The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) was officially launched on October 24, 2024, in Samoa, with His Majesty King Charles III in attendance during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
This innovative and ambitious interdisciplinary programme aims to create significant and lasting changes in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with members of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), with The University of the South Pacific and the University of the West Indies acting as regional centers, along with local and Commonwealth partners, including the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.
The KCFP seeks to enhance capacity in vital sectors such as education, health, and disaster resilience engineering. It will equip local authorities and civil service teams with practical tools and knowledge necessary for fostering long-term resilience in response to interconnected development challenges.
By establishing a network of “King’s Fellows,” the programme will promote partnerships, knowledge exchange, and collaborative solutions among Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Professor Pal Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, co-hosted the launch ceremony along with staff and around 50 students representing member countries of USP.
Professor Ahluwalia highlighted the KCFP as a pivotal milestone in enhancing capacity and access to education across SIDS. He expressed excitement about the initiative launched by King Charles III and mentioned that USP is thrilled to serve as a regional hub in partnership with ACU and the University of the West Indies for the programme’s implementation.
He emphasized the programme’s potential to develop a highly skilled workforce, which is vital for fostering innovation, diversifying economies, and achieving sustainable development in SIDS. Additionally, he thanked the ACU for making the KCFP a reality.
The KCFP falls under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, which has positively impacted over 38,000 individuals since its establishment by Commonwealth education ministers in 1959.
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