Introduction
All participants in DKI APCSS long courses complete a Project, a demonstration of expertise, in which they put their knowledge, skills and new learning into practice. Fellows collaborate and network with peers, faculty and experts as they build relationships and mutual understanding. The process of sharing perspectives on local, national, and regional security opportunities naturally strengthens collegial networks and conveys a deeper understanding of the ideals of rules-based order and a free and open Indo-Pacific. Bringing their considerable experience to bear, fellows research their topic to become more situationally aware, analyze it to generate viable options, and employ critical thinking as they develop practical recommendations.
Objectives
- Expand capacity for critical thinking
- Practice querying, dialogue, cooperation, and connecting with key stakeholders
- Hone inquiry skills for future work
- Produce outcomes of real-world value
Types of Projects
- Insight: Analyze, identify gaps and opportunities, and recommend improvements
- Innovation: Research a specific problem or issue and recommend a new solution
- Impact: Evaluate the effectiveness, assess impact, and recommend improvements
- Feasibility: Analyze costs, benefits, stakeholders, risks, and challenges and recommend improvements
- Comparison: Compare across agencies, countries, etc., and recommend best practices
- Strategy: Develop a strategic action plan to implement a specific policy or program, including timelines, performance metrics, and resource requirements
- Perception: Survey opinions, analyze the results, and recommend improvement for policy makers
- Mitigation: Identify potential risks and challenges, develop a risk management plan to mitigate those risks
- Optimization: Conduct a cost-benefit analysis on tangible and intangible items and recommend optimizations
- Promotion: Develop a communication strategy with key messages, target audiences, and channels
Project Phases
Fellows Project | Cohort Projects | ||
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Before Course |
Attend APCSS virtual meetings. Consult your leadership to select a security topic that will benefit your agency | Attend APCSS virtual meetings.
Government agency, U.S. Embassy and DKI-APCSS agree on a topic and pick a team of 3-6 fellows |
|
Topic must be a security-related opportunity or challenge Well-known to you Important to your workplace, organization, or state Possible to resolve/improve Non-classified Adequate resources exist |
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During Course | Individual study with presentations to other fellows | Group study Presentations to Leadership and Seminar | |
After Course | Fellows execute their recommendations or plan Fellows attend virtual status sessions at 2, 6, 10 mth Fellows report on completion |
Cohort implements project Cohort receives mentoring as required Cohort reports on completion |
Latest News and Guest Speakers
Alumnus Erich Meier Jr. Completes Fellowship Project Focusing on Human Rights
Erich Meier Jr. graduated from the Comprehensive Security Cooperation (CSC) course in March of 2022. While he was eager to complete his Fellow’s Project on maritime security, he soon discovered that his project [...]
Mr. Krishna Bahadur Raut Receives the 2021 ‘Alumni of the Year’ award
DKI APCSS recognized Raut’s contributions as an alumnus who significantly improved the peace and security within his country of Nepal and in the Indo-Pacific Region. Raut’s Fellows Project resulted in seven new provincial emergency operation centers. He drafted eight of the fifteen laws required to support the expansion of the EOCs. He also played an instrumental role in passing significant policies that included the Disaster Management Act, Risk Reduction Policy, and the National Strategic Action Plan.
Alumnus Dr. Novil Wijesekara speaks at the Comprehensive Security Cooperation 22-1
As part of his participation in CMC, Dr. Wijesekara began implementing a Fellows Project titled, “Build the Capacity of Religious Leaders to Prevent Violent Extremism in Sri Lanka through a Public Health Approach.” Due to the ongoing pandemic he was forced to redirect his efforts to produce a workshop titled, “COVID-19 and Beyond.” In partnership with DKI APCSS, he designed the workshop, recruited speakers and participants, served as a speaker, and co-hosted the event. The workshop participants presented South Asia perspectives on COVID-19 prevention and mitigation. The participants shared best practices in responding to the pandemic and identified common challenges that the countries of South Asia were facing.