Desmond and Whitney Shum Fellowship

2010–2011 Competition Announcement

The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies is pleased to announce the Desmond and Whitney Shum Fellowship, which supports graduate students undertaking social science research projects in China. Up to two fellowships will be awarded to Harvard PhD candidates from any school within the university specializing in a field of the social sciences, with preference given to students of government, public policy, public administration, economics, law, and sociology. Award decisions are made by a committee of faculty associated with the Fairbank Center.

Mr. Desmond Shum is the vice chairman and CEO of Airport City Development Corporation and a member of the 11th session of Beijing's Political Consultative Conference. Mr. Shum serves as a member of the standing committee of the Institute of Finance and Banking, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and is the founder of Kaifeng Foundation China. He is also an honorary trustee of Tsinghua University. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance and accounting from University of Wisconsin, Madison, and an executive MBA from a joint program of the Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern University, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Ms. Whitney Duan, wife of Desmond Shum, is the founder and chairman of Kaifeng Foundation, fellow of the All-China Youth Federation, and trustee of the Tsinghua University Strategic Development Advisory Committee. She also serves as executive director of the China Youth Entrepreneur Development Association, trustee of the China Youth Social Education Foundation, and member of the editorial board for the NGO Management Study Magazine. She holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Nanjing University of Science and Technology and an Executive MBA from Tsinghua University. She is pursuing a Ph.D. at the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University.

Fellowship Details:

Maximum stipend for one year: $20,000
Application deadline: March 15, 2010

To download the application click here

Please include with this application the following supporting documents:
• Your research proposal, approximately 2 pages double-spaced
• Budget needs for the research period in China
• A letter of support from your faculty advisor (this can be delivered separately by the faculty member)
• A letter of acceptance from the Chinese host institution, if available

Mail the application and supporting documents to:


Attn: Lydia Chen
Desmond and Whitney Shum Fellowship
Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies
CGIS South Building
1730 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

Tel.: 617-495-4046
Fax: 617-496-2420

Current Shum Fellows