Deadline: July 20, 2026
Applications are open for the SEACAF Research Fellowships on Empowering Academic Freedom in Southeast Asia 2026. Academic freedom in Southeast Asia is increasingly under threat, closely tied to the region’s broader trend of democratic backsliding. Like other human rights defenders, academics and students who speak out on issues of social justice face constant risk – including state surveillance, administrative penalties, criminalization of dissent, and informal restrictions on what may be taught, researched, or published.
These threats are even more acute in areas affected by armed conflict or where governments invoke national security to justify tighter control over academic spaces. The rise of youth movements in recent years in countries like Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand are the cases in question where they face harsh state repression.
Research Fellowships on Empowering Academic Freedom in Southeast Asia brings together an annual cohort of 6 early-career researchers and advocates for ten to twelve months of structured inquiry, expert mentorship, and peer exchange — producing original research and policy proposals that matter to the region.
Research Themes
For 2026, SEACAF will support six research fellowship that fall under one of the following themes:
- Neoliberal Higher Education and Its Impacts on Academic Freedom: Neoliberal policies governing higher education contribute to the erosion of academic integrity and independence. Grounded in case studies, research under this theme will investigate how such neoliberal higher education affects academic freedom in practice. The findings will inform policy advocacy aimed at securing higher education institutions as space for critical knowledge development and enquiries.
- Developing Regional Indicators for Academic Freedom: The research under this theme will engage stakeholders to design regional context-sensitive indicators and propose mechanisms for academic freedom monitoring in the region. The outcomes will be the basis of SEACAF’s future work to establish a robust academic freedom monitoring and documentation system in Southeast Asia.
- Participatory Action Research for Training Modules on Academic Freedom (OPENED FOR RESEARCH TEAM ONLY): This research theme focuses on collaborative engagement with academic communities and student groups to co-develop training modules on academic freedom. Using participatory action research methods, the fellow will develop training modules and educational materials and test the modules through participatory workshops.
Funding
- Theme 1: Neo-liberal Higher Education – $12,000 per project
- Theme 2: Developing Regional Indicators – $12,000 per project
- Theme 3: Participatory Action Research for Training Modules – $15,000 per project
Eligibility
Individual Researcher
- Applicants should hold at least a Master’s degree (MA, MSc, or equivalent).
- Early-career or mid-career researchers with 3-5 years of relevant research experience.
- Current research or teaching affiliation with a higher education institution, professional association, or research organization.
- Demonstrated interest in academic freedom or related human rights issues in Southeast Asia. Three themes welcome all relevant topics.
- Priority given to researchers from or currently based in Southeast Asia.
- Working proficiency in English is required. Research may be conducted in local languages.
- Ability to lawfully receive stipend funds in the country of current location, taking responsibility for any applicable local tax or reporting obligations.
Team Research
- The team research comprises 3-5 team members.
- Applicants should hold at least a Master’s degree (MA, MSc, or equivalent).
- Early-career or mid-career researchers with 3-5 years of relevant research experience.
- The team members may be PhD or MA students or junior researchers with less than 3 years of research experience.
- Current research or teaching affiliation with a higher education institution, professional association, or research organization.
- Demonstrated interest in academic freedom or related human rights issues in Southeast Asia. Three themes welcome all relevant topics.
- Priority given to researchers from or currently based in Southeast Asia.
- Working proficiency in English is required. Research may be conducted in local languages.
- Ability to lawfully receive stipend funds in the country of current location, taking responsibility for any applicable local tax or reporting obligations.
Application
For more information, visit SEACAF Research Fellowships.
