Duolingo And OPSA Launch $30,000 STEM Scholarship
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To foster the participation of Indian women in STEM education and encourage innovation in tier-II and tier-III cities, the Duolingo English Test (DET) has joined hands with the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (OPSA) to launch “The DETermined Scholarship.” This one-time financial grant of $30,000 aims to support Indian women pursuing postgraduate STEM courses at US universities, with a commitment to returning to India to establish startups. The initiative is poised to bridge gender gaps in STEM, offering aspiring women leaders a platform to refine their skills and contribute to India’s scientific and entrepreneurial landscape.
The scholarship targets women holding Indian citizenship, residing in the country, and with a strong academic background in STEM. Eligible candidates must possess a Duolingo English Test score of 120, present an innovative proposal in STEM, and demonstrate their potential to create impactful startups upon completing their education. Applications will be submitted through OPSA’s Manthan portal, with the selection process involving comprehensive reviews and interviews conducted by a jury. Recipients will be announced in September 2025, and selected candidates are expected to enroll in a US university by the spring semester of 2026.
Highlighting the role of international exposure, Kamalika Banerjee of OPSA’s Strategic Alliance Division emphasized that women benefit immensely from studying abroad. “They return equipped with skills to actively participate in the country’s progress,” she stated, adding that the lack of women in research decision-making results in biases and limitations in scientific experimentation. By nurturing women in STEM, such initiatives aim to combat these biases while unlocking the vast potential of India’s talented women.
Carrie Wang, senior director of business at Duolingo, noted the importance of English proficiency for Indian students aspiring to study abroad. “English is the gateway language for students to acquire skills and advance their careers,” she said. She added that DET would gradually expand its support to include Indian languages, enabling even more students to access international opportunities. Meanwhile, Severin Hacker, Duolingo’s founder, observed that English remains the most sought-after language for Indian users, closely followed by European languages like French, Spanish, and German.
The scholarship also emphasizes the need for both institutional and individual support for female candidates. Banerjee stressed that while scholarships provide financial assistance, families play a crucial role in encouraging women to pursue their ambitions. “We need more women role models at every stage,” she said, pointing out that awareness about opportunities remains limited in smaller towns. Talented students in these regions often face barriers despite their capabilities, requiring sustained efforts to reach and uplift them.
The absence of diverse perspectives in research and development hampers innovation, Banerjee explained. Supporting women in STEM helps ensure inclusive ideologies and balanced experimentation in scientific fields. Scholarships like The DETermined Scholarship aim to rectify such disparities by creating a pipeline of empowered women leaders who can drive innovation and build a robust startup ecosystem in India.
Initiatives like this scholarship are vital in addressing systemic gaps, particularly in tier-II and tier-III cities where girls often lack exposure to global opportunities. Banerjee remarked that when support reaches these regions, talented students are eager to seize opportunities. The scholarship hopes to inspire young women to take the lead, contributing to India’s progress as entrepreneurs and innovators.
With its focus on fostering equal opportunities and reducing barriers for women, The DETermined Scholarship is a promising step towards shaping a more inclusive and innovative future for India. By enabling women to gain international exposure and acquire advanced skills, the program underscores the transformative power of education in achieving societal and economic progress.