The Bai Xian Project Award (‘the Award’) was launched in 2021 and invites both Bai Xian Scholars and Alumni to pitch ideas for short-term projects (spanning three to eight months) related to one of three areas: social innovation, intercultural exchange, or East Asia research. Projects may be in any format (including but not limited to: research papers, educational seminars, volunteer work, field trips, virtual platforms, and proposals that tackle social issues) but should involve innovative, educational, and/or intercultural components. Every year, the Award selects a maximum of five projects to support, with winning teams receiving funding of up to USD 4,000 each.
Project Areas
| Social Innovation | Projects may involve but are not limited to: business, new media, technology, virtual platforms, volunteer work, tackling social issues in Asia, etc. The award aims to provide partial support for the entire project cost. |
| Intercultural Exchange | Projects may involve but are not limited to: field trips, educational seminars, conferences, volunteer work, etc. The award aims to provide partial support for the entire project cost. |
| East Asia Research | Projects may involve but are not limited to: research papers, seminars, conferences, research field trips, etc. The award aims to provide partial support for the entire project cost. |
Support from BXAI
- BXAI will help facilitate connections between scholars and alumni. Participants are also encouraged to take advantage of the Bai Xian LinkedIn group as a platform for networking and exchange.
- Potential two-hour virtual business training for participants (depending on need).
- Mentorship/project support from BX community members may be arranged according to need.
The Award was founded on the spirit and vision of the Bai Xian Alumni Initiative Award (AIA), which was designed to encourage Bai Xian Alumni to develop socially responsible action plans that address challenges faced by Asia’s communities, environments, and economies. The AIA ran from 2017 to 2019 and supported three winning teams in their respective endeavors to make a positive impact. Having witnessed the enthusiasm of alumni and scholars to realize their visions for change over the years, BXAI introduced the Award in 2021 to better support young aspiring leaders in their efforts to transform ideas into action. Through a restructured framework and shortened project timeline, the Award aims to encourage more participation from scholars and alumni and facilitate achievement of tangible results, all the while maintaining the essence and objectives of the AIA.
- Project leaders must be BX Scholars or Alumni (all former participants of the BXAI Summer Program are considered alumni).
- Teams should consist of three to six members. Leaders are encouraged to form teams with fellow BX Scholars/Alumni.
- Projects should align with one of the listed project areas, i.e. social innovation, intercultural exchange, or East Asia research.
- (Optional) Teams may choose to propose project ideas that were presented during the Final Presentations from previous BXAI Summer Programs.
Note: BXAI reserves the right to determine the eligibility of each submission based on the above requirements.
Special Notes
- Selected teams shall provide an update of their progress three months after project kickoff date. Projects must kick off within six months of the announcement of award results. The project must be completed within 1 year since the kick-off date.
- Funding will be disbursed in two installments, subject to satisfactory project execution and mid-term progress report. BXAI reserves the right to determine disbursement arrangements for each team, depending on performance.
- Project leaders and teams (comprising the same members) are allowed to apply for the BXPA a maximum of three times (either based on the same or a new project idea).
- Selected teams will be invited to share on BXAI platforms in the near future. They are also required to support the future awardees.
- BXAI reserves the right to final decision regarding all matters relating to the Award.
Tips
- Be realistic
- Be mindful of project needs when forming your team so that each member is able to contribute his/her unique skills and talents
- Ensure your project plan is clear and concise
- Consider your personal capacity and time commitment
- Be accountable for your proposed deliverables
- Consider the added complexity of collaborating with people in different cities
The first round of applications for the Bai Xian Project Award 2025 will start on October 28, 2024.
The Bai Xian Project Award 2024 Winning Teams
Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Bai Xian Project Award: Asia Nexus, Cultural Fusion Squad, Double Green, Rural Reimagined, and URBANovation! We are thrilled to be supporting these five teams in their short-term projects and look forward to seeing the fruits of their efforts.
The Bai Xian Project Award 2023 Winning Teams
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Bai Xian Project Award: East Asia Youth Leaders Summit, ESG in East Asia, Hi-Tech, and Team of Preservation and Innovation!
The Bai Xian Project Award 2022 Winning Teams
Congrats to Hi-Tech and WasteDucation – our winners of the 2022 Bai Xian Project Award (BXPA)! After its successful launch last year, the BXPA is proud to have supported another cycle of short-term projects initiated by BX Scholars and Alumni. Scroll through to learn more about the project ideas of this year’s winning teams, and stay tuned for details on the next cycle, which will be announced this fall!
The Bai Xian Project Award 2021 Winning Teams
Congratulations to Archi-Culture, Hi-Tech, and iEA – winners of the first cycle of the Bai Xian Project Award (BXPA)! Launched this year, the BXPA aims to support BX Scholar/Alumni-led short-term projects within the areas of social innovation, intercultural exchange, or East Asia research. Stay tuned for updates on next cycle’s application details and timeline!
Great Tips from BX People
Thinking about applying for the Bai Xian Project Award? Check out some great tips from BX People for more inspiration!
To learn more, please contact BXAI at [email protected].