Are you a Southeast Asia (excluding Indonesia) or Africa scholar committed to challenging colonial legacies and reimagining foundational concepts in the humanities from a Global South perspective?
The Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship, hosted by the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (UI), supported by Gerda Henkel Stiftung, is a critical initiative responding to the persistent dominance of colonial and Eurocentric frameworks in global humanities scholarship. Structural inequities continue to limit opportunities for scholars in the Global South to lead transformative, conceptual interventions, especially by restricting access to vital scholarly exchange, collaboration, and structured research.
This fellowship is explicitly designed to counter these structural limitations by championing South-to-South epistemological experimentation and mainstreaming.
Recognizing UI’s strength as a flagship institution in Southeast Asia and its strategic location at the crossroads of Asia and the Pacific, the program offers an ideal environment to foster deep scholarly engagement. Our core objective is to establish a sustained, collaborative network of humanities scholars dedicated to advancing decolonial thinking. By prioritizing engagement and alternative trajectories beyond North-bound academic pathways, the fellowship provides both material and intellectual support. This effort aims to cultivate a shared academic ecosystem that nurtures experimental, critical humanities and drives the mainstreaming of knowledge grounded in Southern perspectives. This initiative is proudly aligned with and extends the ongoing commitments of the Gerda Henkel Foundation.
The Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship invites mid-career scholars to participate in a transformative program at Universitas Indonesia, a leading institution in Southeast Asia. This initiative offers a unique opportunity to dedicate 6-12 months to research, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination, with an explicit focus on fostering South-to-South scholarly exchange and epistemological mainstreaming.
We seek scholars eager to:
- Experiment: Develop conceptual and methodological frameworks grounded in decolonial thought, leading to new forms of knowledge production.
- Collaborate: Engage with UI faculty and peers to build long-term academic partnerships, particularly between institutions in Southeast Asia and Africa.
- Innovate: Consolidate research into significant academic publications and curricular innovations that shift the center of gravity in humanities discourse.
The fellowship provides a platform to move beyond structural inequities, fostering a collective academic ecosystem where research from the Global South can be rigorously developed, publicly showcased, and fundamentally integrated into the mainstream of global academic debate.
We particularly encourage expressions of interest from mid-career scholars based in academic institutions within Southeast Asia (excluding Indonesia) and African countries with established connections to the Gerda Henkel Foundation network.
Program Objectives
- Advance humanities research by scholars from the Global South, developing conceptual and methodological frameworks grounded in decolonial perspectives.
- Facilitate long-term academic partnerships between institutions in Southeast Asia and Africa
- Enable mid-career scholars to consolidate research into publications and curricular innovations
- Strengthen institutional resources and collaborative teaching within the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Indonesia
Fellowship Design and Activities
The fellowship spans 6-12 months, during which fellows will be based at Universitas Indonesia and actively participate in the host department’s academic activities.
Fellows are eligible for family support, including two return trips (family allowance). This will assist fellows with families and ensure that their participation is more accessible.
The fellowship includes the following components:
1. Colloquiums
Fellows will deliver two colloquiums:
- The first, held in the first month, is a closed session with faculty and peers, focused on the fellow’s research theme.
- The second, a public colloquium near the end of the fellowship, will showcase their findings and provoke broader discussions, and feature expert panelists on the subject.
2. Working Paper Draft
Fellows are expected to produce at least one paper draft related to their fellowship project by the end of the program.
3. Course Seminars and Workshops
- Fellows will be integrated into one of the host department’s courses, offering seminars, workshops, or guest lectures.
- They will collaborate with other lecturers to stimulate debates and engage with students.
4. Developing Collaborative Research Projects
Fellows will work in interdisciplinary teams to design research projects that challenge colonial frameworks and advance decolonial scholarship.
5. Dissemination of Knowledge
Fellows will share their insights through various platforms, including academic journals, digital media, and public events, ensuring accessibility to broader audiences.
Fellow Selection and Outreach
To foster long-term institutional engagement, we aim to target mid-career scholars who already hold positions within academic institutions. Our focus includes scholars from Southeast Asian countries—where we have existing networks and can extend direct invitations to the program—as well as scholars from African countries with whom the Gerda Henkel Foundation has established connections. We will engage potential candidates by inviting expressions of interest, submitting their previous works related to the fellowship’s epistemological agenda, and conducting a screening process to identify those best suited for the fellowship.
Expected Outcomes
- Up to two fellows supported per year
- Scholarly outputs, including academic publications and teaching modules
- Public colloquia, workshops, and open-access dissemination
- Strengthened institutional links across Southeast Asia and Africa
- Enhanced capacity at Universitas Indonesia to host international collaborations.
Fellowship Stipend and Benefit
- Monthly stipend for fellows to cover living costs in Indonesia.
- Visa fees and research stay permit processing.
- Travel costs for international flights (reimbursed up to limit).
- Reimbursement for research-related materials and supplies.
- Grant support for the fellow’s first child under age 18.
- Grant support for each additional child under age 18.
Application Process
Scholars interested in participating in the Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship are invited to submit an expression of interest outlining their academic background and proposed research focus. Applications should demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing decolonial approaches in the humanities and to fostering scholarly collaboration across the Global South.
Applicants are required to submit their application materials via email to maria.rosari11@ui.ac.id with the subject line: Application – Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship – Full Name
Required Application Materials
Applicants should include the following documents in a single email submission:
1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A current academic CV detailing institutional affiliation, research experience, publications, and relevant academic activities.
2. Research Proposal (5 pages maximum)
A concise proposal describing the research project the applicant intends to pursue during the fellowship period, including:
- Research objectives and key questions
- Conceptual or methodological approach
- Expected scholarly outputs (e.g., working papers, publications, teaching modules).
3. Writing Sample (optional but encouraged)
One recent publication or manuscript related to the applicant’s research area.
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by the fellowship selection committee based on academic merit, relevance to the program’s agenda, and the potential for meaningful collaboration with scholars at Universitas Indonesia and partner institutions across Southeast Asia and Africa.
Shortlisted candidates may be invited for further discussion or clarification regarding their proposed research.
Successful applicants will be notified directly via email.
Deadline
30 April 2026 23.59 (GMT+7)
