The Quad governments, comprising the United States, Australia, India, and Japan, are providing fellowships for students from both the Quad and ASEAN countries to pursue STEM studies in the United States. "The program sponsors exceptional master's and doctoral students to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the United States", Executive Vice President, Program Development and partner Services at Institute of International Education (IIE) Jonah Kokodyniak, said in a virtual interview.
The fellowship, in partnership with IIE, a global organization renowned for administering prestigious scholarship programs worldwide, aims to cultivate a network of science and technology experts dedicated to advancing innovation and collaboration across private, public, and academic sectors for the common good. "The program builds foundational understanding among Quad fellows of one another, society, and cultures through programming and networking opportunities with each country's top scientists, technologists, and politicians", he informed.
Apart from assisting highly skilled researchers, they are also seeking individuals dedicated to collaborative efforts in crucial fields such as climate change, public health, and leveraging artificial intelligence for societal benefit. The inaugural cohort of the fellowship included students from the Quad countries: Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.
At the same time, they have extended the program to include 10 ASEAN countries, including Indonesia. This expansion not only widens the program's geographic reach but also emphasizes its dedication to producing tangible benefits for the Indo-Pacific region. "We received a high volume of applications from nearly every ASEAN country during this outreach cycle, demonstrating the significant demand in the region and the ASEAN countries for US higher education and scientific collaboration", Kokodyniak said.
He further said that the IIE is currently in the process of selecting candidates for the fellowship. "We are in that selection process correctly. So in about a month, we will announce the fellows", he informed. Those interested in obtaining the fellowship can access registration-related information on the quadfellowship.org webpage. "We're currently selecting the second cohort of students. And in 2025, we will be selecting the third cohort of applicants", he said.
In the meantime, a US official emphasized the Quad partners' commitment to delivering concrete benefits to students from ASEAN countries. "Earlier this year, Quad partners came together to expand eligibility for the Quad Fellowship to students from Southeast Asia, which reflects the Quad's commitment to delivering concrete benefits for our partners throughout ASEAN", the official said. "We are very pleased that so many talented students from Southeast Asia applied for this prestigious fellowship", he added.
