About the Program
Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Exchange (YSEALI PE) is a two-way U.S. Department of State exchange program designed develop a network of emerging leaders from Southeast Asia who share America's founding principles of liberty, opportunity, and self-reliance. The program fosters shared prosperity in support of a secure, free, and open Indo-Pacific.
Through virtual activities and intensive professional placements designed to broaden their professional expertise and enhance their leadership capabilities, YSEALI PE provides participants with the opportunity to gain first-hand experiences in, and exposure to, U.S. public and private sector offices working on a variety of issues. Follow-on reciprocal exchanges provide select American professionals the opportunity to visit Southeast Asia to further enhance two-way exchange, support, and knowledge sharing with YSEALI PE alumni in their home communities.
YSEALI PE will be administered as a hybrid program, which will include virtual activities and an in-person U.S.-based professional placement. Applicants must have reliable internet connectivity to participate in virtual activities. Applicants will select one of two possible cohort dates in 2027 or 2028.
Important: The in-person, U.S.-based exchange is contingent upon favorable travel conditions. In the event of travel restrictions, or other factors which could adversely impact the health, safety and welfare of program participants and hosts, YSEALI PE will pivot the in-person, U.S.-based exchange to virtual programming.
Overview
About YSEALI
Launched in 2013, Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is the U.S. government’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in Southeast Asia. Through a variety of programs and engagements, including U.S. educational and professional exchanges, regional exchanges, and seed funding, YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and promote cross-border cooperation to solve regional and global challenges.
Program Elements
Leadership and Professional Development Curriculum
The program will begin with a virtual program launch to provide an overview and establish expectations for the program.
Participants will complete an online professional leadership course designed to strengthen strategic communication, stakeholder analysis, problem framing, coalition building, project management, and adaptive leadership.
Participants will take part in a personalized virtual Alumni Mentor Program to receive guidance before, during, and after the program and facilitate their immersion into the broader alumni network.
Participants will join professional development sessions and one-on-one calls with American experts prior to the U.S.-based exchange.
Professional Placement
Participants will take part in a virtual Pre-Departure Orientation as well as an arrival orientation and integrated professional study tour in a U.S. city.
Participants will spend four weeks in an individually tailored professional placement working in a U.S. host organization.
Participants will engage with their U.S. host community.
Participants will develop a follow-on Action Plan proposal to complete a project that meets a specific objective and builds on their participation in the YSEALI Professional Exchange.
Participants will have a home hospitality experience with an American host family.
YSEALI Professional Exchange Closing Forum
At the conclusion of the Professional Placement, participants will attend a program-wide forum.
The closing forum will bring together participants from across all four themes as well as host organizations and expert guest speakers for the opportunity to network and collaborate.
The forum offers exposure to speakers and workshops designed to further participants’ professional competencies.
Alumni Engagement Opportunities
Participants will design follow-on Action Plans to address challenges encountered in their home community.
Participants will be eligible to invite a U.S. placement host from the professional placement to implement a Reciprocal Exchange Project in the participant’s home community.
Participants will be eligible to attend Regional Alumni Accelerator Workshops.
Program Dates
YSEALI PE will be administered in two cohorts in 2027-28. Applicants may only participate in one of the two cohorts. Applicants must indicate their preferred cohort date in their application.
Fall 2027: Virtual activities for Fall 2027 will tentatively launch in August 2027, with approximately one live session per week throughout the duration of the program. Some professional asynchronous activities may accompany each live session. The U.S.-based exchange is tentatively scheduled for six weeks from October-November, 2027.
Spring 2028: Virtual activities for Spring 2028 will tentatively launch in January 2028 with approximately one live session per week throughout the duration of the program. Some professional asynchronous activities may accompany each live session. The U.S.-based exchange is tentatively scheduled for six weeks from April-May, 2028.
