Scholarships & Fellowships
The API Fellowships aim to promote mutual learning among Asian public intellectuals and contribute to the growth of the wider public spaces in which effective responses to regional needs can be generated. To this end, 6 such people are chosen annually from each of the five nations of Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. These fellows then conduct research projects in one of the other four nations, thus contributing both to the advancement of mutual understanding, and creating networks of the regions top thinkers--the kind of networks that are necessary to guide Asia into the future.
In order to facilitate contact and at the same time protect the privacy of the people on this list, we ask that those who wish to contact them use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page to send us your name, email address and a brief message. We will make sure that the fellow receives your message. However, we leave any response up to the individual.
Finally, if you are a fellow and wish to request an update to your data, or if you no longer wish to have it published on our site, please do not hesitate to contact us through the program manager at the institution which runs your program.
Indonesia
 | Andi Amri |
| Project Title | Towards Sustainable Coastal Resource Management: A Comparative Study of Integrated Mangroves and Coastal Aquaculture in Thailand and Philippines |
| Brief Project Outline | Coastal aquaculture has caused the damage of mangroves in Southeast Asia. The objective of this research is to learn sustainable management of integrated mangroves and coastal aquaculture in Thailand and Philippines. Quantitative and qualitative research methods will be applied through observation, interviews and literature reviews. The outputs will significant for scholars, community and government. |
| Position | Teaching Staff and Researcher |
| Major Field of Study | Southeast Asian Area Studies and Coastal Resource Management |
| Current Affiliation | Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University |
| Host Country | Indonesia |
 | Juli Bestian Nainggolan |
| Project Title | Public Opinion and Politics in South East Asia: Comparative Study of Public Opinion Research in Malaysia and Philippines |
| Brief Project Outline | In many democratic countries, the public opinion survey has been proved to be a reliable political instrument to collect feedback from individuals and community about current political issue. Malaysia and Philippines have experienced their own problems and challenges in implementing an established democratic practice, but they have also adopted the method. This study aims to answer the question in particular: what extend the role of public opinion survey in the diverse situation and progress toward democracy in each Southeast Asia nation's. |
| Position | Researcher |
| Current Affiliation | Kompas Daily |
| Host Country | Indonesia |
 | Dias Pradadimara |
| Project Title | Thai Capital, Japanese Consumers, Southeast Asian Farmers in (Alternative) Global Circuit of Commodity: A Political Economy Study of Shrimp Farming and Trading in Indonesia, The Philippines, Thailand and Japan |
| Brief Project Outline | To look at the phenomenon of globalization by looking at the farming and trading of shrimp. By looking at one specific commodity and trace its production and trade, I would like to see if globalization in Southeast Asia is creating an alternative circuit of "regionalization" outside the mainstream global circuit. |
| Position | Lecturer |
| Current Affiliation | Department of History, Universitas Hasanuddin, Tamalanrea, Makassar |
| Host Country | Indonesia |
 | Rina Shahriyani Shahrullah |
| Project Title | A Comprehensive Study on the Philippines' Legal Approaches to Combat Human Trafficking: Suggestions for Indonesia |
| Brief Project Outline | Indonesia and the Philippines among other countries in Southeast Asia region are the source, transit and destination countries for men, women, and children trafficked internally and internationally for thee purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor. Both Indonesia and the Philippines have taken a number of measures to combat human trafficking. The Philippines enacted a special legislation on anti human trafficking (the Republic Act 9208). Indonesia issued an anti human trafficking law in 2007 (Law No. 21 of 2007). The Philippines is ahead of Indonesia pursuant to the implementation of anti human trafficking law, therefore it is suggested that Indonesia should learn from the Philippines on how to combat internal and international human trafficking comprehensively. |
| Position | Head |
| Major Field of Study | International Commercial Arbitration, International Business Law, International Law, Human Rights Law Islamic Law and Gender Issues. |
| Current Affiliation | Post Graduate Studies, Faculty of Law, Universitas International Batam |
| Host Country | Indonesia |
 | Dicky Sofjan |
| Project Title | Crafting Identity in Post-11 September Political Landscape: The Case of "Liberal Muslims" Malaysia |
| Brief Project Outline | The Project focuses on how a new collective identity, the Liberal Muslims, is crafted and the reasons behind the political imperative. It looks at the rise and (under) achievements of Malaysian liberal Muslims in reasserting the soul of Islam amid the current hegemonic forces that ushered in the post-11 September era. |
| Position | API RP Manager and Consultant/Reviewer for UNDP |
| Host Country | Indonesia |
 | Prijono Tjiptoherijanto |
| Project Title | The Implementation of "Good Governance" in dealing with Globalization Era: the Role of Governmental Bureaucracy in Asia |
| Brief Project Outline | In order to be able to face the globalization and econimic liberalization, a good governance becomes crucial factor in Asean. One plain pillar of the good governance pratice is a bureaucratic, especially a civil service reform. |
| Position | Professor |
| Major Field of Study | Economics, Population and Public Administration |
| Current Affiliation | Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia |
| Host Country | Indonesia |
Japan
 | Takako Iwasawa |
| Project Title | Challenge of Dance Artists in Contemporary Thailand: Tradition and Creations |
| Brief Project Outline | It is to investigate the new challenge and creations of dance and theatre performance in contemporary Thailand. In the basement of Bangkok, I focus on the current situation of the contemporary performing arts in Thailand; the activities by both Thai artists and foreigners who live in Thailand. This research project can divided into four parts: 1) dance/theatre education system in Thailand; 2) introduction of the individual artists and groups; 3) the festival of dance/theatre in Thailand; and 4) Community arts activity. |
| Position | Independent Researcher |
| Major Field of Study | Thai studies / Thai culture, performing arts |
| Host Country | Japan |
 | Akio Kawamura |
| Project Title | Research on the Role of the Human Rights Concept in Inclusive Social Development: from the Experiences of NGOs, Government Agencies, and International Organizations in Thailand and Indonesia |
| Brief Project Outline | This project is composed of two segments. In the first and the major segment of this project, I will conduct a research in Thailand on the role of human rights concept for the realization of inclusive social development through the case studies on the work of human rights and development NGOs, government agencies, and International Organizations. In the second segment, I will conduct a series of research in smaller scale in Indonesia, which is also an effort for networking aimed at preparing a forum for the exchange of ideas on human rights and developments. |
| Position | Associate Professor |
| Major Field of Study | Human Rights, Development, Social Theory |
| Current Affiliation | Department of Social Organization Development, School of Human Welfare Studies, Kansai Gakuin University |
| Host Country | Japan |
 | Motoko Shimagami |
| Project Title | Community-based Forest Governance in Indonesia: Action-Research for Interactive Learning and Partnership Building |
| Brief Project Outline | The proposed project aims to deepen an understanding of the realities of mountain communities and explore a possible policy framework viable to facilitate socially- and ecologically-sound community-based forest governance in Indonesia. |
| Position | Co-chairperson |
| Current Affiliation | i-i-network: Research and Action for Community Governance |
| Host Country | Japan |
 | Naoko Uneme |
| Project Title | Wisdom in the Yogyakarta Tradition of Javanese Court Dance: A search for the essence of Zeami's "Hana" in the teaching and traditions of Javanese Yogyakarta Court Dance |
| Brief Project Outline | A Search for the "Flower" in the Process of Tradition on the Art of Yogyakarta Court Dance. |
| Position | Javanese Dance Instructor; Researcher |
| Major Field of Study | Performing Arts, Ritual and Festival, Especially tradition on the each of their art; Universal practices and conventions between peoples; and Documentary Films, Videos and Archives. |
| Host Country | Japan |
 | Goki (Inuhiko) Yomota |
| Project Title | Research of Local Popular Cinema of Indonesia and Thailand |
| Brief Project Outline | Research on popular memory represented in Indonesia and Thai films in the context of folklore and traditional theatre |
| Position | Director |
| Major Field of Study | Publications Activities History of Asian cinema, especially of local cinema including melograma, ghost films, and kunfu films |
| Current Affiliation | Institute of Language and Culture, Meiji Gakuin University, Tokyo |
| Host Country | Japan |
Malaysia
 | Loh Cheng-Kooi |
| Project Title | Approaches and Strategies to Eliminate Violence against Women: the Asean Experience |
| Brief Project Outline | The project examines the approaches and strategies undertaken by local women’s groups towards reducing violence against women in three countries, namely Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines. By understanding how local women’s groups and the role for the state in addressing the issues of violence against women, the project will help to build an understanding of women’s groups role in the civil. |
| Position | Executive Director |
| Major Field of Study | Violence against women in particular domestic violence, rape and sexual harassment. |
| Current Affiliation | Women's Centre for Change Penang, Malaysia (WCC) Penang |
| Host Country | Malaysia |
 | Lim Mah-Hui |
| Project Title | Asian Financial Crisis and Comparative Study of Resolution of Non-Performing Loans in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Japan |
| Brief Project Outline | The project aims to study the impact of the financial crisis on the economics of SEA and Japan, the different ways the countries have managed to resolve the crisis, the extent of success and which sectors benefit and bear the costs. |
| Position | Fellow |
| Current Affiliation | Socio-Economic and Environmental Research Institute (SERI) |
| Host Country | Malaysia |
 | Ding Choo Ming |
| Project Title | Role of Pantun in Building Cultural Identity in the Malay World in the 21st Century and Beyond |
| Brief Project Outline | There is growing interest in the role traditional culture can play in forging local culture identity in recent years. With more and more people adopting Western values, importing Western standards, migrating to the West, I believe that upholding a distinctive local, supranational and regional culture, pantun in this case, will assist in creating the necessary culture and identity in the Malay world to rival the West. Culture is the binding force that can gurantee national identity and religious forces. It is outward looking, instead of inward looking; inclusive and broad, instead of exclusive and narrow. |
| Position | Principal Research Fellow |
| Current Affiliation | Institute of the Malay World and Civilization (ATMA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
| Host Country | Malaysia |
Philippines
 | Habaradas Raymund Basco |
| Project Title | Examining the National Innovation Systems (NIS) of Malaysia and Thailand: Lessons for Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprise (SME) Development Efforts in the Philippines |
| Brief Project Outline | The project aims to describe the national innovation systems of Malaysia and Thailand, focusing on both public and private institutions that provide support services (e.g. market development, financing, technological support) to help small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in their effort to undertake technological and organizational innovation. |
| Position | Assistant Professor |
| Major Field of Study | Small and medium enterprise (SME) development, entrepreneurship, innovation, organization theory, organizational behavior, organizational communication, management research. |
| Current Affiliation | Business Management Department, Da La Salle University |
| Host Country | Philippines |
 | Edward Paciano S. Cabagnot |
| Project Title | Changing Landscapes, Changing Lives: The City in Contemporary Asian Cinema |
| Brief Project Outline | The research work focuses on how the city is portrayed in contemporary Asian films, particularly in the API-affiliated countries. Theses films are seen as possible pathways to an indepth study of the social and cultural challenges (e.g. increasing cultural/global diversity, relentless urbanization and technology) faced by contemporary Asian societies. |
| Position | Division Chief III |
| Current Affiliation | CCP Media (Film and Broadcast) Arts Division, Cultural Center of the Philippines |
| Host Country | Philippines |
 | Ticar Jay Flores |
| Project Title | Project: Hanapbuhay |
| Brief Project Outline | An art project that will depict and collect the portraits of artists working with non-art paying jobs. Portraits here refer to the artist character which will be represented through the integration of photographs, interview, documents, and objects/artifacts collected from the individual. |
| Position | Independent Visual Artist |
| Host Country | Philippines |
 | Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon |
| Project Title | Assessing Mechanisms for Effective Access to Justice: Problems, Prospects, and Progress in Public Policy for Legal Aid Reforms in Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand |
| Brief Project Outline | To undertaking research and related professional development activities with the legal aid community, interacting with key stakeholders such as law schools, the law society, legal aid providers, and Justice Ministers. Obtaining insight about polices affecting access, quality, and sustainability concerns- to develop sustainable models for similar reforms in the Philippines. |
| Position | Lawyer |
| Current Affiliation | President, LIBERTAS |
| Host Country | Philippines |
 | Joel Hernandez |
| Project Title | Shifts in Comparative Advantages and Investing in Worker Skill Development: Cross Country Analysis, Experiences and Policy Implications |
| Brief Project Outline | The research would look into the technical vocation education and training (TVET) and firm level workers' skills training in two East Asian countries namely Malaysia and Japan. The research proposal has three objectives: (1) to evaluate technical vocational education and training (TVET) in terms of organization, management, and provision in the selected East Asian countries and determine how these countries implemented reforms to make TVET more responsive to the changing labor markets; (2) assess the current regulatory environment as well as the incentives and funding mechanisms to encourage workers skill training by firms; (3) identify the good and bad practices of designing TVET program and how these could be introduced in the Philippines. |
| Position | Senior Economist |
| Current Affiliation | Senate Economic Planning Office, Philippines Senate |
| Host Country | Philippines |
 | Jose Eliseo Rocamora |
| Project Title | Philippines-Indonesia Discourse Encounters on Democratization |
| Brief Project Outline | To engage Indonesian activities in “Conversations” about party-building and democratization. |
| Position | Writer Researcher |
| Major Field of Study | Politicals and Political Economy |
| Host Country | Philippines |
Thailand
 | Kavi Chongkittavorn |
| Project Title | Media's New Challenges in Constructing the East Asian Community |
| Brief Project Outline | Media role in constructing the East Asian Community (Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia) |
| Position | Assistant Group Editor |
| Major Field of Study | Democracy; Human Rights; ASEAN and major powers’ relations. |
| Current Affiliation | Nation Multimedia Group |
| Host Country | Thailand |
 | Sirirat Katanchaleekul |
| Project Title | Rethinking Chao Le Identity in Thailand in the Context of the History of the Malay Peninsula |
| Brief Project Outline | The project is a study of the origins of misunderstanding and prejudice about the Chao Le in Thai society. Thus project will deconstruct negative perceptions of the Chao Le by highlighting their historical role in the Southeast Asian region. I plan to make a television documentary from my findings. |
| Position | Independent Researcher |
| Major Field of Study | Southern Thailand and an adaptation of ethnic groups |
| Host Country | Thailand |
 | Kannikar Kijtiwatchakul |
| Project Title | A Study of Migrant Workers' Access to Health Care in Japan and Malaysia |
| Brief Project Outline | The research tries to address the efforts of Japanese civil society and Thai expatriates in Japan to increase the access to treatment through campaigns that encourage workers to have blood tests, to support medical staff in hospitals to overcome language barriers, to link the treatment standard of Japan to that of Thailand as well as establish a transfer system so that patients can continue to receive medical care in their home countries, and to reduce the rates of infections and deaths among migrant workers. The research studies the areas of Tokyo, Kanakawa and Nagano where there is not much help available, to see the accomplishments and improvements to workers’ livelihood. It is found that the delayed treatment lower the patients’ chance to survive due to the terminally deteriorated state, and that made the medical expenses more expensive. Without national government’s subsidy emergency program for migrants, only few hospitals provide treatment for migrants. Professional medical interpreters are needed to improve access to treatment of migrant workers. However, it is unlikely to be effectively existed without government support. Therefore, recognition of the problem and willingness to solve of the problems among policy makers in Japan is profoundly important with support from other players both in Japan and Thailand. |
| Position | Coordinator |
| Major Field of Study | Health and Globalization |
| Current Affiliation | Co-Project between MSF(Medecins sans Frontieres)'s CAME and Health Consumer Protection Program Chulalongkorn University |
| Host Country | Thailand |
 | Olarn Ongla |
| Project Title | A Study of Forms and Approaches to Decentralization of Power and Mechanisms for Popular Participation in Local Administration in the Philippines and Indonesia |
| Brief Project Outline | A study of the forms and approaches to decentralization of power and mechanisms for popular participation in local administration, and the adaptation of these studied forms for use in building tools and new forms appropriate to the political context of decentralization in Thailand, both at the local and policy level. |
| Position | Coordinator |
| Current Affiliation | Study Group on Decentralization and Participatory Local Governance |
| Host Country | Thailand |
 | Chaipant Prabhasavat |
| Project Title | Watershed Management and Public Participation Process |
| Brief Project Outline | Countries with long history in agriculture are striving to industrialize themselves. This has brought conflicts to traditional ways of living by farmers and local people. What fair water management should be in order to balance benefits of industrial sector and the poor peasantry. |
| Position | Freelance Researcher |
| Major Field of Study | River Basin/Watershed Management and Public Participation Process |
| Current Affiliation | Director, Institute for Community Rights |
| Host Country | Thailand |