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 program seeks to create significant, long-lasting impacts in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. It 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 as regional hubs, along with other local and Commonwealth partners, including the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.
The KCFP aims to enhance capacity in key sectors such as education, health, and disaster resilience engineering. It will equip local authorities and civil service teams with essential tools and knowledge to promote enduring resilience through a holistic approach to various developmental challenges.
By establishing a network of “King’s Fellows,” the program will encourage partnerships, knowledge exchange, and collaborative solutions among Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
At the launch, the Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, co-hosted the event with staff and around 50 students from USP’s member countries.
Professor Ahluwalia remarked that the KCFP represents a significant step in building capacity and improving access to education across SIDS. He highlighted the initiative as an exciting endeavor by King Charles III, emphasizing USP’s role as a regional hub and key partner alongside ACU and the University of the West Indies in implementing the program.
He noted the program’s potential to develop a skilled workforce that is vital for fostering innovation, economic diversification, and sustainable development in SIDS. Additionally, he thanked the ACU for their efforts in bringing the KCFP to life.
The KCFP will operate 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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