The major gift from the Sohmen-Pao Foundation will support the KCFP PhD Fellowships and Undergraduate Scholarships as one of the first initiatives supported by the new Foundation.
Inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, and his life’s work to create opportunity and to tackle contemporary challenges including climate change and inequality, KCFP has been developed by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) in response to urgent economic, social and environmental development challenges affecting Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
SIDS are among the most vulnerable countries in the world, facing numerous economic and environmental shocks, youth out-migration and skills shortages in public services, and experiencing disproportionate and deeply damaging effects of climate change.
Recognising the urgency in strengthening their resilience and capacity to tackle these intersecting development challenges, the Sohmen-Pao Foundation will support KCFP by helping to fund PhD Fellowships and Undergraduate Scholarships over the next six years.
The Sohmen-Pao Foundation’s mission is to invest in talent for a better society. The foundation is supporting KCFP as an important initiative to improve access to education and strengthen local communities.
Resilient communities are built with local talent, and we are pleased to be giving individuals the opportunity to develop skills that can be applied in their home country to address important challenges.
Professor Colin Riordan CBE, ACU's Secretary General and Chief Executive said: “On behalf of all future King’s Fellows and Scholars, we are humbled and deeply grateful for the contribution made by the Sohmen-Pao Foundation. Emphasising local impact and retaining skills and talent in SIDS regions, with the support of this gift, the KCFP will further strengthen climate resilience, build capacity in education, health and engineering, and develop resilient public services and the skills of those who support them.”
The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme is delivered by the ACU, a global organisation with over 100 years’ experience of delivering transformative educational opportunities, and a network of over 400 universities in more than 40 countries.
The Programme is part of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan which has created life-changing opportunities for more than 38,000 individuals since it was founded by Commonwealth Ministers of Education in 1959.