Funding

Partial / Stipend

Fellowship•Vietnam · Ho Chi Minh City · Hybrid

Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows

Asia Society

Application Deadline

Closed · April 7, 2026

Reopens ~Apr 2027

Official Page

Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows is Asia Society’s leadership fellowship for people whose work is based in Asia or focused on Asia. It has run since 2006 and selects a new class each year, typically 30 to 40 people chosen from several hundred applicants. A class opens with a three-day summit in an Asian host city, then continues through a leadership retreat, a masterclass series and collaborative community projects over the following year.

Fellows keep their full-time jobs throughout. The 2026 class has 40 fellows from 26 countries and regions and meets in Ho Chi Minh City on 16–18 October 2026, hosted with RMIT University Vietnam, marking twenty years of the fellowship. Alumni now number more than 1,000 across more than 40 countries, organised into 16 active alumni chapters.

Benefits & funding

  • Asia Society covers travel expenses for the incoming class to attend the annual summit; some fellows choose to cover their own travel.
  • A three-day annual summit in a different Asian host city each year — 16–18 October 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
  • A two-day leadership retreat on regional and global challenges.
  • A year-long masterclass series, plus community engagement work and collaborative impact projects.
  • Membership of an alumni network of 1,000+ fellows across 40+ countries, with 16 active alumni chapters and an alumni directory.
  • No application fee is published. The official pages do not state how accommodation or other summit costs are handled.

Eligibility

  • Born on or after 1 January 1986 for the 2026 class; the birth-date cut-off moves forward with each new class.
  • A proven leader in a professional field in Asia or with a focus on Asia, typically with 5–10 years of outstanding professional experience. Asia Society words this as typical rather than as a fixed minimum.
  • A demonstrated leadership track record, and a commitment to values-based leadership and public service.
  • An excellent communicator across cultures and disciplines, committed to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Fluent in spoken and written English.
  • Open to all nationalities. Asia Society states that nationality does not affect an applicant’s chances, and a nominator may nominate anyone who meets the criteria.
  • A nomination is required. Only Asia 21 alumni, Asia Society trustees, global centre board members and staff may nominate, and self-nominations are not accepted. There is no limit on how many times a nominated candidate may apply.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

  • Age requirement

    ≤ 40 yrs

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Application process

  1. 1
    Be nominated during the nomination window by an Asia 21 alum, an Asia Society trustee, a global centre board member or Asia Society staff (5 January – 9 February for the 2026 class).
  2. 2
    Receive the invitation to apply, then submit basic personal and contact details and a brief personal bio.
  3. 3
    Write a statement of interest covering why the fellowship matters to you, how you would benefit, and what your community and the Asia 21 network would gain from your participation.
  4. 4
    Arrange exactly one letter of recommendation, written in English, and make sure it arrives before the application deadline; late or additional letters are not reviewed.
  5. 5
    Selection committees review every application and draw up a shortlist.
  6. 6
    Shortlisted candidates take a Zoom interview.
  7. 7
    Selected fellows accept the fellowship commitments in writing, then join the annual summit and the year of programming that follows.

Program timeline

  1. Nominations open for the Class of 2026

    Jan 5, 2026

  2. Nominations close

    Feb 9, 2026

  3. Applications open to nominated candidates

    Feb 18, 2026

  4. Application deadline, 11:59 PM U.S. Eastern Time (extended from 31 March)

    Apr 7, 2026

  5. Shortlist interviews completed by this date

    Jun 5, 2026

  6. Decisions sent to applicants by this date

    Jun 30, 2026

  7. Annual summit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Oct 16, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026

  8. Dates for the Class of 2027 cycle have not been published

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