Professional Fellows Program Oceania

1. Promote mutual understanding and lasting partnerships between mid-level emerging leaders from the Pacific and the United States.
2. Provide opportunities for non-U.S. and American emerging leaders to collaborate and share ideas, approaches, and strategies regarding pressing challenges.
3. Enhance leadership and professional skills for both non-U.S. and American Fellows to encourage positive change in their workplaces and communities.
4. Build a global network of like-minded professionals.

The Professional Fellowship Program is a robust professional development opportunity, tailored to support the professional growth for every individual participant. Upon selection to the program, and approximately 4-5 months prior to traveling to the U.S., participants will begin working collaboratively with Cultural Vistas on their fellowship placement. Each fellowship will be tailored to each Pacific Fellows to ensure alignment with their career goals. Participation will additionally require a commitment to participate in all program components, including Pre-Program virtual activities, development of a follow-on project Action Plan, participation in the Professional Fellows Congress, and implementation of a follow-on project upon return home.

Pacific Fellows will be encouraged to bring their experience abroad back to their own networks and communities. In doing so, each participant will be required to complete a follow-on project after the conclusion of their fellowship exchange.  Each Pacific Fellow will develop an Action Plan during the program that will be peer reviewed within their cohort. This structure will allow for participants to learn more about each other’s work and to solicit feedback from their colleagues. Following the fellowship exchange, Pacific Fellows will have the opportunity to apply for a small stipend to support the implementation of their follow-on project. Examples of potential follow-on projects could include: a women’s empowerment workshop, or developing a business plan to launch an ecommerce platform.

Fellows will be selected through a competitive process. There will be three rounds for selection – eligibility screening, application ranking, and finalist interviews. The selection committee will take into consideration each applicant’s association with the program theme and leadership experience in the Pacific. Applicants are also encourage to demonstrate their commitment to engaging in the Professional Fellows global network.

The Professional Fellows Program Oceania is scheduled to be implemented in-person in the United States. An in-person, U.S.-based exchange is contingent upon favorable travel conditions and participants’ ability to transit among ongoing travel restrictions. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 global health pandemic, PFP Oceania may be adjusted and offered as a hybrid or fully virtual program. In the event there are travel restrictions, or other factors which could adversely impact the health, safety and welfare of program participants, host organizations, and local communities, the Professional Fellows Program Oceania may postpone or pivot the planned in-person U.S.-based exchange to virtual programming. The PFP Oceania will follow available national and local public health guidance when making decisions related to proposed program activities.

All participants selected as Pacific Fellows must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel to the United States for the fellowship program, per the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Proof of vaccination status must be provided to Cultural Vistas at the time of selection to the  Professional Fellows Program Oceania.

• Prepare a meaningful and intentional workplan for the Fellow during the four-week fellowship, either in-person or virtually. This work should be relevant to the host organization and fellow’s background, while advancing their professional development.
• Provide Cultural Vistas information regarding expectations for the fellowship and needs in order to ensure a mutually beneficial placement for the fellow.
• Pacific Fellows will have a valid J-1 visa and receive a stipend from Cultural Vistas to cover their living expenses during their fellowships.
• Select an employee “placement host” who will guide the Oceania Fellow during their fellowship (either a supervisor or manager who will connect virtually or by phone at least once before the fellowship begins).
• Frequent and substantial engagement with PFP Fellows for the duration of their fellowship; Fellows will work full-time (32-40 hours per week).
• Encourage opportunities for fellow to engage with host organization’s work culture and local community.
• Provide guidance and support for the fellow’s prospective follow-on project that is to be implemented in their home community or organization.

The fellowship is an unpaid professional development opportunity. Fellows will already have a valid J-1 visa and will receive a stipend from Cultural Vistas to cover their living expenses during the fellowship. Host organizations are expected to supply the fellows with the technical support and equipment needed to actively engage with colleagues and successfully complete their workplan.  

Cultural Vistas will work directly with each Pacific Fellow cohort to identify fellowship placements. Each fellowship will be tailored to each Pacific Fellows to ensure alignment with their career goals. Host organizations will not be able to meet/interview Pacific Fellows directly however, Cultural Vistas will arrange these placements on behalf of the participant. As a result, thorough communication of the available roles and expectations for the fellowships will be necessary to ensure a positive placement experience.  

Host organizations can be located anywhere in the United States. Eligible organizations can have a physical, virtual, or hybrid work environment, however it is expected that PFP fellows will have frequent and substantial engagement with colleagues at the host organization. Hosts will also be expected to help the fellow become acquainted and involved in local activities/events in the fellowship location.  

Cohort 2 of the 2022-2023 PFP Oceania program will participate in U.S. based fellowships between April 27 – June 9, 2023.

Cohort 1 for the 2023-2024 PFP Oceania program will participate in U.S. based fellowships between September 6 – October 4, 2023.

The application for American Fellows will be provided to host organizations following each Cohort round. Please monitor the PFP Oceania website or contact PFPOceania@culturalvistas.org if you have any questions about the application requirements or timeline and we can assist.   

Host organizations will be responsible for: 

• Assigning an employee to serve as a primary “Placement Host” who will support the Fellow during the fellowship 
• Prepare a meaningful and intentional workplan for the Fellow to contribute to during the four-week fellowship, either in-person or virtually. This work should be relevant to the host organization and fellow’s background, while advancing their professional development. 
• Coordinate engagement opportunities for the fellow to interact with fellow employees and the local community where they are hosted 
• Provide guidance and support for the fellow’s prospective follow-on project 
• Physical and virtual technical support (laptops, any other necessary equipment) in order for fellows to complete their assigned tasks/projects and engage with colleagues at the host organization 

Should the program pivot to a virtual format, host organizations will be responsible for communicating with the fellow to ensure they are engaged in the program, whether the work is in a virtual or in-person format.  

Host organizations are allowed to host for a single cohort or multiple cohorts, as long as there are candidates in each cohort that match the focus and industry of the organization. The fellowships are meant to be individually tailored professional experiences and the Pacific Fellows will have various backgrounds and professional interests that may not be well suited for each organization. If your organization is interested in hosting multiple fellows, please contact our team and we can confirm what opportunities may be available for consecutive fellowships.

Pacific Fellows have diverse backgrounds with career fields ranging from education to information communication technology to conservation policy. Fellows will be paired with host organizations based on their intended follow-on projects and professional goals. Please review the section regarding Eligibility for Pacific Fellows to learn more about the minimum criteria all applicants must meet in order to be selected as a participant in the program.