Interested in US-China Relations? Apply Today to be a Volunteer at an Exciting Conference Featuring High-Profile American and Chinese Policymakers!

The National Committee is looking for volunteers to help out with their tenth anniversary U.S. Foreign Policy Colloquium. This is an annual event held in partnership with the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. The Colloquium brings together about 150 PRC graduate students from a wide variety of disciplines at universities around the United States to help them better understand the complex forces that influence and shape American foreign policy. The two-and-a-half-day program gives these bright young men and women with potential for leadership in China an opportunity to interact with current and former Administration officials and members of Congress, as well as representatives from academia, the military, think tanks, the media and business. And, hopefully, you!

One of the reasons for the success of past FPCs is that it has been able to rely on volunteers in the D.C. area to help out; and this year is no exception. The main help we will need is with site visits the afternoon of Thursday, May 30. We need escorts to lead small groups of 10 to 15 FPC participants to foreign policy-relevant organizations in D.C. Briefings at the sites will last for an hour – from 3:30 to 4:30 (with about 20 minute presentations with 30-40 minutes of Q&A). Volunteers need to report to the Elliott School (E Street between 18th and 19th Streets) at 2:00 for a general briefing and to pick up their name lists, subway fare cards (if necessary) and then assemble their groups and depart between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m., depending on where their site venue is. (Some require a 5-15 minute walk, others require subway rides of various lengths.) For a listing of past site visit venues, please click on the link below.

We also may need assistance with set up and check in on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 28 and 29, as well as some miscellaneous help on Thursday and Friday during the event. If you are interested and available any of those days, please let us know.

All volunteers are welcome to attend not just the opening night ceremony (this year’s speaker is former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao) but any (or all) of the sessions as well.

To sign up for the event and for more information, consult the volunteer information sheet.

Program Coordinator Position at GW's Confucius Institute Now Open!

The George Washington University is seeking a talented individual to work as the Program Coordinator for its newly established Confucius Institute, a partnership among GWU, Hanban (the Office of Chinese Language Council International in China), and Nanjing University in China.

The Program Coordinator’s focus will be on day-to-day administration, marketing & outreach, and financial support.

Minimum Requirements:

·         Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus two to four years of relevant professional experience. Proficiency in Chinese required.

·         Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience

Desired Qualifications:

·         Degree in higher education, international affairs, or a related field relevant to Chinese language and culture desired.

·         Professional experience that is relevant to having a good understanding of Chinese language and culture.

·         Experience in program coordination and event management.

·         Ability to be a self-starter and work independently.

·         Evidence of excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as customer service skills.

·         Knowledge and working experience in website development and management is highly desired.

·         Fluency in speaking, reading, and writing Chinese is highly desired.

For more information, including how to apply, please see: https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/15177.

Are you a Chinese Graduate Student Interested in US Foreign Policy and US-China Relations? Apply Today for the Foreign Policy Colloquium!

Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, the National Committee on US-China Relations (NCUSCR) Foreign Policy Colloquium (FPC) is an exciting three-day program designed to help Chinese graduate students better understand the complex forces that shape American foreign policy. The tenth anniversary FPC will be held from May 29 to May 31, 2013 at The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, with cooperation from the Sigur Center for Asian Studies.

We are delighted to announce that The Honorable Elaine L. Chao (赵小兰), the 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor (2001-2009) and first Asian-American woman appointed to the U.S. Cabinet, as the keynote speaker.

Additional featured speakers include:

• The Honorable Cui Tiankai (崔天凯), Chinese Ambassador to the United States;
• Kin Moy, Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State;
• Erin Ennis, Vice President, The US-China Business Council;
• And more to be announced soon.

IMPORTANT: The NCUSCR has extended the application deadline for the U.S. Foreign Policy Colloquium (FPC) to Monday, May 6

For more information and on how to apply please visit: http://www.ncuscr.org/programs/fpc.

Not a Chinese graduate student, but still interested in the conference? Apply to be a conference volunteer! Volunteer responsibilities will primarily involve leading site visits to the State Department, Carnegie Endowment, etc.: For more information, including how to sign up as a volunteer, please send an e-mail to gsigur@gwu.edu.

Junior Fellow Positions at The Chinese University of Hong Kong's Morningside College!

Morningside College Junior Fellow

The College seeks applicants for openings of Morningside Junior Fellow for the academic year 2013-2014. The appointees will join a committed group of College Fellows and administrators in building the ethos, traditions, and programmes of the College. 

Applicants should have (i) a Bachelor degree in a humanities field; (ii) native fluency in English; and (iii) an aptitude for and interest in teaching undergraduate students; (iv) demonstrated interest in and engagement with current affairs; and (v) a passion for supporting and stimulating students’ intellectual development and understanding of global concerns. Teaching experience and knowledge of the Chinese language may be helpful but are not essential. 

Duties include (a) leading tutorials in the General Education Programme at the College; (b) assisting the Dean of General Education of the College in developing service learning courses and exchange programmes for students of the College; (c) organizing arts and other co-curricular activities; (d) serving as a student advisor; (e) assisting the Associate Master of the College in producing publicity materials; and (f) other assignments. 

Appointments will be made on contract basis for up to two years commencing August 2013.

For more information:

http://www.per.cuhk.edu.hk/JobVacancies/TeachingAdministrativeandProfessionalPosts/tabid/202/Default.aspx

GW's Only International Student Association Senator Featured in Hatchet

Shashwat Gautam (GW MBA 2013) student reflects on his experience as the only International Student Association Senator:

Shashwat Gautam’s home state of Bihar, India is one of the poorest in the country. The politics are corrupt, the people are poor and most have not pursued education past high school.

Now, as Gautam finishes his MBA in May and wraps up his term as a graduate Student Association senator, he plans to return to his hometown of Motihari to run for state assembly in 2015. Gautam said he thinks the lessons he’s learned navigating through red tape at GW will give him a leg up. [read more…]

The National Bureau of Asian Research announces Engaging Asia 2013 Conference

Engaging Asia 2013: How Will the 113th Congress Address the Rebalance toward Asia?

In recognition of Asia’s increasing global importance, the United States is rebalancing to focus more attention on the region politically, economically, and militarily. The 113th Congress takes office as this strategy is being implemented. At a time of constrained resources and competing domestic priorities, Congress will play a pivotal role in determining and executing many aspects of the rebalance as it allocates funds, provides oversight, and ratifies trade agreements.

With this in mind, The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) will host “Engaging Asia 2013: How Will the 113th Congress Address the Rebalance toward Asia?” on April 17 in Washington, D.C. This half-day conference will provide high-level expert insight and discussion on the congressional priorities that will shape U.S. strategy in the region.

The event will feature remarks from Congressman Rick Larsen on the role of Congress in the U.S.-China relationship, Indonesia's Ambassador Dino Patti Djalal on how Southeast Asia views the U.S. rebalancing, and a panel discussion assessing the new NBR Analysis report “Whose Pacific Century? The 113th Congress and Asia” with co-author Edward Gresser (Progressive Economy) and practitioners from Capitol Hill. Complimentary copies will be available at the conference.

Additional Participants

Jamie Fly is Counselor for Foreign and National Security Affairs to Senator Marco Rubio. (off-the-record).

Meredith Miller is NBR’s Senior Vice President for Trade, Energy and Economic Affairs & Outreach, and Director, Washington, D.C. Office.

Pamela Passman is President and CEO of the Center for Responsible Enterprise and Trade (CREATe.org).

Michael Schiffer is Senior Advisor and Counselor (Democratic Staff) to the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. (off-the-record).

Nien Su is the Senior Director for the Asia-Pacific (Republican Staff) at the House Foreign Affairs Committee. (off-the-record).

Please RSVP via online registration. Seating is limited. All inquiries should be directed to Sonia Luthra, Assistant Director for Outreach, at NBRdc@nbr.org or (202) 347-9767.

Background on the Conference:

Engaging Asia is a comprehensive initiative that encourages integrated high-level discussion of U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific. The initiative convenes experts from government and academia to provide analysis and policy recommendations for future U.S. engagement with the region. “Engaging Asia 2013: How Will the 113th Congress Address the Rebalance toward Asia?” is the sixth conference in this series.

SPIRI Research Internship

About

SIPRI North America is a branch office of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. SIPRI North America is non-profit organization located in Washington, D.C. The organization seeks to increase transatlantic and global interaction on vital public policy 
issues regarding conflict and cooperation and peace and security; and to promote peaceful solutions to international conflicts through the study of conditions necessary to sustain peace.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree (or degree in progress) in International Relations, Political Science, Conflict Resolution, or 
related field 
• Ability to intern 20 hrs/week. Minimum five months commitment. 
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite, particularly Word and Excel 
• Excellent internet research and documentation skills 
• Excellent writing, proofreading, and editing skills in English 
• Demonstrated knowledge and interest in peace and conflict and/or international relations 
• Ability to apply superb attention to detail and to plan, organize, and prioritize work 
• Eagerness to be creative and take initiative on new ideas and projects 
• Ability to work in a small team or independently as needed 
• Sense of humor 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Research topics include women, war, and peace; Central Asia regional security challenges; and arms control and nonproliferation 
• Report to the Program Manager 
• Assist with coordinating SIPRI North America events 
• Closely work with the Resident Fellow to code multilateral and bilateral negotiations 
• Track grant opportunities 
• Update contact databases 
• Monitor global newsfeeds 
• Attend relevant events in Washington DC on behalf of SIPRI North America 
• Some data entry and administrative duties 
• Responsible for SIPRI North America social media (Twitter and Facebook) 
• Other related duties as assigned. 

Compensation
• Unpaid 

The start date for this internship is late April/early May.

Applications Instructions:
To apply please submit your resume, cover letter, and a short writing sample (1-3 pages). Materials should be sent in one attachment in PDF format by email to Masha Keller at sipri-na@sipri.org. Applications are accepted on a rolling-basis until the position is filled. Deadline: April 14, 2013.

Participants Needed for Korean Peninsula Policy Planning Simulation

Shattered Resolve: A Simulation of Conflict and Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula

The Korean Peninsula remains an active source of regionally destabilizing tensions with enormous potential for devastation. "Shattered Resolve" will look at the United State's relations with the full variety of regional actors involved, such as North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Russia and China. Participants will grapple with serious questions of U.S. national interest, develop policies to pursue the decided upon objectives and attempt to determine optimal responses to a variety of crisis situations. Other participants may find themselves planning, and potentially executing, complex military operations and managing relations with a variety of different military and civilian colleagues. 

Participants will represent policy actors and practitioners from the U.S. government, including the Departments of Defense and State, the White House and the Intelligence Community, and key officers and staff members from U.S. Korea, U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Pacific Command.

"Shattered Resolve" will run on Saturday, April 20th from 11am - 6pm in Duques Hall. A pizza lunch will be provided to all participants, free of charge.

Online registration is available at: https://docs.google.com/a/gwmail.gwu.edu/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDdXa3Fjd3ZrdjJnWExPdU9qN0tlZGc6MA 

Registration does not close until the start of the simulation on April 20th, but we highly encourage early registration for optimal position placement. No previous experience is necessary, and we invite everyone who is interested to apply.

We can be reached for any questions, comments, or concerns at gwuscs@gmail.com.

Fall 2013 Asian Studies Course List Now Available!

Please click on the following links for a listing of all Asian Studies courses for the Fall 2013 term.

Graduate Courses: http://www.gwu.edu/~sigur/academics/grad.cfm

Undergraduate Courses:http://www.gwu.edu/~sigur/academics/ugrad.cfm