The ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship (ACYLS) Program is an initiative in response to the call of the leaders of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and ASEAN Member States (AMS) to strengthen educational cooperation and people-to-people ties between China and ASEAN. By offering various opportunities to ASEAN nationals to study in top Chinese universities, it will contribute to ASEAN community building as well as mutual understanding and friendship between China and ASEAN towards a closer community of a shared future.

Announced by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the 21st ASEAN-China Summit held in Singapore on 14 November 2018, ACYLS has been warmly received and supported by all AMS. This program is funded by the Chinese government through the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund(ACCF), and aims to support ASEAN nationals particularly young leaders of the future with working experience to study for Master’s and doctoral degrees, undertake short-term (5 months) research programs, and participate in training courses focusing on specific areas in top Chinese universities.

The program is being implemented through the “Jakarta channel” with joint collaboration among the Mission of the PRC to ASEAN, Permanent Mission of the country coordinator of ASEAN-China relations and the ASEAN Secretariat. A joint committee was formed in 2019 and a Terms of Reference and a guidebook were formulated to guide the implementation and management of the program, including procedures and qualifications for selecting ACYLS awardees.

In 2019, ACYLS was officially launched at the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting in August in Bangkok, Thailand. Over 20 ASEAN nationals were selected and awarded the Scholarship as the first batch and started to pursue their PhD and master’s degree studies in China. More than 70 ASEAN nationals participated in two ACYLS capacity building training workshops hosted by Peking University and Communication University of China respectively within the year. The Opening Ceremony of ACYLS 2019 was held in Peking University on 15 October 2019.

In 2020, despite great challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with joint efforts of all parties, recruitment of new ACYLS awardees went on smoothly and a total of 37 students from eight ASEAN member states have been admitted for doctoral and master degree studies as well as short-term exchange program by 19 top Chinese universities. The Opening Ceremony of ACYLS 2020 was held online on 20 October 2020, with ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Deputy Secretary General Mr. Kung Phoak, SOM leader of the Philippines Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Undersecretary of Education of the Philippines H.E. Jesus L.R. Mateo on behalf of the Chair of ASEAN Education Ministers' Meeting as well as a number of other dignitaries sending congratulations and best wishes to ACYLS awardees as they would embark on a new journey.

Here is the link for application: https://www.campuschina.org/content/details3_380333.html