Apply now to be a New Mandala Indonesia Correspondent Fellow

Applications for this program are closed. Any further submissions, or requests for extensions, will not be considered. 

New Mandala is excited to announce that six young Indonesian researchers will have the opportunity to join our team as Correspondent Fellows from November 2018 to June 2019.

Correspondent Fellows will participate in workshop training from 5–9 November and 3–7 December 2018. These workshops will feature coaching from New Mandala team members; journalists and editors from prominent Indonesian and international media outlets; and Indonesian and international scholars with extensive experience in communicating their research to popular audiences.

From January to June 2019, Fellows will be paid a stipend and expected to conduct research and produce a series of written analyses, focusing on one of six key Topic Themes, for publication at both New Mandala and Indonesian and international media outlets.

One specialist writer will be selected to cover each of the following Topic Themes:

• Poverty and inequality
• Eastern Indonesia’s development
• Gender
• Environment and natural resource challenges
• Islam and social change
• Infrastructure and urban development

Participants in this program will gain skills in: writing about their research in an informative but accessible way; tailoring their writing to specific audiences and outlets; and how to work with editors to prepare their work for publication. The goal of this program is to boost the skills and public profiles of emerging Indonesian researchers so they that can take the lead in making critical, evidence-based contributions to national debates on development policy in the future.

This project is supported by the Knowledge Sector Initiative, part of the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Candidate criteria

To apply for this Fellowship you must be:

• An Indonesian national
• 35 years old or younger by 1 January 2018
• A resident of Indonesia between August 2018 and June 2019
• Enrolled in, or have recently completed, a Masters or PhD program that has clear relevance to one of the six Topic Themes listed above, or have experience conducting research on one or more of these topics in a professional context
• Able to speak and write in English to a high standard
• Able to commit to attending all days of the training workshops in Jakarta on 5–9 November and 3–7 December 2018

Candidates will be selected on the basis of their expected ability to complete the program successfully, with consideration given to gender balance and representation from Eastern Indonesia.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in person in Jakarta or via videoconference between 4-8 September 2018. These interviews will be an opportunity for us to find more about you and your abilities, and for you to ask more questions about what participation in the program involves.

How to apply

If you think that you would be a good candidate for this Fellowship, we’d love to hear from you. To apply, you will need to prepare:

• A two-page CV with a list of publications
• Three writing samples (max 2,000 words each)
  • At least two of these writing samples must be in English. It is recommended, but not required, that these samples are of material that has already been published. Online publications are acceptable.
• A one-page cover letter. This is the primary way for you to convince us that you are the right choice to participate in this program. This letter should include information on:
  • Your professional and educational background and your personal and intellectual interests
  • Which of the six Topic Themes (listed above) you you would like to cover:
    • Poverty and inequality
    • Eastern Indonesia’s development
    • Gender
    • Environment and natural resources
    • Islam and social change
    • Infrastructure and urban development
  • Your current work arrangements: you need to demonstrate that you will be in a position to participate in the November/December 2018 workshops and be able to devote a minimum of 10–15 hours per week to research and writing as part of the Fellowship throughout January–June 2019.
  • Provide us with two examples of story ideas in your field that you would be interested in researching and writing on during your Fellowship, and why you think these questions are important for Indonesia

Please submit your application using this online form before 21:00WIB on Tuesday 21 August 2018.

Shortlisted candidates will be notified via email by 24 August, and arrangements will be made for shortlisted candidates’ travel to Jakarta for interviews. Shortlisted candidates will be required to bring proof of nationality, age, education and current employment/enrolment status to their interviews.

If you have any questions or require further information, please write to Dr Ross Tapsell, Senior Lecturer, School of Culture, History and Language, Australian National University. Email: [email protected].