QUAD leaders launch Quad fellowship programme for graduate STEM degrees in the US

Tags: International News

A new Quad fellowship program has been launched by the leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the US at the Quad Summit in Tokyo on 24 May.

• Under the program, 100 students from member countries will be sponsored to study in the US for undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

• This fellowship will act as a bridge connecting the four countries and will empower these countries to provide leadership to address the many challenges faced by them in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.

• The Quad Fellowship application is live and will be open till June 30.

• The first classes of Quad Fellows will arrive on campus in the autumn of 2023.

• Each Fellow will receive a one-time award of $50,000 that can be used for tuition, research, fees, books and related educational expenses (eg, registration fees, research-related travel).

• About Quad

• This is known as the 'Quadrilateral Security Dialogue' (QSD).

• It is an informal strategic forum comprising four nations - United States of America (USA), India, Australia and Japan. 

• It aims to work for a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

• The first meeting of the Quad was held in 2007 on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

• The Quad Summit provides an opportunity for leaders to exchange views on the development of the Indo-Pacific region and current global issues of mutual interest.

• Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first to consider the formation of the Quad in 2007.