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Emirates Leadership Initiative Fellowship

At a time when the world is more connected than ever and engagement is increasingly crucial, the Emirates Leadership Initiative (ELI) Graduate Fellowship provides the critical framework for preparing our next generation of leaders. The Emirates Leadership Initiative Fellowship not only allows Harvard to bring some of the most talented and ambitious future leaders from the Middle East to the U.S. to study, but it also enables students from the U.S. and other parts of the world to deepen their own understanding of the region and to learn from some of its leaders first-hand.

The Fellowship is a program of the Emirates Leadership Initiative, a research and curricular collaboration between the Center for Public Leadership (CPL) and the Middle East Initiative (MEI) at HKS, and the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ziad"Being an ELI fellow is the height of the Harvard Kennedy School experience for an Arab student: from the funding, to the co-curricular programming, to the alumni network. Beyond what ELI gives its fellows, ELI enables us to give back to the Arab community. Through funding from CPL and ELI, my cohort started a program to pair Arab-speaking Harvard students with Arab refugees newly resettled in Boston. By year's end, we had more than 50 pairings, all made possible by ELI and CPL."
-Ziad Reslan, MPP '18

Application

Step 1: Apply to Harvard Kennedy School: Application deadline is Monday, December 4, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Step 2: Apply for the Fellowship: Application deadline for the Emirates Fellowship is Friday, February 9, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. EST.

To apply for the ELI Fellowship please visit the Student Financial Services web site.

Applicants must submit:

  1. A biographical profile, not to exceed 150 words. (This profile should be short, concise and in the third person.)  Please include the following highlights: an introductory sentence including your name; the degree you are pursuing at Harvard Kennedy School in addition to any joint degree at Harvard or concurrent degree program at another graduate or professional institution; where you are from and where you currently reside; an overview and highlights of your relevant work/professional experience; significant leadership achievements including awards or certifications; and educational credentials with the degrees earned and institutions attended.)
     

  2. A document containing written responses to the following two essay prompts:

    • Please discuss a topic you are passionate about as it pertains to leadership in the Arab world and your experiences as it relates to this topic. Please include specific examples in your request (750 words or less).

    • Please discuss briefly your interest in the Emirates Leadership Fellowship and how your leadership goals have motivated you to apply (200 words or less).

Interviews

Finalists for the Emirates Leadership Initiative Fellowship will be interviewed in early March 2018 by members of the Emirates Leadership Iniative Fellowship Selection Committee.

Please visit our Fellows FAQs page for more information.

 

Program Information

  • Emirates Leadership Initiative Fellows are awarded a full tuition scholarship and health fees for up to two years, depending on the length of their graduate degree program.
     
  • Fellows are eligible for a generous stipend for up to two years depending on their graduate degree program and on the Harvard Kennedy School's international student budget.
     
  • Applicants will be considered based on their excellent academic credentials and demonstrated work experience and interest in public service and leadership in the Arab world.
     
  • Fellows will be required to participate in a robust co-curricular program offered by the Center for Public Leadership.
     
  • This fellowship is open to applicants entering their first year of study in any of the Harvard Kennedy School's masters' degree programs.
     
  • Each year there will be up to ten Emirates Leadership Initiative Fellows—half from the United Arab Emirates and half from other countries within the Arab League.

Eligibility

The Emirates Leadership Initiative (ELI) Fellowship is open to all admitted degree program students at Harvard Kennedy School hailing from the United Arab Emirates and other countries within the Arab League. Applicants will be considered based on their demonstrated interest in developing their leadership and public management skills in the United Arab Emirates and in Arab League countries. Successful candidates demonstrate excellent academic credentials, a deep commitment to public service, and strong leadership potential in the Middle East. Additionally, the Middle East Research Fellowship Program, part of the Emirates Leadership Initiative, offers one year pre- and post-doctoral fellowships for research related to Middle Eastern governance and public policy. For more information on Research Fellowship opportunities, click here.

The Fellowship Experience

The Emirates Leadership Initiative Fellows are a part of the Center for Public Leadership’s community of graduate fellows and will be required to participate in an enriching co-curricular experience designed to enhance their skills and engage their development as emerging leaders of the Arab world. The co-curricular program typically includes a welcome retreat, a weekly series of speakers, workshops and seminars, a field experience (an annual trip to the UAE, focused on a different theme every year), and opportunities to connect with other Center for Public Leadership fellows and alumni.

The fellowship will be open to all admitted master's degree program students who are citizens of countries within the Arab League.

Commitment to Nondiscrimination 

As a matter of commitment, policy, and law, Harvard Kennedy School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity, color, race, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, intellectual focus, disability, or veteran status. The School strongly believes diversity enhances the value of all its activities, from research and teaching to degree programs and public events. The School encourages applications from candidates traditionally underrepresented in public service leadership positions and acknowledges a special responsibility to train leaders from groups underrepresented in public policy and management.

Can I still apply if I hold dual citizenship (for example, Canadian and Lebanese citizenship)?

Yes. As long as the applicant holds at least one citizenship in a country that is a member of the Arab League, s/he may apply.

For additional questions, please visit our Fellowship FAQs page.

Recognized as a leader at the cutting-edge of some of the world's most pressing sustainability concerns and as a gateway for business in the Middle East, the UAE is helping to set the standard for new developments in the areas of energy, infrastructure development, and education.