Oregon University System Sylff Fellowships for International Research

Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (Sylff) Graduate Fellowships for International Research

PURPOSE

Graduate Fellowships for International Research are supported by an endowment to the Oregon University System (OUS) that established the Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (Sylff). As of 2004, similar endowments in 69 institutions or consortia in 45 countries had been established by the Nippon Foundation and administered through the Tokyo Foundation. The goal of the Sylff Program is to nurture future leaders who will transcend geopolitical, religious, ethnic, and cultural boundaries in the world community for the peace and the well-being of humankind. General information about Sylff programs is available at: http://www.sylff.org/

STIPEND

The stipend for OUS-Sylff fellows is up to $12,000 for the academic year to assist with educational and research-related expenses. In recent years, seven to ten awards have been made.

ELIGIBILITY AND NOMINATIONS

Fellowship stipends are awarded to full-time degree seeking graduate students for one academic year of graduate work involving research and scholarly endeavors in programs and projects with an international dimension. The focus is on master’s and doctoral degree-seeking students within OUS who have high potential for leadership in international affairs, in public life or private endeavor. Outstanding students in the social/behavioral sciences, arts and humanities, and directly-related professional fields (e.g., public policy, business, law, and communications) will be considered through nomination by their respective graduate department/program. Only one nomination may be made by each department or graduate program. Departments and graduate programs must indicate their own (or their institution’s) commitment to financial support of nominees. Typically, these supplemental contributions are in the form of an assistantship and associated tuition waiver such that Sylff stipends can be used to address travel, living, and research expenses associated with the international research project. Although nominations may be made for students lacking supplemental funding, a priority will be given to those nominations that exhibit a strong institutional commitment to supporting the graduate student.

NOMINATION

Departments/graduate programs are responsible for nominating student applicants. The complete nomination file must be submitted in hard copy form to the University of Oregon Graduate School (170 Susan Campbell Hall). Complete nomination files must be received no later than Friday, April 5, 2013.  They must include:

• A nomination letter from the department chair or graduate program director indicating departmental/institutional commitment to financial support of the nominee;
• Three letters of reference addressing the student's qualifications and potential related to this fellowship;
• The application form prepared by the student;
• Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts (copies of those used for graduate program entrance, if supplied by the nominating department, are permitted).

Questions about the application process may be addressed to Kyle Reynolds (541-346-2489 or kreynold@uoregon.edu).

SELECTION

The OUS-Sylff Steering Committee will announce selection of fellowship awardees in June 2013. The committee is comprised of the graduate deans at Portland State University, Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. Students pursuing a graduate degree at any OUS institution are eligible for nomination.