written works as part of their fellowship on topics agreed upon with USSC experts. These include a policy brief to be completed before the residency commences and a longer project report to be completed after the fellowship program has concluded. These works will be published on the USSC and the Japan Foundation’s websites.
Benefits of the fellowship
a. Japanese participants
The USSC will host three visiting fellows from Japan for two weeks, from 29 July to 9 August 2024 (TBC). These researchers will be provided with opportunities for mentorship, research assistance and engagement with the Australian government, industry, and policy communities. Each fellow will be required to produce two written works as part of their residency on topics agreed upon with USSC experts. These include a policy brief to be completed before the residency commences and a longer project report to be completed after the trip to Australia has concluded. These works will be published on the USSC and the Japan Foundation’s websites.
*Fellows’ transport, accommodation, and meal costs will be covered.
b. Australian participants
The USSC will select three emerging Australian thinkers and scholars with demonstrable interest in deepening their knowledge of Japanese politics and strategy to participate in a week-long research trip to Japan with USSC mentors in mid-October 2024. These fellows will be given opportunities to engage with the Japan Foundation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, key parliamentarians, and research institutes. Each fellow will be required to produce two written works as part of their fellowship on topics agreed upon with USSC experts. These include a policy brief to be completed before the field trip to Japan and a longer project report to be completed after the fellowship program has concluded. These works will be published on the USSC and the Japan Foundation’s websites.
*Fellows’ transport, accommodation, and meal costs will be covered.
Number of awardees
Three Australians and three Japanese
Application procedures
- Application deadline: 10 June 2024 (Mon) noon (Australian Eastern Time)
- How to apply
Submit the following application documents (a)-(c) by email attachment to shizuka.takada@sydney.edu.au. Please include “JADE for NextGen Application” in the subject line of the email.
a. Cover letter
Please include 1) (Australian applicants) your research interests and how you would include Japan in your research/ (Japanese applicants) your research interests and how you would include Australia in your research, 2) why you think the Japan-Australia relationship is important, and 3) your research topic for this fellowship program.
b. Curriculum vitae
Please include at least two reference contacts in the CV.
c. Writing sample
Writing samples will be used for selection purposes only. Applicants do not need to produce new writing for the application. Applicants are expected to submit a writing sample of approx. 1,500 words in length - FAQ
Q. Which language should I use for the application?
A. English. Please note that you are also expected to produce two written works in English, a policy brief and a longer project report as part of the fellowship program if your application is successful.
Q. Can I apply for the program if I don’t speak Japanese?
A. Yes, you can. However, please demonstrate your intention to continuously engage with Japan-related research in future. The purpose of this project is to build stronger intellectual and people-to-people foundations for cooperation and to nurture a new generation of leaders for the relationship in the context of the Indo-Pacific.
Notification of results
July 2024 (TBD)
This program is a part of the JFIPP (Japan Foundation Indo-Pacific Partnership) Program.
