The Global Affiliates Program (GAP), formerly known as the Corporate Affiliate Visiting Fellows Program, was established at Shorenstein APARC in 1982 to strengthen connections among Asia researchers and Asian leaders from the private and public sectors with mutual interest in furthering U.S.-Asia collaboration. Membership in the program enables affiliate organizations to send qualified personnel to Stanford as visiting fellows with APARC for a year of research, education, and enrichment. Visiting fellows participate in the work of the Center, interact daily with specialists and scholars from Stanford and abroad, and expand their networks of U.S. and international counterparts, while learning about American life and institutions. GAP is not a degree-granting program.

 

Shorenstein APARC accepts nominated visiting fellows from organizations that have joined the Center as GAP affiliates on a space-available basis. We encourage member organizations to nominate representatives whose research interests coincide with the Center’s own research agenda. We request that all visiting fellows actively participate in program and Center-wide activities, and, at the end of the academic year, submit a research paper and give an oral presentation to the APARC community, both in English.

 

The GAP schedule mirrors the Stanford academic calendar, beginning in September and ending in June, and is designed to give the participants flexibility to pursue research and academic topics of their interest. Visiting fellows are not enrolled in a degree-granting program within the University.

 

All communication for GAP is conducted in English, so it is vital that participants have adequate command of English to maximize their experience. An official test score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), preferably of 89 or higher (or equivalent test), is required for admission.

 

Stanford University offers an intensive summer program in spoken and written English. Although optional, many of our visiting fellows participate in this six-week program that usually begins in early July. Its cost to the visitor/affiliate organization is additional to and separate from the affiliate membership fee.

 

Program affiliation fee (per visiting scholar):

 

The membership fees paid by affiliate organizations provide support for research and other activities at Shorenstein APARC as well as for GAP operations, and covers basic research and administrative expenses of the affiliate representative at Stanford.

 

The affiliate organization is responsible for the costs of travel to and from Stanford and for all other living expenses, including housing, mandatory health insurance coverage, and tuition for English classes (if applicable). For visa purposes, visitors are required to provide evidence of a minimum amount of money available to cover expenses.