The deadline for applications is midnight November 17, 2016 (Central European Time, GMT+1). 

The School of Public Policy (SPP) and the Institute for Advanced Study at Central European University (CEU IAS) in Budapest, and the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) in Berlin invite applications from outstanding researchers from nine countries (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Turkey) to participate in the Global Challenges Fellowship program for the 2017–18 academic year. This unique collaborative program seeks to bridge policy theory and practice to generate mutually beneficial and ground-breaking exchanges between the two areas. The goal is to encourage fresh perspectives on some of the most pressing global public policy challenges by forging closer ties between policy practitioners and academics from Europe and outside the “established West.”

Outstanding practitioners and researchers are invited to submit applications that demonstrate innovative approaches in the fields listed below. The Global Challenges Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for skill development, academic research, professional experience, and involvement in the scholarship and policy work of host institutions.

Starting October 1, 2017, Global Challenges Fellows will spend seven to eight months conducting analytical and policy work and engaging with policy practitioners at SPP and IAS CEU in Budapest and at GPPi in Berlin. Although the precise timetable will depend on their research projects, fellows will likely spend more than half of their time in Budapest. During their stay in Budapest, fellows will be associated with the two institutes – SPP and IAS CEU – to varying degrees, depending on their backgrounds.

Fellows will conduct independent research with the goal of producing journal articles, book chapters and/or policy papers and will participate in a series of small working-group discussions and seminars. Other researchers and fellows at SPP, IAS CEU and GPPi will engage with Global Challenges Fellows during and after the fellowship year to build a community of professionals who share a commitment to improving policy outcomes on a range of key global challenges. During the fellowship, the three institutions will assist fellows in developing professional networks with the academic and policy research communities in Budapest and Berlin, laying the foundation for lasting engagement and exchange. Fellows will work on a concrete project in one of the two research areas listed below that leads to a publication in the form of an academic piece (a working paper or journal article) and/or a policy paper that builds on academic research. Fellows must have empirical material ready for analysis by the time they arrive in Budapest so that they can read relevant literature and work on formulating their argument and producing a policy paper or document during their stay.

The Global Challenges Fellowship is looking for innovative ideas and projects that deal specifically with issues of global governance and the most pressing global challenges. Within this broader focus, applicants can apply for junior- and senior-level fellowships in the following areas:

• Development and governance (we especially invite applications with a focus on education policy, public health or drug policy)
• Internet Governance (we especially invite applications with a focus on rules for data flows across borders, as well as cyber-security)
• Changing global institutions (we especially invite applications with a focus on emerging multilateral arrangements like BRICS, Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), regional connectivity initiatives, and South-South cooperation).

Eligibility, Qualifications, Experience

• Applicants (in particular those working in the field of public policy) from Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa and Turkey are eligible to apply. Applicants must be residents of these countries at the time of application.
• Applicants must hold an academic degree (master’s, PhD or equivalent) in the social sciences, humanities and/or law.
• Applicants must have at least three years of demonstrated professional experience at the time of application. Those with at least 15 years of demonstrated policy-making experience or seven years of experience since earning their PhDs will be considered for the senior fellowship. Other applicants will be considered for the junior fellowship. Please indicate and substantiate your request to be considered for a senior fellowship in your cover letter.
• Applicants must be able to communicate fluently (speaking and writing) in English, the working language of the program.
• Applicants must have a demonstrated record of policy engagement and submit an innovative research proposal.
• Full-time CEU employees and graduates are ineligible to apply within six years of the completion of their studies or contracts (i.e., degrees must have been received and contracts must have ended no later than December 31, 2010). Part-time or temporary employees of CEU are ineligible within three years of the completion of their contracts (i.e., contracts must have ended no later than December 31, 2013).

Terms and Conditions

• The maximum fellowship period is eight months. Fellows will spend about 75% of their time at SPP and IAS CEU in Budapest and 25% at GPPi in Berlin. Applications for shorter stays (a minimum of four months in Budapest) will be considered only in exceptional cases. If following the standard schedule, fellows will arrive on October 1, 2017, and stay in Budapest until March 30, 2018, when they move to Berlin for a two-month stay, until May 30, 2018. The fellowship is not renewable and cannot be extended.
• Fellows will work on a defined project in one of the three designated research areas and will be expected to produce a publication in the form of an academic piece (a working paper or journal article) and/or a policy paper that builds on their academic research.
• SPP and IAS CEU provide stimulating environments in which fellows can devote themselves to their research and share their work with peers through weekly seminars and other community programs. Fellows have access to all CEU facilities, including seminar and conference spaces, computer services and library resources. They also benefit from CEU’s vibrant international atmosphere, its strong ties in the region and its location in culturally rich Budapest. In Berlin, GPPi provides a network and working conditions conducive to the more practice-orientated phase of the fellowship.
• Fellows receive an allowance for accommodation in Budapest and Berlin as well as a monthly stipend. Fellows are expected to reside in Budapest and Berlin during their fellowship, pursue their research agendas and participate in the intellectual life of SPP and IAS CEU.
• Senior fellows will receive a net monthly stipend of 2,500 Euros for the duration of the program to help support their stay in Budapest and Berlin. Junior fellows will receive a net monthly stipend of 1,500 Euros. In addition, all fellows will receive a housing allowance for their stays in Budapest and Berlin. Fellows also receive limited funds (up to 2,000 Euros) for travel to and from their home country and between Budapest and Berlin, as well as health insurance coverage.

Selection Criteria

Fellows will be chosen by a selection committee with representatives from the three program partners. The selection process will include interviews with shortlisted candidates. The committee will consider primarily the quality of the research proposal, publication record, research agenda, relevance and feasibility of the proposed project, record of policy engagement and proficiency in the English language.

Applicants will be notified when their applications have been received and when the evaluation process has been completed. We will not share reviews with applicants. 

How to Apply

Fellowship applications must be submitted online as detailed below.

• Step 1: Register at this website: https://studentinfo.ceu.hu/acad/ias/gcf_register.do 
• Step 2: After registration, you will receive a password. You need this password in order to complete the application form and upload the required documents in PDF format to this website: https://studentinfo.ceu.hu/acad/ias/gcf_login.do

You can save your work before logging out and then log back in to submit the application at a later time. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on November 17, 2016 (Central European Time, GMT+1). You will be required to submit the following materials with your application:

• The application form, to be completed online.
• A short description of your research/policy project and the outcome or end product you wish to achieve during your fellowship (e.g., policy paper, book chapter). Max. 1,000 words, not including references.
• A CV that includes your educational history, relevant work experience and major publications. Please follow the CV format that can be downloaded here: GCF CV format
• A cover letter that describes the following: (1) what you hope to gain from the Global Challenges Fellowship, (2) your experience in policy-making and policy research that is relevant for the fellowship and (3) how your proposed project fits with your intellectual or policy-making career goals. Max. 1,000 words.
• For junior applicants only: the name and email address of a referee.

Please note that all required documents, including the CV, should be uploaded in PDF format.