Frequently Asked Questions
About the Program
What is the goal of the fellowship?
The goal of the fellowship is to provide individuals an opportunity to research and create prototype technology solutions that will benefit the under-served communities in developing countries. and that will be able to continue after the program is over.
What are different types of fellowships?
Reuters Digital Vision Fellowship: Reuters DV Fellows are bound by the following requirements:
- Spending the academic year at Stanford University.
- Participating in weekly seminars and other official activities of the Program.
- Refraining from professional work while attending the Digital Vision Program at Stanford.
- Returning to your company or organization at the end of the fellowship.
The administrative and tuition costs associated with participating in the Reuters Digital Vision Program will be provided by the Reuters Foundation and its co-sponsors. Additionally, DV Fellows are eligible to apply for funding from the Digital Vision Program in support of their prototype development. Reuters Digital Vision Fellows are eligible to apply for a Digital Vision Program Scholarship during the application process.
Corporate Fellowship: In an effort to accommodate full-time employees of technology firms, the Digital Vision program now accepts applications for Corporate Fellowships. Individuals who are awarded Corporate Fellowships may participate fully in the seminars, workshops and other organized activities of the Digital Vision Program (minimally 5-6 hours per week) and Stanford University. Corporate fellows are not required to be on campus full-time, and they may continue to perform their full-time professional duties in their organizations. Each Corporate Fellow is sponsored by their company or organization, which includes a fellowship tuition fee.
Do fellows receive an academic degree?
No. Fellows are awarded certificates upon satisfactory completion of the program.
What types of activities are part of the official program and how many hours does a typical week involve?
Fellows meet once a week to discuss course reading, share about their projects, and provide feedback to each other. The Digital Vision Program also holds weekly seminars with world-class guest speakers from the technology, academic, and nonprofit sectors. DV Fellows also audit courses at Stanford University.
The meeting times are subject to change each year. For the 2005-06 program, DV Fellows meetings are held on Tuesdays from 3:30pm – 5:00pm; Seminars on Thursdays 3:00pm – 5:00pm. Fellows are encouraged to use the remaining hours of the week to audit Stanford classes and participate in campus and Silicon Valley activities or interest, in addition to work on their respective projects.What expectations does the program have of fellows?
DV Fellows are expected to attend all official program activities, including weekly meetings and seminars, orientation, offsite and other special events. Additionally, DV Fellows are expected to implement a project over the course of the fellowship and submit all required deliverables including business plan, project proposals and final report. Corporate Fellows are welcome and encouraged to participate in program activities, but are not required to do so.
What is the exact definition of a Project in this context? Are fellows expected to produce an actual working solution or a concept or feasibility study?
In the jargon of our program, a project is an idea that can be brought to a prototying stage within 9-months by one or more fellows, often working collaboratively with other team members (i.e. students, professors, other industry partners). An ideal project will:
- benefit from being “incubated” at Stanford and within Silicon Valley
- be able to continue after the completion of the fellowship program
- be able to grow or be replicated after a successful pilot
Therefore, a project that is entirely focused on researching business models probably wouldn’t qualify. We want accepted Fellows to do something hands on, rather than just academic/theoretical. However, the problem of finding a viable business model for an open-source platform, for example, is very appropriate for our program. We encourage applicants to combine their research idea with an end product, something that Fellows could test out before leaving the program.
What kind of support will I get for my project?
Fellows participate in regular meetings with the Program Director and other fellows during which they give updates on their progress and receive feedback from their peers. The Program Director also meets frequently with fellows on a one-to-one basis, to give guidance and feedback on project development. Each project is matched up with a Mentor, an individual with a specific expertise relevant to the project, to provide guidance throughout the fellowship. In addition to auditing classes at Stanford, fellows may sign up for extra classes and seminars and join campus groups and listservs. There is also opportunity to collaborate with other Stanford departments. Many fellows have found financial, creative and volunteer resources through social entrepreneurship groups on campus.
What happen to projects after the program ends?
Projects may:
- be sustained by a larger organization
- be taken by a new fellow
- progress by the same fellow (if the project is not completed by the end of the program)
What are some of the DV alumni doing now?
Click here to read updates about our DV alumni and their projects.
What are the dates of the Fellowship?
While the exact dates for 2006-2007 calendar have not been finalized, you can use the 2004/05 term dates for reference:
- Orientation: 8 - 24 September 2004
- Fall term: 27 September to 1 December 2004
- Project travel: 2 - 19 December 2004
- Holiday: 20 December to 3 January 2005
- Winter term: 4 January to 9 March 2005
- Holiday: 10 - 27 March 2005 (can be used for project-related activities or personal holiday)
- Spring term: 28 March 2005 to 8 June 2005
What is my official status on campus?
As a Fellow, you will have Visiting Scholar status at Stanford University. Visiting Scholar status grants you library privileges, the option to audit classes without fee, staff-rate tickets for athletic events, campus parking privileges for a fee, and access to most athletic facilities.
What does “auditing classes at Stanford” mean, and where can I get more information?
With the prior approval of course lecturers, Digital Vision Fellows are allowed to sit in on lectures and seminars run by the University. You will not receive course credit for these courses. For a full list of details on Stanford departments please refer to the Stanford Bulletin. If accepted, you will be provided with a list of course recommendations from past fellows.
Where is the program located?
The Digital Vision Program is located on the second floor of Cordura Hall, which is on the west side of Stanford Campus (at the corner of Panama Street and Campus Drive). Please see this searchable campus map. Stanford is located in the center of Silicon Valley, in the San Francisco Bay Area.
About the Application Process:
Who can apply?
Anyone can apply. Typically, Digital Vision Fellows are at a mid-career stage. Many of them have advanced degrees and/or technology backgrounds. But this profile is not an absolute requirement.
What is the timeline of the application and selection process?
a) When is the application deadline?
The deadline for 2006-2007 applications is Monday, April 3, 2006.b) When will I be notified about the admission decisions?
The Selection Committee meets at Stanford to review applications in the spring. All applicants are notified by the end of May.c) If I am accepted, when will I have to notify the program?
Notification of the program must be given within two weeks of receiving the email acceptance.d) If I am accepted, when do I need to be at Stanford?
The Fellowship Program typically runs from mid-September to mid-June. Please see *** for a more details.What is the difference between a Reuters Digital Vision Fellowship and a Corporate Fellowship?
Reuters Digital Vision Fellowship: Reuters DV Fellows are bound by the following requirements:
- Spending the academic year at Stanford University.
- Participating in weekly seminars and other official activities of the Program.
- Refraining from professional work while attending the Digital Vision Program at Stanford.
- Returning to your company or organization at the end of the fellowship.
The administrative and tuition costs associated with participating in the Reuters Digital Vision Program will be provided by the Reuters Foundation and its co-sponsors. Additionally, DV Fellows are eligible to apply for funding from the Digital Vision Program in support of their prototype development. Reuters Digital Vision Fellows are eligible to apply for a Digital Vision Program Scholarship during the application process.
Corporate Fellowship: In an effort to accommodate full-time employees of technology firms, the Digital Vision program now accepts applications for Corporate Fellowships. Individuals who are awarded Corporate Fellowships may participate fully in the seminars, workshops and other organized activities of the Digital Vision Program (minimally 5-6 hours per week) and Stanford University. Corporate fellows are not required to be on campus full-time, and they may continue to perform their full-time professional duties in their organizations. Each Corporate Fellow is sponsored by their company or organization, which includes a fellowship tuition fee.
What is the difference between a Project Proposal and a Collaboration Proposal?
The main focus of the Reuters Digital Vision Program is the development of its DV projects. The majority of the applications will include an innovative project idea that relates to the program’s mission. However, we do recognize the value of an individual contributing an expertise that can benefit a number of projects. In this case, applicants are welcome to submit the Collaboration Proposal (as part of the Fellowship Essay section of the application).
If I am not accepted, what does this mean?
The Selection Committee’s decisions are final. Applicants who have not been accepted may reapply for a following year.
What if I am accepted and want to defer?
Offers to participate in the program are for the current year only. If you are unable to accept a fellowship offer — for whatever reason — you will need to reapply.
Who do I contact if I encounter problems during the application process?
If a problem arises during the submission process of the application, please contact the Program Administrator.
Especially for International Applicants
What visa do I need?
You need a J-1 via to come to Stanford as a DV Fellow. The paperwork required to apply for this type of visa will be arranged in conjunction with the Digital Vision Program Administrator. You must provide all requested information as promptly as possible to ensure that there are no delays. Reuters Foundation will fund the application process.
It is your responsibility to obtain any visas required for accompanying family members. Please be aware that your J-1 visa does not give an accompanying spouse any employment rights in the US.
J-2 visas can also be arranged by the DV Program Administrator if you will have dependents (i.e. spouses, children) accompanying you.
What accommodation is available?
It is your responsibility to find and secure your own accommodation. A local search site known as craigslist is a useful place to start searching for a room or apartment.
You may choose to stay in a local hotel for the initial few days after your arrival.
For more generic information about housing on and off campus, please refer to the Stanford University site.
I will be taking my young family with me. What about childcare and local schools?
Neither Reuters Foundation nor Digital Vision Program staff will be able to give you any support or advice regarding child care arrangements; however, this website may be useful.
Some prior-year fellows have brought family members with them and successfully sought nursery, school, and childcare placements. It is suggested that you contact the Digital Vision Program Administrator for an introduction to a prior year fellow if you would like to discuss this issue.
What support will I get when I first arrive?
The Program coordinates a “buddy system” to ease your transition to the area. Over the summer, you will be matched with local fellows and alumni. They may be able to pick you up from the airport when you first arrive, answer your questions, and advise you about amenities and resources.
Where can I get additional useful information?
Bechtel International Center and Stanford University is full of information for international fellows. We encourage you to visit their website.
At the start of the Program, you will also be given access to the Digital Vision Fellowship email list and will have the opportunity to correspond with other incoming fellows to exchange news and information on aspects of your relocation such as housing, childcare, and local issues.