Issue 6 - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United ...
Issue 6 - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United ...
Issue 6 - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United ...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
SCHOLARS’ NEWS<br />
The environment and susta<strong>in</strong>able development are issues at <strong>the</strong> centre of debates about <strong>the</strong> success of<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational development. In recent years, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Commonwealth</strong> <strong>Scholarship</strong> <strong>Commission</strong> has shown its<br />
commitment to <strong>the</strong>se issues by support<strong>in</strong>g programmes which have focussed on a wide range of areas,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g environmental protection and preservation, ecology, water and waste management and<br />
broader aspects of susta<strong>in</strong>ability.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce 2002, <strong>the</strong> CSC has offered over 30<br />
Professional Fellowships to candidates<br />
nom<strong>in</strong>ated by <strong>the</strong> Environment Agency,<br />
giv<strong>in</strong>g mid-career environment officers <strong>in</strong><br />
develop<strong>in</strong>g countries <strong>the</strong> opportunity to ga<strong>in</strong><br />
relevant skills and build l<strong>in</strong>ks with organisations<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UK.<br />
Ruth Lugwisha<br />
<strong>Commonwealth</strong> Professional Fellow from Tanzania,<br />
participat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> river sampl<strong>in</strong>g activities<br />
Ruth Lugwisha, a Senior Environmental<br />
Management Officer at <strong>the</strong> National Environment<br />
Management Council <strong>in</strong> Tanzania, was based at <strong>the</strong><br />
Environment Agency from September-November<br />
2007. Dur<strong>in</strong>g this time, she was able to acquire<br />
practical skills which have resulted <strong>in</strong> several benefits<br />
for her home country. ‘As a result of this programme,<br />
my professional capabilities, skills and knowledge of<br />
environmental compliance and enforcement have<br />
been enhanced. I have enhanced my knowledge of<br />
regulatory frameworks for effective compliance and<br />
enforcement; develop<strong>in</strong>g and implement<strong>in</strong>g<br />
environmental compliance and enforcement<br />
systems; tools and mechanisms; and operat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitutional arrangements for effective and efficient<br />
collaboration and cooperation among actors. O<strong>the</strong>r<br />
issues are waste management (wastewater and solid<br />
waste); <strong>in</strong>vestigation and <strong>in</strong>spections for compliance<br />
ga<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g and admissible evidence; negotiation<br />
skills; conflict resolution and management and<br />
handl<strong>in</strong>g and manag<strong>in</strong>g compla<strong>in</strong>ts and <strong>in</strong>cidences,<br />
as well as emergency preparedness.’<br />
Peter Odhengo, a Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal Compliance Officer at<br />
<strong>the</strong> National Environment Management Agency <strong>in</strong><br />
Kenya, was also based at <strong>the</strong> Environment Agency<br />
towards <strong>the</strong> end of 2007. Dur<strong>in</strong>g his Fellowship,<br />
Peter was able to meet several objectives, such as<br />
develop<strong>in</strong>g an understand<strong>in</strong>g of how to harness <strong>the</strong><br />
synergies of various stakeholders <strong>in</strong> environmental<br />
management, learn<strong>in</strong>g techniques for identify<strong>in</strong>g<br />
pollut<strong>in</strong>g elements, and understand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
environmental monitor<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong>cident<br />
management procedures.<br />
Michelle Brockley, International Relations<br />
Coord<strong>in</strong>ator at <strong>the</strong> Environment Agency, feels that<br />
<strong>the</strong> Fellowships have been a success and also a twoway<br />
process, enabl<strong>in</strong>g both Fellows and hosts to<br />
exchange knowledge and experience. ‘The<br />
Environment Agency is delighted to be cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g<br />
its support of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Commonwealth</strong> Professional<br />
Fellowship programme. We are cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g to build<br />
upon <strong>the</strong> success of our previous participation as a<br />
host organisation. The experience has been<br />
mutually beneficial. With decades of experience, <strong>the</strong><br />
Environment Agency has been able to transfer its<br />
vast experience <strong>in</strong> environmental management<br />
practices directly to <strong>the</strong> visit<strong>in</strong>g Fellows and has had<br />
<strong>the</strong> opportunity to learn from <strong>the</strong> Fellows about <strong>the</strong><br />
challenges <strong>the</strong>y face <strong>in</strong> our sister organisations <strong>in</strong><br />
develop<strong>in</strong>g countries.’<br />
While many awards <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fields of environment<br />
and susta<strong>in</strong>able development are held <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UK,<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Commission</strong> has also supported around 1,000<br />
Distance Learn<strong>in</strong>g Scholars s<strong>in</strong>ce 2002, <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e<br />
with DFID's commitment to explor<strong>in</strong>g new<br />
methods of delivery. Staffordshire University's<br />
MA <strong>in</strong> Susta<strong>in</strong>able Development is one such<br />
course supported by <strong>the</strong> CSC. Delivered as a parttime<br />
course <strong>in</strong> onl<strong>in</strong>e distance learn<strong>in</strong>g mode, it is<br />
wide-reach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> its scope and access, and allows<br />
students from over 20 countries to develop<br />
advanced knowledge, skills and understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
vital fields of study for <strong>the</strong> 21st century.<br />
Dr Louise Bonner, Award Leader of <strong>the</strong> MA <strong>in</strong><br />
Susta<strong>in</strong>able Development, feels that <strong>the</strong> issue of<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>ability is one which must be addressed. ‘From<br />
<strong>the</strong> global through to <strong>the</strong> local level, <strong>the</strong> challenge of<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>ability is modify<strong>in</strong>g political, economic, social<br />
and environmental agendas. Susta<strong>in</strong>ability has<br />
Peter Odhengo<br />
<strong>Commonwealth</strong> Professional Fellow from Kenya,<br />
carry<strong>in</strong>g out water sampl<strong>in</strong>g activities at a<br />
wastewater treatment facility<br />
become a central framework for government policy,<br />
organisational practice and community action today<br />
and <strong>the</strong>re is a grow<strong>in</strong>g need for people who have<br />
<strong>in</strong>sights <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> complex issues <strong>in</strong>volved.’<br />
Dr Bonner feels that Staffordshire University’s<br />
distance learn<strong>in</strong>g course is enabl<strong>in</strong>g many students<br />
around <strong>the</strong> <strong>Commonwealth</strong> to develop <strong>the</strong>se<br />
<strong>in</strong>sights <strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>formative, flexible and <strong>in</strong>teractive<br />
way. ‘Follow<strong>in</strong>g a carefully structured set of onl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
modules, students are encouraged to exam<strong>in</strong>e new<br />
strategies, evaluation and monitor<strong>in</strong>g techniques<br />
and approaches to participation, education and<br />
policymak<strong>in</strong>g, and to use case studies to analyse<br />
best practice for susta<strong>in</strong>ability around <strong>the</strong> world. The<br />
dist<strong>in</strong>ctive format of this MA allows students to study<br />
4 <strong>Commonwealth</strong> <strong>Scholarship</strong>s News