India has unveiled a new initiative to offer 50 Quad scholarships, amounting to $500,000 (approximately Rs 4.17 crore), for students from the Indo-Pacific region to pursue a four-year undergraduate engineering programme at a Government of India-funded technical institution. This announcement was part of the Wilmington Declaration Joint Statement issued by the leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.
"The Quad is committed to strengthening the deep and enduring ties between our people, and among our partners. Through the Quad Fellowship, we are building a network of the next generation of science, technology, and policy leaders," the statement declared. The leaders further acknowledged the role of the Institute of International Education (IIE) in implementing the Quad Fellowship, with the support of private sector partners like Google, the Pratt Foundation, and Western Digital.
"India is pleased to announce a new initiative to award fifty Quad scholarships, worth $500,000, to students from the Indo-Pacific to pursue a 4-year undergraduate engineering program at a Government of India-funded technical institution," the statement mentioned.
This announcement follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the Quad Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, alongside U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
About Quad Fellowship
Starting in 2024, the fellowship programme also extends to master’s and doctoral students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the United States. The programme, administered by the IIE, aims to foster collaboration and innovation in the private, public, and academic sectors across the Quad nations.
The official Quad Fellowship website 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."
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Eligibility Criteria For Quad Fellowship And Application
Eligibility for the fellowship extends to candidates from the four Quad nations—Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—as well as 10 Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Selected candidates are expected to exhibit academic excellence and a commitment to using their skills for the collective good. Each fellow will receive a financial grant of $40,000 (Rs 33.39 lakh) to cover academic expenses.
It must be noted that eligibility criteria for scholarships to fifty undergraduate engineering students have yet to be revealed.
According to the general guidelines on the website, Applicants must:
Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
Be citizens or legal permanent residents of one of the Quad countries - Australia, India, Japan, or the United States - or any of the 10 Southeast Asian countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, or Vietnam.
Have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a STEM field by August 2024.
Have a demonstrated record of superior academic achievement at the undergraduate level.
Prospective Graduate students: Must have already applied to an eligible STEM graduate program at a US-based university to begin the 2024-2025 academic year.
Current Graduate students at US universities: If applicants are currently enrolled in a Master's or PhD program in the US, they must be enrolled full-time in an eligible STEM graduate program for the full 2024-2025 academic year.
Clinical healthcare degree programs such as doctorates of medicine or Masters of nursing are ineligible.
While applications for the current year are closed, prospective candidates can stay updated through the official Quad Fellowship website: https://www.quadfellowship.org/apply.
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