17/05/2014
Four-week intensive academic exchange program on U.S. National Security Policymaking
The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan is accepting applications from scholars and professionals to participate in a Study of the United States Institute on U.S. National Security Policymaking. The Institute is projected to take place from March 7, 2014 to April 19, 2014 at the Institute for Training and Development (ITD) in Amherst, MA. Applications and CVs will be due to PAS by October 20, 2013 via the [email protected] mailbox.
Institute description
The institute is a rigorous post-graduate-level academic seminar with integrated study tours which will provide a group of 18 scholars and professionals an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the foundations of U.S. national security policy and current threats facing the United States. The institute focuses on the formulation of U.S. foreign and national security policy and the role of the federal government, think-tanks, media, and public opinion in shaping that policy.
The program will examine specific security issues such as energy policy, economic stability, cyber-security, chemical and biological weapons, nuclear weapons, and infectious diseases. The program will also focus on regional security concerns in Africa, Europe, South Asia, the Western Hemisphere, East Asia, and the Middle East. The program will be supplemented by a simulation exercise, a group project, and a study tour. The program's ultimate goal is to promote the development and improvement of courses and teaching about the United States at universities and other educational, training, and research institutions abroad. The program will be conducted entirely in English.
Who can apply?
Candidates should be mid-career, typically between the ages of 30-50, highly-motivated and experienced university-level faculty or national security professionals from institutions of higher education, or national security policymaking institutions, including national military academies, government ministries, and think-tanks. The ideal candidate will be a specialist in international relations or a related field. While the educational level of participants will likely vary, most should have graduate degrees and have substantial knowledge of foreign affairs. The ideal candidate also will be an experienced professional with little or no prior experience in the United States, whose home institution is seeking to introduce aspects of U.S. studies into its curricula, to develop new courses in the subject of the institute, to enhance and update existing
courses on the United States, or to offer specialized seminars/workshops for professionals in U.S. studies areas related to the program theme. While the candidate's scholarly and professional credentials are an important consideration, an equally important factor is how participation in the institute will enhance course offerings in U.S. studies at the nominee's home institution.
English language fluency: It is imperative that all candidates demonstrate English language fluency. Institutes are rigorous and demanding programs; participants will be expected to handle substantial reading assignments in English and to be full and active participants in all seminar and panel discussions.
Additional consideration: Candidates should be willing and able to participate fully in an intensive post-graduate level academic program and study tour. The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) encourages posts to strive to recruit diverse nominees including candidates from disadvantaged groups and women from countries where they are underrepresented in academia. While senior faculty members and new professionals to the field are eligible applicants, ECA urges posts and commissions to give first consideration to mid-career professionals.
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit the following:
Application, including personal statement: A link to the application, which includes a section for a personal statement, can be found here.
Candidate CV: This document should include the candidate’s current title, position, and institution, work experience, prior training, professional memberships, and publications related to the institute theme.
Key Program Information: Kabul PAS will nominate one candidate to ECA, which will select the group of 18 scholars and professionals from among nominations worldwide. ECA will notify selected participants by mid-December 2013.
Please note:
Participants typically will have a private room with a shared bathroom during the residency portion (four weeks) of the institute, and will have to share a hotel room during the study tour (up to two weeks). Housing will usually be in college or university owned housing. Most meals will be provided at campus facilities, though participants may have access to a kitchen to cook some meals on their own.
Family members and/or friends cannot accompany participants on any part of the program.
Please note that teaching methodology and pedagogical methods will not be addressed formally in the institute. Candidates should be made aware that the institute is very intensive and that there will be little time for personal pursuits unrelated to the program. The institute should not be viewed as a research program.
Application: You can get the application by clicking here
Questions?
Please address any questions about this program to the Kabul PAS Exchange Team mailbox at [email protected]).
