Call for Applicants: ERIA School of Government Fellowship 2026

The ERIA School of Government invites fellows to join our community, connecting with partners committed to addressing regional public policy challenges in ASEAN and East Asia. Based in Jakarta, and in collaboration with our researchers and partners, we work closely with the ASEAN Secretariat to cultivate expertise in ASEAN and regional affairs. This fellowship aims to establish and strengthen a community of experts dedicated to advancing regional public interests, which are crucial for community-building in Southeast Asia and East Asia.

About the ERIA School of Government

The ERIA School of Government (SOG) was established to build Southeast Asia’s leading public policy school and to strengthen leadership and governance excellence across ASEAN. Its mission is to create a vibrant intellectual hub for policy learning and exchange, serving as a platform for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to share regional experiences and insights while advancing policy thinking on shared regional challenges.

The ERIA School of Government is also intended to function as a hub for networking and community-building, supporting the creation of a strong public policy community across Southeast Asia and East Asia. In doing so, SOG aims to widen the horizon for the world to learn from Southeast Asia, identifying and nurturing regional interests and elevating the region’s policy ideas and governance experience in international policy conversations positioning Southeast Asia as a meaningful reference point for governance and public policy practice

Eligibility

• Candidates must hold a doctoral degree or higher (for academic individuals); or
• Have 10 years or more of service as a government official (for professionals);
• Demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English;
• Be open to all nationalities with research interests addressing regional issues in ASEAN and East Asia;
• Demonstrate policy-relevant experience and/or knowledge in government, academia, think tanks, international organisations, or similar institutions.

Length of Appointment

Term of fellow is three months to eleven months within the period of October 1st 2026 to 31st August 2027.

Conditions of Award

• Fellows must commit their full time to the fellowship. They must not engage in any other fellowship, internship, studentship, business and/or professional activities. Any other activities undertaken during the fellowship period must be approved in advance by the Fellowship Coordinator and the Dean/Managing Director of the ERIA School of Government.
• Fellows are required to deliver an introductory in-house presentation, a final public presentation, and to publish one policy paper in English based on their proposed research project.
• Fellows are encouraged to participate in internal meetings, where they can share ideas, receive feedback from their peers, and attend presentations by their colleagues. Fellows are also encouraged to participate in other ERIA Unit programs. The School of Government expects all fellows to find ways to share their expertise with the ERIA community

Benefit

Fellows will receive an allowance equivalent to up to USD 5,000 per full month of residency in total at the ERIA School of Government.

The allowance will be calculated proportionally based on the fellow’s actual period of residency during the fellowship in support of research activities and living expenses.

Fellows are responsible for arranging and covering their own health insurance, accommodation, and other personal living expenses during their stay in Jakarta.

Fellows will have access to ERIA’s research resources and networks in ASEAN, providing opportunities to engage with policymakers, researchers, and regional institutions. The fellowship offers opportunities for collaboration with ERIA researchers and relevant ASEAN stakeholders during the fellowship period.

Facilities and Services

Fellows will be primarily based at the ERIA Annex Office, with some days spent at the ERIA Headquarters within the ASEAN Secretariat. Both offices are located in central Jakarta, at Sentral Senayan II, and are equipped with ERIA Laptop, conference rooms, a reference library, and a dining
area. Fellows will also have the opportunity to attend public lectures, executive roundtables, and other events organised by the ERIA School of Government.

Time spent at ERIA Headquarters will provide fellows with exposure to the ASEAN environment and opportunities to expand their professional networks

Selection Process

All applications will undergo a two-stage selection process consisting of document screening and an interview stage.

Stage 1: During the document screening stage, applicants will be assessed based on their professional or academic background and the quality of their research proposal. Applicants should demonstrate strong academic and professional capabilities, as well as the originality and relevance of their proposed contribution to the public policy agenda. Research proposals that address regional public interests, rather than issues limited to national contexts, will be particularly encouraged. Proposals should also be written clearly and coherently so that reviewers from different disciplines and national backgrounds can easily understand the objectives, significance, and approach of the research.

Stage 2: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in an individual interview(s). The interview will provide an opportunity for applicants to further discuss their research proposal, demonstrate their expertise and motivation, and explain how their work aligns with the objectives of the ERIA School of Government fellowship programme and mission.

On the application form, applicants will be asked to List 1–2 ERIA members with whom you would be interested in working during the fellowship

The basic criteria for selection are:

1. Significance of the proposed research, including the importance and originality of the project;
2. Relevance to public policy issues, applicants should convey the urgency or importance of their work and its potential to resolve a region-wide policy issue;
3. Alignment of the proposed research with ERIA’s mission;
4. Quality of the proposal in terms of definition, organisation, clarity, and scope. Applicants should explain what reviewers will learn from their project, why it is important, and how they will ensure the validity of their conclusions;
5. The applicant’s capabilities and achievements, and the likelihood of successfully completing the proposed project;
6. Potential for the candidate to contribute actively to ERIA’s mission by making expert research accessible to a broader audience;
7. Career plans after the fellowship and how they intend to maximise their time at ERIA for their preferred career path.

General Requirements

Applicant must submit:

1. The Fellowship Application Form
2. A current CV (not to exceed three pages)
3. For Postgraduates: A summary of the thesis and a list of publications
4. For Professionals: An official written approval from the office/organisation.
5. Two recommendation letters (to be submitted directly to sog@eria.org by the referees):
   For postgraduates: One from your final institution and one from an external organization
   For professionals: One from the employer and one from an external organization
6. A Project Proposal (not to exceed five single-spaced pages, using 12-point type)

Research Plan

1. Research Proposal (not exceeding five single-spaced pages, using 12-point type)
2. We prioritise research proposals that address regional interests in ASEAN and East Asia, rather than national interests.
3. The proposal should align with ERIA School of Government’s mission, which is to support public policy and regional interests. The focus may be on collaborations between two or three countries, rather than covering all ten ASEAN member states.

Letters of Recommendation

Two letters of reference should be received by ERIA before 31 May 2026 at 23:59 WIB (GMT+7).
Recommendation letters should be sent directly by your referee to our email before the deadline with the following subject format: Recommendation Letter_ [Candidate's Name]
Email: sog@eria.org
Please ensure that you submit the correct email address for your referees. It is your responsibility to ensure that we receive your references letters before the deadline. Applications missing reference letters will be considered incomplete.
We may contact the referees of successful candidates during the selection process.

Application Timeline

Important Notes

All application materials must be submitted in English.
All application materials must be submitted to sog@eria.org with the subject:
Fellowship_[Name of Applicant]
Any false documentation will result in the immediate termination of the award.
For information or inquiries, please contact our program office, please e-mail the ERIA School of Government Office at sog@eria.org

Sample: completed application form