This programme aims at developing an intellectual exchange between academics from Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Institute’s faculty. Three candidates per semester will be selected to spend one semester at the Institute in order to take advantage of the programme to update their teaching curricula, participate in teaching courses, further their research projects and contribute to enriching the intellectual life of the Institute. Priority will be given to university teachers with a preference for women and junior academics who will seek to apply the benefits of their stay at the Institute upon
returning to their own institutions.

Conditions for applicants:

• Those who are from Africa, Asia, or Latin America
• PhD holder working as a university teacher
• Specialization in one of the domains or disciplines of the Institute: International Affairs, Development Studies, International Law, International Economics, International Relations, International History and Politics

If you fulfill all the aforementioned conditions, click the file below to see if the program interests you.
Global South Scholar-In-Residence Programme

Deadlines for applications:
31 March 2010 for the Autumn Semester
31 October 2010 for the Spring Semester

For more information, please visit GIIDS’ website at http://graduateinstitute.ch/in-residence

Štěpán Holub graduated from the Faculty of Law at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. He also studied at Stockholm University in Sweden from 2000 to 2001. He wrote his master thesis on the topic of “Legal Regulation of Packaging in the Czech Republic, Sweden and the European Union.” He became a Sylff fellow in 2003, and served as a Sylff Fellows Council member from 2005 to 2007. Currently he works as a lawyer at Holubova Law Firm (www.holubova.cz) in Prague.

Winners with Prince Albert II of Monaco and André Azoulay, president of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation

(By Ethar El-Katatney)

Receiving an award for doing something you love is one of the most incredible feelings in the world. Receiving an incredibly prestigious award in an incredibly fancy hotel in a ceremony attended by the Prince of Monaco is even more so.

With Mr. Andreu Claret, the Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation

I just won the Economics and Business Award in CNN’s African Journalist of the Year competition last July—the first Egyptian to do so. So to win an award three months later that is just as prestigious—the print category of the Anna Lindh Journalism award—is mind-blowing.
I spent two days before the ceremony exploring Monaco and the Cote d’Azur, visiting some of most beautiful places I’ve ever had the chance to travel to. But although I had time to reflect upon the upcoming ceremony, it was more incredible than anything I could have imagined.
To begin with, it was at the Hermitage hotel—a hotel I’d seen while I trooped around the casino square several times. A seriously elegant, lavish, and intimidating hotel.
In the ballroom I was taken aback to see that all the seats were full. When I inquired who was attending I was told many were ambassadors. It was then I suddenly realized that I was going to go up there in front of people who hadn’t even read my article, and that they would be judging me based on what I said. And that I was going to be representing my gender, country, and faith. No pressure.

Giving a speech

But I took a deep breath, went up to get my award, said my piece, and thankfully the audience seemed to like it.
I told them that the idea for my article, “Identity Crisis 101″, initially came out of my own experiences. I was born in Saudi Arabia, raised in Egypt, and educated in western schools. Consequently, the way I look at my culture and society is different. So from there I thought: if I, who wasn’t even a ‘real’ halfie, had difficulties integrating in Egyptian society, what about Egyptians who are raised abroad? Or have a non-Egyptian parent? What difficulties do they face? What advantages do they have over normal Egyptians? And that was my story.
Listening to the other winners talk about their stories was so very inspiring. As was meeting the Prince and having him congratulate us.
After the ceremony came a TV interview and then a dizzying amount of praise and congratulations. It’s such a heady feeling. People tell you you’re so incredible, poised, articulate, amazing, you’re only 22?! etc., and part of you is staggered, going “you have me confused with someone else,” but another part is elated at getting recognition.
I had directors, CEOs and ambassadors shower praise upon me. Women, old men, young guys. I don’t think I’m ever going to forget having four French college students surround me and hang onto my every word. They told me they managed to get tickets to attend, how amazed they were, how I inspired them, and asked me for advice. Someone told me my speech made her cry. The editor of the Financial Times told me my story could grace the pages of any news outlet in the world.

With other winners

It was a whirlwind couple of hours.
The thing that’s hitting me now is what you don’t realize when you’re dreaming of success: that more success is great, but it’s also bad, in a sense.
Success means you have to work even harder. It means more people are looking at you. Expecting more of you.
Success means that you put even higher goals for yourself. It means I want to work even harder. I look around at my life and I am so, so grateful. I just hope I can live up to what people think of me.
This was an amazing experience. Elhamdulela.

Ethar’s article “Identity Crisis 101″: click here
Ethar’s full archive, click here

APU Campus in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture

President of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Japan, made his first pledge, responding then with conviction that, “I will bring the world to the feet of our students.” He did indeed: world-renowned people including Nobel Prize laureates, heads of state, and captains of industries were invited to provide exemplary speeches to his students. And this time, he has brought another world to them—the world of Sylff.

The Nippon Foundation has presented a Sylff endowment to APU, making it the 69th Sylff institution and the third Japanese university, following Keio and Waseda universities. The award ceremony took place on October 19, 2009, on the APU campus.

Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation—the donor of the Sylff endowment—welcomed APU to the Sylff network. The tone of his speech was gentle but he delivered a strong message that APU and its students are expected to make great efforts to ensure the success of the Sylff Program:

Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman, The Nippon Foundation

“What we need are people with broad perspectives who are able to transcend borders and specialties and grasp complex global issues from a variety of perspectives; people who can understand, respect, and work with others from different cultures, different value systems, and different traditions; people with a flexible outlook……..In the 21st century, the world needs such human resources even more.”

There are a number of institutions of higher education, which are well recognized for the quality of their education. Among these institutions, Sasakawa has foreseen the superior position of APU in not only its curriculum and career path for students but also its fundamental philosophy, which has touched his mission-oriented mind.

Assured of the strength of APU, on behalf of the Tokyo Foundation—the administrative organization of the Sylff Program—Ms. Akiko Matsunobu, executive director for Sylff explained to the audience at the ceremony that “there are five reasons why APU was selected for a Sylff endowment.” Matsunobu referred to the possibilities of APU using Sylff to enlarge their global network and disseminate Japanese perspectives to the world; making Sylff an instrument for APU to make the leap to the next decade;

Akiko Matsunobu, Executive Director, Scholarship Division of the Tokyo Foundation

and the opportunities that Sylff can offer as a new community for APU students. The most important reason above all, according to Matsunobu, is that “the Sylff Program and APU share the same vision and mission.” APU was founded with the notion that many problems of current society including climate change, energy, water, health, and disease cannot be resolved without involvement of the Asia-Pacific region; the region has become important to the world for the first time since the 20th century. Therefore, the participation of APU in the Sylff network is timely because “APU will add Japanese and Asian values to the Sylff network,” said Matsunobu.

Monte Cassim, President, APU

The roles of the Asia-Pacific region are not self-centered or power-driven. During the ceremony, Cassim mentioned that, “Peace and prosperity for the Asia-Pacific region must mean peace and prosperity for all people.” In this sense Sylff will help APU achieve this goal by nurturing talented graduate students to become the leaders of tomorrow who shall contribute to peace and prosperity for humankind—the end objective highly desired by Sylff as well.

It is worth noting that when the institution was established in 2000, APU set up a goal to achieve the “three 5’s”. These are to: 1) make Japanese and international student ratio 5-5; and 2) make Japanese and international faculty ratio 5-5; and 3) recruit students from more than 50 countries;. APU has achieved the last two targets and is close to achieving the first goal. There is no other university in Japan that is as internationalized as APU. APU’s strength as an internationalized university will be instrumental in invigorating the Sylff network; it is expected that voices, opinions and inputs from the university in Japan will be welcomed in the Sylff community.

Yet many challenges face APU as global problems become even more and more serious and complex. We hope to see the Sylff fellows at APU tackling and overcoming such problems in the near future.

For further details:
・Message from Akiko Matsunobu
・flyer

Dear Sylff Friends,

Regarding “Soliciting Contribution for Victims of Typhoon Ondoy in Philippines” project undertaken by the Ateneo de Manila University and coordinated by Sherilyn Siy (Sylff Fellow of the Ateneo) pertaining to the Sylff community, we would like to share with you further update and information. We hope that the Ateneo’s efforts help victims of the past typhoon recover from the devastation. Your contribution shall be greatly appreciated.

Please refer to Sherilyn’s Message.

With best regards,

The Tokyo Foundation

Dear Sylff Friends,

You may have read/seen the news about the devastation wrought by Typhoon Ondoy in Manila.

At one point, it was estimated that 80% of Metro Manila was underwater, although the damage is not limited to Metro Manila alone. Over 250+ were killed and some 400,000 people displaced.
Where I work (Miriam College) some of our students and employees are still missing and many have lost everything they have in the floods. There are so many efforts by different institutions, foundations, parishes etc. to organize relief operations as well as donation drives.

We, the Sylff Fellows at Ateneo de Manila University have decided to direct Sylff friends who wish to help out financially to existing efforts, instead of creating a separate effort. Attached file below contains details for donation which will be coursed through the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University.

Thank you very much for thinking of us and for your prayers.

Sincerely,

Sherilyn Siy

Click here for details of donation

For further information, please go to “eco japan cup”website. http://www.eco-japan-cup.com/english/guideline/index.html

＊ Please note that the Scholarship Division of the Tokyo Foundation is not responsible for any problems or inconveniences that may arise from contacting the organizers or participating in the competition.