Insight Collaboration Fellowship Program

Each year-long Fellowship begins with a period of training and development before the fellow begins three global placements through which they share the best in conflict management theory and skills.

The community of Insight Fellows has made invaluable contributions to non-profits and the people they serve in almost 40 countries, including working with communities affected by some of the world’s most violent conflicts.

The Insight Fellowship allows exceptional individuals to grow professionally and personally as they study and promote conflict management at non-profits they choose outside of their home country.

The Fellowship supports entrepreneurial individuals with a passion for conflict management to help organizations work more effectively – whether that’s through training teams, conducting research or strengthening pivotal relationships in the field.

Fellows complete the year with strengthened conflict management expertise, significant field experience and increased self-awareness, equipped to pursue their interests as global citizens throughout their personal and professional lives.

PRINCIPLES

1. Communication: Effective communication lies at the heart of the Fellowship. Fellows may put theory into practice by teaching workshops, mediating disputes or improving communication between organizations in conflict.
2. Self-Development: Fellows direct their own learning throughout the year, whether that’s through writing articles or pursuing additional training. Fellows also receive coaching which encourages them to reflect on their own values and personal development.
3. Volunteering: Fellows are expected to offer their time and skills to communities in need, such as working as a teaching assistant or taking part in community projects outside of the core remit of their placement.
4. Entrepreneurship: As self-starters, Fellows help partner organizations become more effective by setting up new business ventures or leading restructure and cultural change within teams.
5. Sustainability: Fellows have an awareness and respect for the different environments, cultures and traditions which they encounter, and work to improve every situation for the better.This includes refilling the pot for the next fellow, building new relationships with individuals and organizations, and caring for the environments they encounter.

What does the Fellowship year involve?

The first three-month placement is held in Concord, Massachusetts at the offices of Insight Collaborative and its sister organisation, Insight Partners. During this placement, Fellows undergo rigorous training and coaching in communication, negotiation and mediation theory and skills. Fellows put learning into practice by observing and assisting Insight Partners consultants, and also gain access to Insight’s network of academics and practitioners. During this period, Fellows often volunteer to support local conflict management organizations, and pursue additional training they may need for their placements, such as language lessons.

The remaining nine months typically include three foreign placements which the Fellows design and arrange during their Concord placement, with guidance from Insight Collaborative. Each Fellow identifies a broad theme upon which they will focus during their Fellowship, such as conflict and the environment, or methods of creating trust.

Within a month of their return from their final placement, Fellows submit a written paper and provide a presentation on their Fellowship experience to Insight Collaborative. Each fellow is expected to submit journal entries to the Insight Collaborative blog during their placements.

How are my placements chosen?

Each Fellow is responsible for researching and securing their placements, which they can choose based upon their own personal interests. It is expected that these placements will be outside of their home country. Insight Collaborative will provide guidance on the choice of these placements based on safety, practicality, and the degree to which they meet the Fellowship Principles.