The Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights is a long-running Asia–Europe dialogue, and each edition is paired with a capacity-building training on that year’s seminar theme. The training is organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, supported by the European Union and Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Roughly 25–30 early-career professionals drawn from the 51 ASEM countries are selected for three days of in-person work led by experts from both regions, mixing policy analysis, case-based learning, and collaborative design exercises. The 23rd edition (ASEMHRS23) took human rights and artificial intelligence as its theme: titled “Future-Proofing AI: Building Human-in-the-Loop Governance Skills for Rights-Respecting AI”, it ran in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from 30 March to 1 April 2026 with the Center for Digital Society (CfDS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada as local partner, and centred on assessing, governing, and deploying AI systems in line with human rights principles. Travel, accommodation, and meals are covered for those selected.
Benefits & funding
- Return airfare to the training venue (Yogyakarta for the 2026 edition)
- Four (4) nights of accommodation
- Meals and refreshments during the training programme
- Three days of expert-led sessions delivered by specialists from both Asia and Europe, using a multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral approach
- A place in a small cohort of approximately 25–30 peers spanning industry, civil society, research, and policy across 51 countries
- Beyond travel, accommodation, and meals, the call does not mention a participation fee or any stipend
Eligibility
- Must reside in an ASEM country — the 51 partner countries across Asia and Europe, listed by the ASEM InfoBoard
- Early-career professional with 1–5 years of relevant professional experience
- Must be currently involved in implementing, evaluating, or advocating for AI deployment (the requirement tracks the edition’s theme)
- Students without relevant work experience are explicitly not eligible
- Aimed at four groups: industry practitioners, civil society and advocacy organisations, researchers and academics, and policy or regulatory professionals
- A letter of organisational endorsement or nomination, in English, is required as part of the application
- No age limit, nationality bar, or degree requirement is stated — residency and professional experience are the gates
Can you apply?
Worth a closer look
Sign in and add your profile to check this against your nationality, residency, and studies.
Residence required
Australia · Austria · Bangladesh · Belgium · Brunei · Bulgaria · Cambodia · China · Croatia · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark
+ 39 more
Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · India · Indonesia · Ireland · Italy · Japan · Kazakhstan · Laos · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malaysia · Malta · Mongolia · Myanmar · Netherlands · New Zealand · Norway · Pakistan · Philippines · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia · Singapore · Slovakia · Slovenia · South Korea · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Thailand · UK · Vietnam
Not in your profile yet
Experience required
1–5 yrs
Not in your profile yet
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Check eligibility: residency in an ASEM country, 1–5 years of relevant professional experience, and current involvement in the edition’s subject area
- 2Obtain a letter of organisational endorsement or nomination in English, setting out how the training aligns with the organisation’s priorities
- 3Complete the online application form linked from the call for applications and upload the endorsement letter
- 4Submit before the deadline (23:59 Singapore time); ASEF selects approximately 25–30 participants — the call does not publish its selection criteria or notification date
Program timeline
Call for applications published for the 23rd edition
19 January 2026
Application deadline (23:59 Singapore time)
8 February 2026
Training begins in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
30 March 2026
Training ends
1 April 2026
Call for the next edition, based on the programme’s annual cycle (no date announced)
Expected early 2027