American varsity starts A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Fellowship

An American university has started doctoral grants for Indian students to honour late former president of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who visited the institution in 2012.

University of South Florida (USF) launched the Kalam Fellowship worth $156,000 (Rs.1,03,71,660) for students who wish to pursue Ph.D. in specified fields of science and engineering at the institution.

"Dr. Kalam left an indelible mark on the academic community, one that will now sustain over time through this most prestigious Kalam Fellowship," Ralph Wilcox, the head of USF, said here on Wednesday at the global higher education summit of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Fellowship holders would receive a tuition fee waiver amounting to $84,500 (Rs.5,621,528) in four years, plus a stipend of $18,000 (Rs.1,197,511) per year, he said.

USF already has 800 Indian students enrolled for this year and expects the fellowship, which takes effect in 2016-2017, to attract more.

"Dr. Kalam was an honoured visitor to the University of South Florida, and he spoke at great lengths about the importance of green energy and sustainability," Wilcox recalled.