The Quad Fellowship program, initially designed for STEM students in Australia, India, Japan, and the US, was recently broadened to encompass students from the 10 ASEAN countries. This expansion was disclosed during an event at the White House, commemorating the achievements of the inaugural cohort of Quad Fellows who commenced their scholarship in 2021. The Quad summit in that year prioritized people-to-people exchange in science and technology.
The fellowship offers a one-time $40,000 grant to (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)STEM students pursuing master's or doctoral degrees at accredited US universities. Many students often secure additional funding from their respective universities or departments. The opportunity is open for students from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to apply for the second application cycle, intending to commence as Quad Fellows for the academic year 2024-25. Jonah Kokodyniak, IIE SVP, expressed satisfaction in extending support to students from ASEAN countries, highlighting the commitment of the Quad nations to providing tangible benefits in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Quad Fellowship is administered by IIE, an international non-profit organization in higher education chaired by Allan Goodman. IIE is also responsible for overseeing the prestigious Fulbright program of the US Department of State. Allan Goodman, CEO of IIE, expressed pride in the organization's 105-year history of enabling collaboration across borders and disciplines to address global challenges. He also mentioned IIE's honor in managing the Quad Fellowship, anticipating its continued success and positive global contributions. The initial cohort consisted of 100 fellows, with 25 from each of the founding Quad countries, representing 69 different undergraduate institutions worldwide.
"The objective for the second cohort of the fellowship is to ensure a well-balanced representation of Fellows from the four countries: Australia, India, Japan, and the US as well as from the ASEAN countries," stated Kokodyniak. The expansion is geared towards extending the geographical reach of the fellowship, fostering connections among the upcoming generation of scientists and technologists in the Indo-Pacific region.
