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Duolingo English Test Launches DETermined Scholarship for Indian Women in STEM

By TheCSRUniverse Team Published 22 Jan 2025

L to R: Severin Hacker, Co-founder and CTO, Duolingo, Carrie Wang, Senior Director, Head of Growth, Duolingo English Test, and Dr. Kamalika Banerjee, Strategic Alliances Division, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India

New Delhi, January 22, 2025: The Duolingo English Test (DET) has announced the launch of the DETermined Scholarship, a $30,000 initiative aimed at supporting Indian women in STEM fields. Developed in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, the scholarship will fund tuition fees for one master’s degree student at a U.S. university that accepts the DET for the Spring 2026 semester.

The scholarship was unveiled at a press conference in New Delhi, where Severin Hacker, Co-founder and CTO of Duolingo, emphasized the initiative’s goal of fostering gender diversity in STEM. He stated, “Providing opportunities to students is key to unlocking their potential. By supporting talented women in STEM, we are not only helping them realize their dreams but also contributing to a more inclusive and innovative future for India and the world.”

Dr. Sapna Poti, Director of Strategic Alliances at the PSA’s office, highlighted the government’s role in advancing women’s participation in STEM, which now stands at 42.6% according to the University Grants Commission. She remarked, “The Office of the PSA is deeply committed to empowering women in STEM to foster diversity and drive innovation. By making English testing more accessible, the DET opens doors to premier institutions, empowering women to contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat.”

Key Features of the Scholarship
- Mentorship: Finalists will receive guidance from STEM experts.
- Selection Process: A three-step process including an application phase, a STEM impact proposal challenge, and a final interview.
- Eligibility: Open to Indian women with a bachelor’s degree in STEM, leadership experience, and a vision for contributing to India’s innovation landscape.

Applications will open in June 2025 via the Manthan portal, with the winner to be announced in September 2025.