Luce Foundation's Program Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Questions

Luce Scholars

Why are Asian Specialists excluded from the program?
While we recognize the extreme importance to this country of a well-trained and experienced body of Asian specialists, this program is directed instead at young adults from a wide range of fields who might not otherwise have an opportunity to come to know Asia or their Asian colleagues. A new level of understanding between Asia and America cannot be achieved by “experts” alone. We need an expanding body of contributing citizens who, without being specialists, are familiar with and responsive to Asian culture and society. Even a relatively small number of such leaders with the broadened insights provided by a year in Asia can have a significant impact on the future relations of the United States with Asia and on our own cultural, intellectual, and social development.

Is a candidate considered ineligible if he or she has traveled in Asia?
A quick world tour that included brief stops in Asian capitals would not be grounds for disqualification. Neither would a tour of duty in Asia as a member of the United States Armed Forces. On the other hand, a Peace Corps assignment in Asia, a summer exchange program at an Asian university, or extensive travel under private auspices would render a candidate ineligible. The program director can advise candidates about this restriction.

Does an elective course or two in Asian history, religion, language, or art disqualify a candidate?
No. An introductory course or two would not disqualify a candidate. However, substantial Asian language studies, concentration in Asian affairs, or an undeclared “minor” in these areas would probably result in disqualification. The program is intended to reach those who lack in-depth exposure to Asia.

Is there a minimum age?
No, although candidates must have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent before taking part in the program. Moreover, candidates will be judged on their overall maturity.

What is the maximum age for a candidate?
To be eligible, a candidate may be not more than 29 years of age on September 1 of the year he or she enters the program. To put it another way, Scholars must be under 30 when they depart for Asia.

Does a graduating senior stand as much chance in this competition as an older candidate with advanced degree or work experience?
Yes. Some of the most successful Luce Scholars have come into this program immediately after receiving their baccalaureate degrees. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a degree of career certainty and professional ambition that may be more unusual among graduating seniors than among more advanced candidates.

How does a candidate demonstrate a capacity for leadership?
The foundation asks for evidence that a candidate will be a leader both within his or her profession and within the broader community. Initiative, creativity, the respect of one’s peers, maturity, strength of character, self-awareness, a sense of responsibility, commitment to others, sensitivity, a positive personality: all these are signs of leadership.

How are Asian placements developed for the Luce Scholars?
The Luce Foundation works in a cooperative relationship with The Asia Foundation to identify appropriate job placements for each Scholar and to provide administrative support during their year in Asia. Headquartered in San Francisco, The Asia Foundation maintains representatives in most Asian capitals. A senior member of the Asia Foundation’s staff serves as the Luce Scholars Program Coordinator.

Once the Scholars have been selected, the Program Coordinator meets with them individually to discuss their interests and expectations and to relate those interests to work opportunities in Asia. The Coordinator travels throughout Asia later in the spring to explore specific placement opportunities and makes tentative arrangements with host institutions. After extensive correspondence with the Scholars, this placement process is normally completed early in June. The Program Coordinator and the Luce Foundation’s Program Director collaborate carefully.

This effort to match the individual Scholar’s background, experience, training, and aspirations with an appropriate internship is perhaps the most unusual feature of the program. While the two foundations are guided by the personal and professional interests of the Scholars, the Scholars, in turn, must be guided by the area expertise of the foundations.

Are Luce Scholars expected to assist in locating their placements in Asia?
No, not usually. Occasionally, particularly in highly technical fields, a Scholar’s advisors can be helpful in providing names of individuals or institutions in Asia with whom The Asia Foundation may wish to discuss possible placements. The initial direct contact, however, is the responsibility of The Asia Foundation.

Should candidates have specific projects in mind for their year in Asia?
No. The specifics of a Scholar’s work in Asia will depend on the assignment negotiated with his or her host institution.

Can the candidate use the program to pursue his or her Ph.D. research?
No. The Luce Scholars Program is experiential rather than academic in nature. Scholars will find that their job assignments leave them little time to pursue doctoral research.

May a Scholar specify the Asian country to which he or she wishes to be assigned?
Flexibility is essential. A candidate may express a particular interest, but that interest cannot be the determining factor. Many factors will influence a Scholar’s placement in Asia, including the interests of potential Asian sponsors. Language difficulties must also be considered. Political situations may limit placement possibilities in some areas. Legal restrictions in some countries prohibit foreigners from engaging in certain activities or from practicing certain professions. A Scholar must be willing to consider geographic alternatives.

To what specific countries does the Luce Scholars Program extend?
Currently, the Luce Scholars Program offers placements in Japan, South Korea, China, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia.

The program does not extend to South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka or Pakistan), to Australia or New Zealand, to Russia, or to the Middle East, and placements are not available in Burma or North Korea.

Can a placement be “split”? That is, can a Scholar spend half the year in one county and then move on to another for the remainder of the term?
No. A year is scarcely enough time to become familiar with one Asian culture, let alone two.

Can placements be found for an accompanying spouse?
No. Whenever possible, however, The Asia Foundation’s local representative will make introductions or referrals to assist an accompanying spouse in making effective use of his or her time in Asia.

Is extensive travel possible while a Scholar is in Asia?
The Luce Scholars Program is not a traveling fellowship and is not meant to enable recipients to travel throughout Asia for purposes of observation and comparison. Though weekend travel within the country of a Scholar’s assignment is encouraged and short trips are often arranged by Scholars, extensive trips to explore more distant parts of Asia should be planned by Scholars independently after the termination of the program year.

How is a Scholar’s housing arranged?
In a few instances, institutional housing is provided by a Scholar’s Asian sponsor. More often, working with the advice and assistance of The Asia Foundation’s local office, the Scholars seek their own housing once they have arrived at their place of assignment. In either instance, The Asia Foundation arranges temporary lodging, usually in an inexpensive guest house or hotel, for those first few days or weeks.

Many Scholars prefer to occupy their own apartment during their year in Asia, and that is a realistic option in most urban areas. Some have chosen to live with a local family for the additional language and cultural dimension that such an arrangement can provide. Still others have found more inventive options, such as “house-sitting” for a family that would be out of the country for a prolonged period, or even lodging in a local monastery. The choice is essentially the Scholar’s. However, The Asia Foundation’s local office will provide guidance in this and other aspects of the settling-in process.

Is the stipend sufficient for a Scholar to survive in Asia, given the cost of living now found in many Asian capitals?
Yes. In addition to the basic stipend, a cost of living allowance and a housing allowance may be provided to Scholars living in areas where such costs run high. Though Scholars should be able to survive comfortably without recourse to personal savings or other income sources, they may not be able to replicate the living conditions they have enjoyed in this country. As a rule of thumb, Luce Scholars find themselves living at the level of a junior faculty member at a local university.

What reports are Scholars required to submit during their term?
A written and oral report must be submitted at the time of the evaluation session that ends the Luce Scholar’s year. These reports vary considerably from Scholar to Scholar, but most include a chronology, a professional report based on the placement, a travelogue and commentary, and an assessment of the program itself.

The foundation requires each Scholar to provide a report of the expenditure of the grant. This accounting is not very detailed and a form is provided for this purpose by the foundation.

May the scholarship be postponed?
No. Awards made in the spring of one year are only available to the recipients for the program year commencing in the late summer of the same year. Similarly, participation for less than the full term of the program is not permitted. Each Scholar is expected to participate fully from the orientation program to the final evaluation in Asia at the end of the program year.