The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) has announced the opening of applications for the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) PhD pathway. Inspired by King Charles III’s commitment to addressing pressing global challenges, including climate change and inequality, this initiative aims to tackle urgent economic, social, and environmental issues impacting Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The KCFP PhD Fellowships offer an important chance for academic personnel and Commonwealth SIDS professionals with a Master’s degree or equivalent experience. The fellowship caters for individuals undertaking a PhD in four important subject fields: climate change and environment, education, engineering, or health. This track enables fellows to remain employed in their countries of origin while receiving joint supervision from a designated partner university in the Commonwealth, mostly from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom. This mechanism provides scholars with access to periods of study and research training overseas while actively engaged in their communities.

The fellowship offers considerable financial and academic support to recipients. Each fellow will be awarded GBP 30,000 over a period of six years, or GBP 5,000 annually, to help cover research and travel to partner universities. In addition, a GBP 12,000 research support grant, broken down into GBP 2,000 annually, is available to support their studies. To provide economic security for both the employer and candidate, the program also provides a 20% contribution to the employer of the PhD candidate over six years. Another major advantage is international tuition fee waiver where applicable. Apart from funding, fellows will also be provided with exclusive joint PhD supervision from both the partner institution and their home university. They will also gain access to various training sessions for professional development, including public speaking, policy engagement, entrepreneurship, and research grant applications.

Professor Colin Riordan, secretary general of the ACU, pointed out the importance of the programme in enhancing research capacity in Commonwealth island nations. He noted that the fellowship presents a special chance for SIDS talented individuals to pursue PhD studies while maintaining their professional careers. He also added that it is vital to upskill university academic staff resident in SIDS universities and “train the trainers” of future researchers and leading workers for the long-term prosperity and sustainability of these countries. Through research skills development and academic advancement, the programme will contribute to improving the well-being and resilience of SIDS communities so that they are capable of responding to local issues.

A number of high-level institutions have come aboard to support this initiative, including Canada’s Western University. President and vice-chancellor of Western University, Dr Alan Shepard, welcomed collaborating on the fellowship programme. “Western University is glad to be included in this coalition of visionary universities dedicated to transforming people and societies,” he said. He highlighted the university’s commitment to supporting Commonwealth SIDS scholars, offering them opportunities for learning, partnership, and capacity development. Shepard also pointed out Western’s wider commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and global citizenship and that the fellowship supports the university’s objectives of finding solutions to significant global problems as well as helping in sustainable development efforts.

Fiji National University (FNU) is another central player in the fellowship programme. Centre for Graduate Studies dean and Professor NII-K Plange emphasized the link between the fellowship and the general vision of FNU. He said FNU’s involvement in the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme enhances its status as a foremost dual-sector university and centre of excellence in vocational training and higher education. In the opinion of Plange, the fellowship boosts the capacity of the university to offer relevant training and skills development for the country and the entire region so that its graduates can effectively deal with the challenges confronting their communities.

The ACU, well known for its leadership in the administration of international scholarships and fellowships, is administering the provision of the KCFP. The programme has had the backing of its founder member, the Khalili Foundation, which has been instrumental in facilitating the initiative.

This fellowship is a major step towards the encouragement of the research aspirations of Small Island Developing States individuals. By investing in the professional and educational development of scholars from these countries, the programme seeks to create a network of experts who can tackle key global challenges. Through partnerships between home institutions and top universities in the Commonwealth, the KCFP PhD pathway allows scholars to hone their research skills while staying grounded in their local communities.

Applications for the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme PhD route are now available. Prospective applicants can learn more about eligibility, deadlines, and submission on the ACU website at www.acu.ac.uk/kcfp-phds.