Welcome to the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Institute on Civic Engagement at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). We are honored to host you in this program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Your cohort will consist of 21 Academic Fellows from 11 ASEAN countries: Burma/Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Your program will consist of a mix of meetings, field trips, and cultural activities, but with plenty of free time to explore the surroundings. Full details on your program will be shared prior to arrival.
Your group has a Program Team that consists of faculty, staff, and student mentors that have arranged your program and will act as cultural ambassadors as you learn about the U.S. Your comfort, health, and safety are their top priority.
UNO is located in Omaha, Nebraska. Omaha is a welcoming and vibrant metropolitan city, and was just named one of The 5 Best Big Cities in the US. There is always something happening, from community events to on-campus student activities. You'll be staying at Sonesta ES Suites, located walking distance from UNO Dodge Campus. Learn more about UNO and Omaha by clicking on the respective links.
YSEALI Academic Fellowship: Traditional Model
This five-week intensive academic residency program takes place on the UNO campus, and introduces participants to a range of diverse cultures and opportunities within the context of U.S. civic engagement.
Through the YSEALI Institute on Civic Engagement at UNO, YSEALI fellows will learn about the principles of democracy, diversity, and community service. Through experiential learning opportunities, fellows will develop leadership, communication, and team-building skills that will be used to enhance civic engagement in their communities, deepen bonds among ASEAN member-states, and reinforce ties between the U.S. and ASEAN.
YSEALI fellows will have opportunities to interact with civic leaders from across the state and academic leaders from UNO. Fellwos will also connect with UNO students from the U.S. and other countries through civic and cultural events. In addition, fellows will have time to explore the local area, participate in U.S. holidays and celebrations, and travel to historical sites throughout the Midwest.
Fellows will also develop an Action Plan to implement in their home countries, and upon completion of the Action Plan, be eligible for funding opportunities through the YSEALI alumni network (see the below information about the Acton Plans).
YSEALI Academic Fellowship: Hybrid Model
This program is structured with two components: a 5-week virtual academic program and an 18 in-person exchange capstone.
During the 5-week virtual fellowship, fellows will learn about principles of democracy, diversity, and civic life. Fellows will also develop an Action Plan to implement in their home countries, and upon completion of the Action Plan, be eligible for funding opportunities through the YSEALI alumni network (see the below information about the Action Plans).
The 18-day in-person exchange capstone offers opportunities for fellows to engage in a range of experiential learning opportunities. Through visits to civic, cultural, and academic sites, fellows will strengthen leadership, communication, and team-building skills that will be used to enhance civic engagement in their communities, deepen bonds among ASEAN member-states, and reinforce ties between the U.S. and ASEAN.
YSEALI fellows will also have opportunities to interact with civic leaders from across the state and academic leaders from UNO. Fellows will also connect with UNO students from the U.S. and other countries through civic and cultural events. In addition, fellows will have time to explore the local area and travel to historical sites throughout the Midwest.
UNO is committed to the following principles regarding your experience:
- Provide participants with a quality exchange experience that will result in overall satisfaction with classes, activities, and accommodations.
- Deliver academic activities that will improve participants’ understanding of civic engagement, leadership, communication, management, problem-solving and team building, and the practical use of these skills.
- Offer cultural experiences that will enrich the academic residency, enhance group camaraderie, expose participants to a diverse cross-section of US citizens, and provide opportunities for participants to speak to Americans about their home countries.
- Enhance participants’ technology and social networking skills so that upon their return home they can access information online and maintain contact with other program alumni, UNO students and faculty, and community members.
- Encourage participants to apply their leadership, communication, and team-building skills to address civic engagement issues in their home countries, and impart their awareness of cultural diversity and mutual understanding to students, families, and community members.
- Foster increased collaborations and sustained linkages among US and ASEAN institutions and countries.
Action Plans
In both the traditional and hybrid program models, fellows will be tasked with creating an action plan on a civic engagement issue in their home countries that parallels a similar issue in the ASEAN region. Each presentation will require an in-depth examination of how best to solve this issue and how to develop and implement a project proposal. these projects provide a vehicle for on-going YSEALI engagement between the students as they return home and pursue project goals.
Readings
Visit Academic Resources for more information.