The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) was officially launched on October 24, 2024, by His Majesty King Charles III in Samoa, coinciding with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
This innovative and ambitious interdisciplinary initiative is aimed at creating transformative, long-term outcomes across the Caribbean and Pacific regions. The programme will be executed in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), with the University of the South Pacific and the University of the West Indies acting as regional hubs, alongside other local and Commonwealth partners such as the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.
The KCFP focuses on enhancing capacity in vital sectors including education, health, and disaster resilience engineering. It seeks to equip local authorities and civil service teams with practical tools and knowledge to build lasting resilience through a comprehensive approach to development challenges.
Through the establishment of a distinguished network of “King’s Fellows,” the initiative will promote partnerships, knowledge exchange, and collaborative problem-solving among Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, co-hosted the launch ceremony along with staff and roughly 50 students representing USP’s member countries. During the event, Professor Ahluwalia emphasized that the launch of the KCFP marks a significant step in capacity building and improving access to education in SIDS.
“This initiative, spearheaded by His Majesty King Charles III, is truly exciting, and USP is proud to serve as a regional hub and key partner with ACU and the University of the West Indies to implement the KCFP,” stated Professor Ahluwalia. He noted that the programme could develop a highly skilled workforce, essential for fostering innovation, economic diversification, and sustainable development in SIDS.
Professor Ahluwalia also expressed his appreciation to the ACU for realizing the KCFP. The programme will operate under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, which has positively impacted the lives of over 38,000 individuals since it was established by Commonwealth education ministers in 1959.
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