About this Program
Launched in 2020, the YSEALI Academy’s main mission is to build capacity and enhance leadership skills for young professionals ages 25 - 40 from across Southeast Asia. To realize the mission, the YSEALI Academy implements a wide range of activities, including four flagship seminars on Public Policy, Technology & Innovation and Entrepreneurship each year. The Public Policy Seminar on "Shifting Tech Value Chain in Southeast Asia" aims to equip young professionals from Southeast Asia with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complex landscape of global technological competition. By fostering a deeper understanding of emerging trends, opportunities, challenges, and potential solutions, the seminar seeks to empower participants to make informed policy decisions and contribute meaningfully to their respective countries' technological development. The seminar will bring together a diverse group of 36 YSEALI fellows aged 25-40 from all 10 ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste. Through a combination of online pre-seminar lectures and in-person seminar activities, participants will explore the multifaceted implications of global technological rivalry, particularly as it relates to Southeast Asia. The program will delve into key themes such as technological development, geopolitical dynamics, and policy frameworks, providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities facing the region.
The seminar will be opened to applicants who are young professionals between the ages of 25-40, highly qualified and motivated, from all 10 ASEAN member countries and Timor-Leste. Once selected, all participants will be fully funded by the U.S. Department of State to attend the seminar.
Seminar Schedule
The seminar will be held in the following timeline:
- Application launch: August 30, 2024 - September 23, 2024
- Result Announcement: mid-October, 2024
- Pre-seminar online sessions: November 11 and 15, 2024 (2 hours session/ day)
- In-person seminar in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: November 18 – 22, 2024 (Monday – Friday, in person)
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must
- Be between the ages of 25 to 35 years old, or between the ages of 36 to 40 years old with YSEALI alumni status required.
- Be citizen of and currently residing in one of the following countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, or Vietnam
- Be fluent in written and spoken English
- Be able to participate in all engagement sessions on November 11 and 15, 2024 (2 hours session/day joining online) and attend the seminar in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on November 18 – 22, 2024 (in-person).
- Possess a passport that is valid for at least six months after your intended return date from Vietnam in November 2024 when the seminar ends.
Key Topics
- Emerging tech trends in the value chain industry
- Digital transformation
- Building a sustainable tech chain ecosystem
Curriculum
- Topic 1 –Introduction of Southeast Asia economy and the role of technology
- As the foundational context for the seminar, this section introduces key concepts and frameworks essential for understanding the fundamental issues facing Southeast Asian economies and the role of technology within them.
- Topic 2 – Decoding the global technological chain in Southeast Asia
- Building on the fundamentals introduced in the previous section, this part will delve into the global value chain in technology, focusing on areas such as electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and semiconductor chips. It will also examine how these global dynamics are reflected in Southeast Asian nations.
- Topic 3 – Policymaking in technology from a political economy perspective
- The final section explores how ASEAN and domestic policymakers might leverage opportunities and address challenges arising from global technology competition. It also considers various strategies and options available to policymakers in Southeast Asia.
