India has unveiled an exciting new initiative offering scholarships, valued at $500,000 (Rs 4,17,40,225), for 50 Indo-Pacific students enrolling in a 4-year undergraduate engineering programme at a Government of India-funded technical institution.
Starting in 2024, the initiative will expand to include master’s and doctoral students, allowing them to study STEM subjects in the United States.
This move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the recent Quad Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, alongside global leaders like US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The Quad is a strategic alliance involving Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.
“The fellowship develops a network of science and technology experts committed to advancing innovation and collaboration in the private, public, and academic sectors, in their own nations and among Quad countries,” reads the official website.
“The program builds foundational understanding among Quad Fellows of one another’s societies and cultures through programming and networking opportunities with each country’s top scientists, technologists, and politicians,” it adds.
These scholarships are part of a larger mission to deepen ties between Quad countries by fostering innovation and cultural understanding, and boost collaboration in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) across Quad countries.
FELLOWSHIP MANAGEMENT AND ELIGIBILITY
The prestigious Institute of International Education (IIE), a not-for-profit global organisation, will manage the scholarships. The IIE is renowned for supporting international students and facilitating global academic exchange.
For the Master’s and Doctoral programmes, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a citizen or legal permanent resident of one of the Quad countries (Australia, India, Japan, the U.S.) or a Southeast Asian nation.
- Have completed a bachelor’s degree.
Successful candidates will receive a one-time financial grant of $40,000 (Rs 33,39,218) to cover academic expenses.
A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR STEM LEADERS
The programme aims to build a community of STEM experts who will drive innovation in both the private and public sectors.
It also emphasises the importance of cross-cultural exchange by offering opportunities for scholars to connect with top scientists, technologists, and political leaders from the Quad nations.
The Quad fellowship stands as a symbol of the shared commitment of these countries to shaping a more collaborative future.
