The Echidna Global Scholars Program at the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at Brookings seeks to catalyze and amplify the impact of local leaders working to advance gender equality in and through education across the Global South.
During a six-month fellowship, Echidna Global Scholars conduct individual research focused on improving learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls, young women, and gender non-conforming people, develop their leadership and evidence-based policy skills, build substantive knowledge on gender and global education issues, and expand their pathways for impact. Upon completion of the fellowship, scholars transition to the Echidna Alumni Network, a growing community of practice aimed at promoting their significant, sustained, and collective influence on gender-transformative education globally and locally.
The Echidna Global Scholars Program (the Program) aims to strengthen the capacity of local leaders to advance gender equality in and through education across the Global South. During a six-month Fellowship at Brookings, Scholars conduct individual research focused on improving learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls, young women, and gender non-conforming people, develop their leadership and evidence-based policy skills, build substantive knowledge on gender and global education issues, and expand their pathways for impact. Upon completion of the fellowship, scholars transition to the Echidna Alumni Network, a growing community of practice aimed at promoting their significant, sustained, and collective influence on gender-transformative education globally and locally.
The Fellowship consists of two phases:
- Pre-residency: sets the basis for the research training, leadership, and strategic impact components of the program. With the support of CUE fellows, scholars begin an intensive period of in-country data collection and analysis, accompanied by a series of virtual workshops, group working meetings, and individual advisory sessions. Scholars are introduced to the leadership concepts and tools that will be the focus of the leadership development program throughout the Fellowship and begin developing their impact strategy, identifying and engaging with local stakeholders.
- Residency: the residency period in Washington, DC focuses primarily on expanding Scholars’ reach and impact through publication and dissemination of Scholars’ research on Brookings’s multimedia platforms, strategic impact capacity building, leadership development, and networking. The residency phase is designed to help scholars strengthen their impact by teaching best practices for analyzing, communicating, and leveraging research for policy contexts and key audiences, as well as expanding Scholars’ networks and promoting visibility through Brookings convenings and strategic collaborations, culminating in the Girls’ Education Research and Policy Symposium.
Requirements
Education/Knowledge/Skills:
The Program selects professionals with substantial experience in and ties to the Global South, a clear intent to return to the Global South after completing the period of residency at Brookings, and a passion and demonstrated commitment to improving learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls, young women, and gender non-conforming people in and through education.
Knowledge/Skills Requirements:
Successful applicants will have an intimate understanding of education development issues and gender, strong analytical and writing skills, the ability to collaborate with others, openness to give and receive feedback, and the capacity and desire to learn with speed and flexibility. All Echidna Global Scholars must demonstrate proficiency in English.
Benefits
- Applicants selected for the Fellowship will receive a stipend totaling $22,500 USD to support living costs during the pre-residency and residency periods (subject to U.S. tax withholding and reporting).
- In addition, CUE will cover the costs associated with the visa process, single-occupancy housing for the three-and-a-half-month residency period, round-trip travel expenses, and a limited health insurance plan.
Program Requirements:
Echidna Global Scholars must be available for a full-time, on-site affiliation with the Brookings Institution for the entire duration of the residency and must be able to participate fully in the pre-residency activities, including the completion of pre-arrival data collection.
Term of Program:
The research project must take place within a 6-month timeframe of pre-residency and residency work. Data collection must be completed by the scholar at home prior to the start of the residency at Brookings in Washington, D.C. Analysis and writing must be completed during the residency. The fellowship will begin on or around July 3, 2023 and end in mid-December 2023. Scholars must also participate in the leadership development component throughout the program, including pre-residency components.
Timeline:
- Application deadline: December 1, 2022
- Interviews: January and February 2023
- Selection date: March 15, 2023
- Acceptance date: March 31, 2023
- Fellowship start date: July 3, 2023
Method of Application:
All applications must be submitted through the iCIMS application system. Initial application materials must include:
- A cover letter that explains how the program will impact your life and the lives of your community, and your goals and intent for the program, along with your CV or resume which should include your education and professional experience, as well as a list of your publications, and any fellowships, honors, awards, funded research, or foundation support that you have received. Please submit cover letter and CV or resume as one document when you apply, as instructed.
- The completed Echidna Global Scholars Program Application. (Click on hyperlink to access document and upload in the “Writing sample” section).
Documents must be saved with a format of Last Name_First Name_document name (for example: Doe_Jane_CV).
Application Deadline: December 1, 2022
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