Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Resources for job and internship seekers in D.C.

The Sigur Center keeps a list of Asia-related organizations in Washington D.C. (and elsewhere) on its website. You can find it in the "Resources" section of our webpage, under the sub-heading "Asia-related Links."

http://www.gwu.edu/~sigur/resources/asia_links.cfm#organizations

Job Opening: Policy Director, Beijing, China

Position Description

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) is seeking applications for a strategic, seasoned, and politically astute Policy Director to help design and implement CTFK's efforts to promote strong tobacco control policy in the People’s Republic of China. CTFK is a leading civil society organization dedicated to the fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly toll in the United States and around the world. Qualified candidates will understand and have proven experience with policy development or policy promotion, and will be a strategic partner to grantees, partners, and funders in preventing the devastating health impacts of tobacco use. This position is based in Beijing, China and is supervised by the Director of China Programs in Washington.

The Policy Director will be responsible for developing a strategy to support the adoption and implementation of effective tobacco control policies consistent with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in China. This includes conducting and/or coordinating necessary decision-maker-/stakeholder- mapping and identifying opportunities to promote and influence tobacco control policies. The Policy Director will serve as the primary liaison with Chinese non-governmental organizations and government actors to identify strategic political opportunities to advance tobacco control. S/he will work closely with the Director of China Programs in Washington, DC to develop targeted policy campaigns and strategies and work with other members of CTFK’s in-country team to ensure implementation of country strategies and work plans and provide technical support to partners and grantees.

The Policy Director will have a track-record of designing and implementing effective policy initiatives; eight or more years’ experience in public policy development, promotion and implementation in the government, or in the area of government relations of the private sector. The Policy Director will have deep knowledge of China and its political processes. S/he will be a strategic and analytical thinker who partners effectively with grantees and stakeholders on the ground and has the gravitas and personal agility to navigate a complex policy making process. Fluency in English as well as Mandarin is required.

***
 How to Apply 
More information about the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids may be found at: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org.
Applications accepted through: June 30, 2012

Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications should include: a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), and salary history, to: jobs@tobaccofreekids.org. Please reference the position code PDC-08 in the subject line of your application.

More information, is also available at: http://www.idealist.org/view/job/HthMTC6MbH8d/

Job Opening: Administrative Assistant for U.S.-Japan Council


Full-Time Position

Responsibilities: The Administrative Assistant will be an integral part of a rapidly growing 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization focused on U.S.-Japan relations. The U.S.-Japan Council’s activities include organizing national and regional events, creating network infrastructure, and implementing exchange programs that promote people-to-people connections for a strong U.S.-Japan relationship. (www.usjapancouncil.org).

The position will have primary responsibility for office administrative operations in the Washington, D.C. headquarters’ office including bookkeeping, office management, and organizational support for the President, Board of Directors and Board of Councilors, and some program support. The position requires an individual who is flexible, able to multi-task and prioritize, takes initiative, well- organized, able to plan and meet deadlines and is comfortable working independently and as part of a team. The duties include but are not limited to the following:

Office Management & Administrative Support
  • Maintain office calendar, schedule conference calls and provide scheduling and logistical support as needed for the President’s Office and Council events.
  • Provide support to the Board of Directors and Board of Councilors including communication, meetings, minutes and logistics for Board calls & meetings.
  • Screen calls and email inquiries, including fielding and responding to general information requests.
  • Provide administrative support for the President and other senior staff as required.
  • Order supplies and manage IT and other office equipment. Liaison with office vendors.
  • Filing: Maintain filing system for vendor billing accounts, funder reports and records and office administration. Organize and maintain office filing system (electronic and hard copy).
  • Assist with travel arrangements and handle other logistical matters as requested.
  • As needed, draft correspondence and other documents.
  • Help recruit and supervise interns.
  • Attend and prepare meeting/conference call minutes as needed.
Bookkeeping Support
  • Bookkeeping: Enter vender billing and prepare checks; enter bank deposit information.
  • Credit card and petty cash reconciliation.
  • Payroll: Maintain filing system of records of employee time sheets.
Other Duties as Assigned

Additional Qualifications:
Applicants with an interest in U.S.-Japan and Asia relations and Japanese language ability (written, oral) are strongly encouraged to apply. Experience working with nonprofit organizations is helpful, as are familiarity with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Salesforce.com and other databases, filing and office organizing systems.

***

How to Apply:
Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to hr@usjapancouncil.org.
The U.S.-Japan Council does not sponsor visas to work in the United States and relocation to the DC area.

Job Opening: Asia Programs Director – UNC-Chapel Hill Study Abroad


Position Summary
This position establishes, manages, and promotes all study abroad programs in Asia. It requires close collaboration within the Study Abroad Office with those responsible for advising, finance and operations, and outside the Study Abroad Office with academic units that sponsor and support each study abroad program. The successful management of programs entails ensuring that each is financially viable and articulates closely with the on-campus academic curriculum, and regular and effective communication with foreign partner universities, institutions and service providers. The position is also responsible for: putting in place administrative and logistical arrangements for proprietary UNC-CH study abroad programs in Asia, overseeing the Phillips Ambassadors Scholarship Program and supervising the Phillips Events and Communications Coordinator, managing the donor-funded SE Asia Summer Program and the office’s sole joint degree program (with the National University of Singapore) Program management also requires availability to deal with emergencies on a 24 7 basis.

Educational Requirements
Master’s degree with an emphasis in Asian Studies, International Studies or other related field. Preference may be given to candidates with a PhD in a relevant field.

Qualifications and Experience
A working knowledge of at least one Asian language, preferably Mandarin Chinese, substantial travel, study and or work experience in Asia, along with experience of cross-cultural issues, are required. Applicants must also have at least three years of administrative experience in study abroad program development within a university or college, including experience with program budgeting and marketing. Demonstrated cultural competency in Asia, excellent communication skills and a willingness to travel are also required.

Candidates should apply online at:  http://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/4327  

The University of North Carolina is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from members of minority groups and women.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Open Position: Program Assistant at the Sigur Center

The Sigur Center is hiring a Program Assistant for the Asian Studies Program. This is a full-time position and includes tuition-benefits.

Please follow the link for more information about the position and how to apply: https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/8669 THE SIGUR CENTER IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Job Opening at the Elliott School

The Elliott School is looking to hire a new Assistant to the Office of International Programs & Education. The position is part-time (20 hours a week) and comes with half-tuition benefits in addition to salary.

See the link for more information about the job and how to apply: https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/8604

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Summer Photo Contest!

Staff and faculty pose in Sigur Center T-shirts
The Sigur Center is happy to announce its first ever Summer Photo Contest. With spring semester at an end, we know that many of our students and alumni will be traveling to Asia this summer for work, internships, research, language study, and vacation. We encourage any students traveling overseas during this time to take photographs of themselves wearing the official Sigur Center T-shirt. 

Photos should be submitted to asia@gwu.edu by Friday, August 31. Winners will have their photos displayed in the Sigur Center and also receive a special award.

Asian Studies students and International Affairs students concentrating in Asia who did not pick up their free Sigur Center T-shirt last semester can still do so. You just need to come by the Sigur Center during our normal operating hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). For all others, T-shirts are  available for purchase at $10 each.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Student Profile: Kalisha Holmes


Kalisha at the Great Wall of China in 2011
Kalisha Holmes will graduate from the Elliott School this May with a B.A. in International Affairs. She has been selected as a 2012 Elliott School Distinguished Scholar.

Kalisha began studying Chinese during her sophomore year. In 2011, the Sigur Center sponsored her to go to Beijing as a Summer Language Fellow for six weeks. She notes, "Without the Sigur Center, I would not have been able to spend six weeks in Beijing learning Chinese."

Kalisha is also a Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellow, and she will be interning the the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs at the State Department this summer. This fall, she will enrolling in the public policy program at Harvard University.

As a peer advisor at the Elliott School, she "always refers people to the Sigur Center for all things Asia." In addition, "the Sigur Center has been a great resource for me and has enabled me to attend important talks and lectures while also connecting with students who share my interests."

Quotes from this blog post were taken from an interview with Kalisha at the Sigur Center in May 2012.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Summer Internship Opportunity for CIES

POSITION: Internship | Unit: CIES

About CIES
The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), the scholar division of the Institute of International Education (IIE), is well known for its expertise and extensive experience in conducting international exchange programs for scholars and university administrators. For the past sixty years, CIES (www.cies.org) has administered the Fulbright Scholar Program, the United States flagship academic exchange effort, on behalf of the United StatesDepartment of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

The daily work of CIES is overseen by over 60 program and administrative staff members in Outreach and PublicAffairs, Finance and Operations, Events, Regional Program Units, and Global Programs. CIES interns are given short- and long-term projects and will have the unique opportunity to observe processes, learn policies and contribute to organizational goals through the mentorship of CIES staff. They report to CIES staff on special projects, as well as day-to-day assignments. Interns are also encouraged and invited to attend educational and cultural events outside of
the office.

Internship Details
Internship starting and ending dates are flexible based on the intern’s academic calendar. Full-time and part-timeinternship opportunities are available. (Part-time interns must work for at least twenty hours per week.) Supervising staff will complete required forms and evaluations for the intern to receive academic credit for the internship.

Qualifications
  •  Undergraduate or graduate student currently pursuing a degree
  • Ability to secure academic credit for the internship
  • Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills
  • Experience with MS Office (Access, Word, & Excel) and strong typing ability
  • Background and interest in international relations, exchanges and education
  • Ability to interact with high level professionals and with all levels of staff

Application Instructions
To apply for this internship, please visit the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Careers and Internships Webpage at www.iie.org/Careers/Internships.

**Please note that before the start of your internship, we will require a letter from your university, stating that you willreceive academic credit for the internship.

Do you have an undergraduate research project you want to publish?

The Council for Undergraduate Research’s CUR Quarterly is seeking student submissions for its Spring 2013 Issue!

Deadline for submitting a proposal: June 1, 2012

The theme of the Spring 2013 issue of the CUR Quarterly will be “Students Voices in Undergraduate Research.” 

The publication seeks several student authors who can write articles that focus on students' experiences engaging in undergraduate research.

The CUR Quarterly encourage articles that explore, among other things:


·        What other students, faculty, and administrators should know about undergraduate research from the perspective of students
·        Advice and practical tips for students who want to do research
·        What every undergraduate research mentor should know
·        How to navigate and succeed at a summer undergraduate research experience (on your campus or at another campus)
·        How to conduct undergraduate research in a study-abroad program
·        Perspectives on presenting your research at conferences


If you are interested in contributing an article or vignette, please submit a short (300-500 word) prospectus describing the focus of your proposed article or vignette by June 1, 2012. Click here for the website. 


Please also submit a copy of your prospectus to the Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research at fellcent@gwu.edu; we would very much like to hear the stories you have to tell!

Decisions on invitations for full papers to be published in the CUR Quarterly will be made by June 15, 2012.

Final articles will be about 1500 to 2000 words in length.  The final text for review and editing must be submitted by August 1, 2012.

Fan the Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/GWU-Center-for-Undergraduate-Fellowships-and-Research/141965255865409



Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Wilson Center Japan Program Associate Position Available

Wilson Center Seeks Japan Expert for Program Associate Position

The Asia Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. is seeking a new associate, who will work primarily on North East Asia . Extensive knowledge of contemporary Japanese politics, economics, history, culture and public policy, as well as experience in Japan, are considered requirements for the position.


The program associate will be responsible for planning and developing conferences and seminars primarily related to Northeast Asia, including Japan, China, Taiwan, and the Korean peninsula, but secondary responsibilities will also include Southeast Asia, including Australia and New Zealand.


Primary responsibilities include identifying and selecting appropriate speakers for public events, designing formats, publicizing events, and producing meeting reports.  The associate will also: edit and oversee production of Asia Program publications and manage content on the program web site; write articles to be published on the Internet and for Wilson Center publications;  conduct research on Asia Pacific affairs required for the planning and coordination of Asia Program activities; stay current on developments in East Asia, and U.S. policies in the Asia Pacific region;  assist with preparation of proposals for funding; and prepare narrative reports at the conclusion of the grant period(s).  The associate will also be called upon to assist in the administration of the various fellowship and visiting scholar competitions by reading and evaluating proposals and identifying peer reviewers and performs other related duties as may be assigned.


Applications close May 14.


Potential applicants can also find more information on the position advertised on the Wilson Center Asia Program's website:

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/wilson-center-seeks-japan-expert-for-associate-position 

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Internship with Bridging Nations


Asian Studies Intern
Bridging Nations, a non-partisan policy and education organization, is seeking bright, motivated interns to start immediately. We are seeking interns with a background in Asian studies, specifically with experience of Chinese government and leadership. We are particularly interested in candidates with experience/knowledge of Chinese leadership, the Communist Chinese Party Structure and Mandarin language skills.
Asian Studies Interns will be working within, though not limited to, the policy division of Bridging Nations.
Work will focus on international affairs and policy, specifically India-China-US relation, research and publish work on Chinese government and leadership affairs, courses and events related to the newly launched India-China Center, and preparing for the upcoming Chinese delegation sponsored by Bridging Nations. Interns will have a chance to research policy, write policy briefs, contribute to research publications and plan & attend events. In addition, Asian Studies interns will write about their research findings for short articles, newsletters, website posts, etc.
Qualifications:
The successful candidate will have:
  • 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) or higher
  • Very strong research and writing skills
  • Strong computer and organizational skills; familiarity with Microsoft Office and Google Applications
  • Ability to multi-task and remain organized
  • Graphic design/web design skills a plus
  • Comfortable assisting with and assuming responsibility for routine office tasks
Desired:
  • Mandarin language skills
  • Knowledge of broader South Asian politics and leadership, particularly China and India.
Start date and end date are flexible but we would like the intern to start as soon as possible. Hours are approximately 20 to 40 hours per week during office hours (Monday through Friday 9 am to 5:30 pm) To apply please submit, a resume, brief cover letter, unofficial transcript(s) and writing sample (max 3 pages) to: ian@bridgingnations.org


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

GW Celebrates 250,000 Alumni Milestone.

New Asia Program Internship for the Atlantic Council

Interns for the Asia Program at the Atlantic Council are vital contributors to the program's conduct of international dialogues and in-depth analysis of Asia and Global affairs.

The mission of the Atlantic Council is to renew the transatlantic community for 21st century global challenges. The Asia Program addresses critical Asian affairs of interest to the transatlantic community. This includes a particular focus on Asian regional security, economic, and social affairs - particularly those of Mainland China, Taiwan, and the two Koreas - and Asia's role in world affairs. The Asia Program also addresses the policy implications of long term global trends for governments worldwide. Program activities on long term global trends focus on building an international dialogue among scholars, NGOs, businesses, and governments analyzing long-range international political, economic, security, social, and environmental trends and documenting their policy implications for national governments, businesses, communities, and multilateral institutions worldwide.

The Program conducts research and project activities on these and other topics, which includes conducting international dialogues in Asia and four other continents with a wide variety of government, NGO, and private sector partners; public seminars on specific Asia affairs featuring prominent policymakers, business leaders, and foreign affairs experts from around the world; public speeches by senior U.S. and global policy makers; off-the-record briefings; research and writing for publications, issue briefs, and the New Atlanticist policy analysis blog; drafting proposals for fund raising efforts, and other associated activities.
The program seeks well-organized, highly reliable, motivated candidates who thrive in a fast-paced environment and demonstrate initiative.

The position is non-paid, but candidates gain valuable skills, experience, knowledge, and contacts in the Washington, DC policy community.

Interns for the Asia Program provide important research and logistical support to assist these efforts and program staff. Interns work closely with the Program Director and his deputy in supporting the activities of the Program. Interns are also encouraged to pursue their own research projects and to write and publish their own policy briefs or blog posts.
Responsibilities:
  • Conduct research to support the activities of the Director and his deputies.
  • Produce the daily international security news brief.
  • Manage program contacts and knowledge.
  • Draft correspondence and take notes at Council roundtables and strategy sessions for program archives.
  • Handle logistical issues for program events and activities.
  • Write analytical pieces for publication on the New Atlanticist blog.
  • Help draft policy briefs and task force reports.
Qualifications:
  • Must be at least a college junior in good standing, a graduate student or a recent graduate.
  • Must demonstrate proven interest in Asian and other international affairs.
  • Must work well with others and interact professionally with senior figures.
  • Must have at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), or equivalent from a non-U.S. institution.
  • Must be eligible to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
  • Proficiency in Mandarin Chinese or Korean preferred.

To be considered for this position, please email a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to:internship@acus.org. In the subject line, please indicate which program you are applying to.

 

Deadline is May 21st, 2012  for Summer Internships.