We are delighted to be part of the new Commonwealth Fellowship Programme announced today by our Royal Patron King Charles III. It fits so well with our ongoing commitment to service, international partnerships and seeking solutions to major challenges such as climate change. We look forward to welcoming the first PhD students from the programme into our global King’s community.
Professor ‘Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President (International, Engagement & Service)
24 October 2024
King's part of new fellowship programme helping islands on the front line of climate change
King’s College London is one of the partnership universities of a new Commonwealth fellowship programme announced by King Charles III today.
The new King’s Commonwealth Fellowship programme (KCFP) has been established in response to the urgent economic, social and environmental development challenges affecting Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
King’s, as one of the partner universities in the programme, will support PhD students who will remain in their home countries, contributing to their local communities, while also studying part time for their doctorate.
King Charles III is Royal Patron of King’s College London, and the new programme reflects his support for the role of education and scholarship in strengthening the capacity and resilience of Commonwealth nations. It also aligns with King’s enhanced support for doctoral researchers through the recent launch of King’s Doctoral College.
The fellowship programme, which will be run by the Association of Commonwealth Universities, of which the King is also patron, aims to support small island countries that are on the front line of climate change, are working to diversify their economies and have large youth populations susceptible to ‘brain drain’. For such countries, development challenges include not only responding to education and health inequalities but building infrastructure for disaster resilience.
The new programme was officially launched by the King at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, as part of his current Royal Tour of Australia and Samoa with Queen Camilla.
There is so much we can learn from one another as we work together within the Commonwealth to tackle the major challenges of our age and, as these fellowships do in Small Island Developing States, to address them where they are felt most acutely.
King Charles III
Doctoral researchers have real impact on their home communities so we are excited to see what these fellows will achieve. Our Doctoral College will empower them to achieve their ambitions.
Dr Nigel Eady, Director of Research Talent
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Vice President (International, Engagement & Service)
Director of Research Talent