Princeton in Asia (PiA) Fellowship
Princeton in Asia (PiA) is an independent, non-profit organization affiliated with Princeton University. Founded in 1898, the program is driven by a mission to foster mutual appreciation and cultural understanding by connecting service-minded graduates and partner organizations in Asia through immersive work experiences that transform perspectives, cultivate long-lasting friendships, and benefit local and global communities.
It is PiA’s vision that through extended exposure to Asian workplaces and cultures, Fellows will develop a life-long appreciation for and engagement in this part of the world, as well as a commitment to contributing to th ecommunities of which they find themselves a part after PiA.
PiA places its fellows in 21 countries & partners with nearly 80 partner organizations.
Fast Facts
- One-year funded professional placement with a host organization in one of 21 countries.
- Open to individuals of any nationality and from any discipline.
- PiA arranges fellowships and internships with Asian host organizations that contribute to important global issues at the local level: education, public health, environmental sustainability, access to information/media, economic development and social justice.
- Fellows in good standing have the opportunity to apply through a streamlined process for a second year of funding.
- Note: In many cases, round-trip airfare is not covered. PiA also charges an application fee.
Timeline
- Application deadline: early November, annually
- Interviews held for shortlisted applicants: January
- Candidates notified of first-round results: mid-March
- Finalization of positions and offers: March-April
PiA Fellow Experiences
PiA Fellow: English Language Teacher at China Foreign Affairs University
This Fellow teaches for 14 hours of a week, designing his own curriculum and teaching lessons relevant to the students’ interest in current events and international politics. Outside of class, he tutors students applying to graduate schools in the U.S.
PiA Fellow: Curriculum Design & Teaching for Flourish
This Fellow is partnered with Flourish, an education-related social enterprise that works in seven local public middle and high schools. She teaches 1.5-2 hours each afternoon, using an interactive style of teaching and learning meant to build 21st-century skills like empathy and critical thinking. She is also working on putting the enterprise’s curriculum into writing so that it can be implemented around China.
PiA Fellow: Environmental NGO
This Fellow has spent two years as a PiA Fellow, working for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in Beijing. He works on the climate and energy team in policy and research advocacy. In his position, he communicates the NGO’s work back to the U.S. translating materials, writing advocacy beliefs, and managing a podcast.
His boss was himself a PiA Fellow who stayed on at NRDC after his grant period.
As a dual biology and East Asian Studies major, this Fellow had the scientific background and advanced language skills that made him an ideal fit for this position.
Georgetown PiA Fellows Across Asia
Patrick Drown (SFS ’17)
Communications Fellow at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Program based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Hiromi Oka (SFS ’15)
Analyst at Vriens & Partners’ Philippines office, where she focused on monitoring and analyzing political developments for clients.
Alexander Wheeler (COL ’17)
Development Coordinator at the AIP Foundation in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He focused on developing solutions to improving road safety in the country.