The U.S. diplomatic mission to Vietnam has recently announced the 2015 Fulbright YSEALI Summer School for members of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI).

The program will host 160 YSEALI members from all over Vietnam for a two-week program (from August 3 to 14, 2015, 80 members per week) at the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program campus in Ho Chi Minh City, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi said in a press release on June 8.

By joining the program, participants will have the chance to deepen their knowledge of issues relating to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and share their experience and perspectives to help Vietnam reach its fullest potential.

ASEAN is a ten-member bloc which includes such Southeast Asian countries as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

As shown on the ASEAN’s website, the AEC is the goal of regional economic integration by 2015 and envisages the following key characteristics: a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region, a region of equitable economic development, and a region fully integrated into the global economy.

The Fulbright program will provide a comprehensive picture of the AEC and the challenges and opportunities for Vietnam, particularly for Vietnamese youth.

An integral part of the program will focus on Vietnam’s socioeconomic foundations, its strengths and weaknesses, and the global context and trends.

The participants will also have opportunities to enhance their fundamental soft skills such as creative thinking, communication, negotiation, teamwork and adaptation through a variety of soft skill training programs, inspirational speeches, games and competitions. 

Candidates should be a YSEALI member; between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time of application; a Vietnamese citizen; a full-time undergraduate student or a graduate in the past four years of college, university, or other institution of higher learning; as well as proficient in reading, writing and speaking English; and more.

Candidates are required to submit their application before 5:00 pm on June 21.

Detailed information and ways to apply can be found at http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/fulbright_yseali_summer_school.html.

Launched in 2013 by U.S. President Barack Obama, the YSEALI consists of bright young leaders aged 18-35 from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

These young leaders have innovative ideas for tackling what they have identified as their generation’s greatest challenges in the ASEAN region.

The U.S. is partnering with these extraordinary young men and women by providing training and funding to up-and-coming community leaders and social entrepreneurs.

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