Organizer: The Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS) at UC Berkeley promotes teaching and research on East and Southeast Asia in all disciplines and professional programs. The Institute and its regional centers sponsor a wide variety of activities including academic seminars and colloquia series, public lectures, cultural events, and other programs with the mission to foster interaction and facilitate deeper understanding among the academic, business, and professional communities on issues concerning the Asia-Pacific region.
Sponsor: Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in San Francisco
About the Program
The Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS) at UC Berkeley has for over two decades facilitated the dissemination of research on Taiwan through conferences, workshops, lectures, and publications. Keeping in that vein, IEAS, with generous support from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in San Francisco, is accepting applications for the second cohort of the U.S.-Taiwan Next Generation Working Group: an in-depth training program for scholars and policymakers with an interest in U.S.-Taiwan relations who show promise as future experts on foreign affairs in relation to Taiwan.
The U.S.-Taiwan Next Generation Working Group is a three-year program, through which a cohort of ten specialists will be selected to participate in a series of meetings in Washington D.C., California, and Taipei. At these meetings, participants will have opportunities to discuss issues of importance to U.S.-Taiwan relations with policymakers, government officials, business, and opinion leaders in Taiwan and the United States. Participants will be expected to develop a policy paper on an issue of importance to the U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relationship under the guidance of the program’s Senior Advisors (Thomas B. Gold, UC Berkeley; Shelley Rigger, Davidson College; and Jude Blanchette, CSIS), as well as submit short reflection papers after each of the three meetings. The Senior Advisors will facilitate and participate in program meetings, and advise participants on how to effectively engage with the media, participate in the policymaking process, and expand their professional networks. When opportunities arise, members of the working group will be invited and encouraged to present their research findings at conferences and other venues throughout the project period in both the United States and Taiwan.
Program Goals
The program aims to identify, nurture, and build a community of American public policy intellectuals across a wide range of sectors and facilitate spin-offs of policy-oriented research teams and projects. In all, it will contribute to the understanding of Taiwanese points of view in international venues and support Taiwan and the United States in promoting their key mutual ideas and values as leaders in the international community by facilitating deeper and more vigorous dialogue and research not only on topics of immediate concern to the bilateral relationship, but also on ways to strengthen U.S.-Taiwan coordination in global affairs.
Application Procedures
Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants must meet the following qualifications:
-
Be an American citizen or permanent resident and,
-
Hold a tenure-track faculty position at a U.S. institution of higher education OR equivalent experience as a mid-career specialist in the private or public sector.
Program Timeframe:
-
Three years, from June 2023 to June 2025.
Program Costs:
-
All travel-related expenses (economy class flights, lodging, and meals) will be covered by the grant.
Program Expectations & Commitments:
-
Applicants must commit to attend all three in-person meetings as follows*:
-
Taipei (June 2023)
-
California (June 2024)
-
Washington D.C. (June 2025)
*Note: Other opportunities to convene, publish, and/or participate in public engagements may arise throughout the program period. Though these opportunities are encouraged, they are not a requirement of the program.
-
Submit a 2-3 page reflection following each of the three meetings.
-
Develop a short policy paper (3-5 pages) on a topic of the applicant’s choosing as it concerns U.S.-Taiwan relations. Participants will be expected to submit their policy papers for publication, and will be encouraged to seek out opportunities for publication/public appearances in newspapers, newsrooms, and/or with other media outlets. Participants will also be encouraged to develop longer papers in a format useful to their careers if they wish to do so. For example, a political scientist might write a research article for publication, then create a 3-5 page version that would be suitable for publication in Foreign Policy or a similar outlet. A policy professional might write a policy report, including a 3-5 page memo or executive summary. A journalist might do a long-form article, with a 3-5 page version. These papers will be developed over the course of the three-year period under the guidance of the Senior Advisors and submitted to TECO at the end of the program.
Application Materials:
-
Curriculum Vitae or Resume:
-
A detailed educational and professional curriculum vitae or resume that includes a summary of major publications, public presentations, relevant professional activities, and accomplishments.
-
Contact information for 3 professional references:
-
Please list the name, title, phone number, email, and affiliation of three references, as well as your relationship to each reference.
-
Personal Statement:
-
1-2 pages explaining your area of interest as it relates to U.S.-Taiwan relations, what you hope to gain from the program, and potential topic(s) for the policy paper you plan to develop over the course of the program.
Application Deadline:
Applications are currently closed. The application will likely reopen at the end of 2025 or early 2026.
Questions?
Please send any questions about the program or the application procedures to Skye VanValkenburgh, Program Assistant, at skyemvv@berkeley.edu.