Issue 16 - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United ...

NEWSPromoting learning, development and co-operationIssue 16February 2013Supportingthe widercommunityOUR SCHOLARS AND FELLOWS · COUNTRY PROFILE – TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO · NEWS ROUND-UPOUR ALUMNI · TERTIARY EDUCATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH · NETWORKS AND EVENTS1

THIS ISSUEEDITORIALCover David Musoke2007 Commonwealth Distance LearningScholar, distributing malaria nets inEntebbe, Uganda – read more aboutDavid on page 132 Editorial3 News round-upThe latest from the CommonwealthScholarships community.4 Our Scholars and FellowsAn insight into the work of our currentaward holders.6 Crossing the divideFour Commonwealth ProfessionalFellows striving for peace in Kashmir.8 The challenge for tertiaryeducationA report on the 2012 Conference ofEducation Ministers.10 Our alumniNews and career updates from formerCommonwealth Scholars and Fellows.12 Alumni profileThree former award holders explain theirimpact in the field of health care.13 Providing sustainable primaryhealth careHow a Commonwealth DistanceLearning Scholar is using his expertise toimprove primary health care in Uganda.14 Our impactAnalysis and news from the CSC’sEvaluation and Monitoring Programme.20 Networks and eventsReports from recent events attended byCommonwealth Scholars, Fellows andalumni.22 CSFP NewsNews from the wider CommonwealthScholarship and Fellowship Plan.23 Country profile – Trinidad andTobagoA closer look at the CSFP in operationinternationally.Education and training institutions worldwide are facingunique challenges. Changing technologies, new waysof working, and international educational alliances haveprovided new opportunities, transforming the way we delivereducation and the way we work. Pivotal to seizing theopportunities such changes provide is the need to developnew skill sets in our staff and students to meet new demandsand the changing face of global competition.While universities and colleges work hard to prepare theirstudents for the future workplace, it is equally important thatcompanies and organisations have access to the best and mostinnovative staff development opportunities in order to ensurethey grow and develop in a sustained and sustainable way.Ministers at the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Mauritius (see page 8-9)were urged to take seriously the need for access to higher-level training and education, given thefocus on early education that had been central to the Millennium Development Goals. We needto build on those solid foundations at primary and secondary level.Improving access to education and training should be seen not as a luxury but as a necessity.Improving levels of skills, developing new ways of working, and enhancing the capacity fornetworking and change are essential for the development of a skilled, knowledge-rich workforcethat can innovate, that is entrepreneurial, and that can engender sustainable social and economicdevelopment.Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships are continually evolving to meet just suchchallenges. Awards such as Professional Fellowships and Distance Learning Scholarships enablethe recipients to put their new knowledge, skills, and networks into practice immediately at theirplace of work. Split-site Scholars benefit from time spent studying overseas, and can share newknowledge with their home university while they complete their doctorate. In this edition ofCommonwealth Scholarships News, we see how a group of Professional Fellows at ConciliationResources (page 6-7) and a Distance Learning Scholar from Uganda (page 13) have been able toensure that their new skills have a direct and lasting impact on the work they do and the peoplethey work with.Importantly, Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships do not simply enrich the career of therecipient, but also assist in the wider professional development of colleagues at their organisation.A whole range of people benefit from the experience of the individual award holder. Our awardsare there to strengthen institutional capacity and wider social capital. They can and should bethe building blocks for enhancing the knowledge, skills, and experience so vital to ensuring thesustainable development of countries across the Commonwealth.Professor Mark ClearyDeputy Chair, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UKVice Chancellor, University of BradfordCommonwealth Scholarships NewsEditorial Team:Dr John KirklandJocelyn LawHuma AkhtarNatasha LokhunDesign and Print:TFW PrintersCommonwealth Scholarships News is published twice a year by theCommonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom.Commonwealth Scholarship Commissionc/o The Association of Commonwealth UniversitiesWoburn House, 20–24 Tavistock SquareLondon WC1H 9HF, UKcomments@cscuk.org.ukwww.dfid.gov.uk/cscuk2 Commonwealth Scholarships News

NEWS ROUND-UPwhich also endorsed the views of its predecessor’sreport in 2004, expressing particular support for thesplit-site and distance learning scholarships offeredby the CSC.The Chair of the CSC, Professor Tim Unwin, said ‘Wewelcome recognition by the Science and TechnologyCommittee – as in their previous report in 2004– of the contribution made by CommonwealthScholarships, and the extent to which these arevalued in developing countries. The CSC is alreadyexploring ways through which we can do more tosupport early career academics. One example isthe recent introduction of a specific stream in ourAcademic Fellowships scheme to provide moresupport for alumni’.Kabelo Senyatso, winner of the 2012 Taylor & Francis Commonwealth Scholar Best Journal Article Prize2012 TAYLOR & FRANCIS COMMONWEALTHSCHOLAR BEST JOURNAL ARTICLE PRIZEThe CSC and Taylor & Francis are delightedto announce that Dr Kabelo J Senyatso (2007Commonwealth Scholar from Botswana, PhDConservation Ecology, University of East Anglia) is thewinner of the 2012 Taylor & Francis CommonwealthScholar Best Journal Article Prize.A panel of expert judges from different disciplinesand backgrounds sat on 13 December 2012 to judgethe 2012 competition, for which 76 journal articleshad been submitted by Commonwealth Scholars.Concluding a long process of deliberation, includingtwo shortlisting processes, the judges unanimouslyagreed on the winning article: ‘Assessing rangewideconservation status change in an unmonitoredwidespread African bird species’ by Dr Kabelo JSenyatso, published in Diversity and Distributions –A Journal of Conservation Biogeography (Volume19, Issue 1, 2012).The judges commended Kabelo’s article for beingclearly written, covering a wide range of countries,and using narrative and statistical data innovatively.According to the judges, the author clearlydemonstrated a methodology that can be used infuture research, making it a strong template. Kabelois currently Director of BirdLife Botswana.The CSC and Taylor & Francis would like tocongratulate Kabelo and look forward to awardinghim the prize of £1,500 and a year’s personalsubscription to a journal of choice related to theCommonwealth published by Taylor & Francis.The response to the competition was notable andcongratulations are extended to all CommonwealthScholar entrants on the publication of their research.COMMONWEALTH RESIDENTIALSCHOOL 2013The third ACU Commonwealth Residential Schoolwill be held from Thursday 8-Monday 12 August2013 at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor, UK. TheSchool aims to provide a forum to bring togetherhigh-quality students from every corner of theCommonwealth to discuss interdisciplinary issuesof global importance – this year, the theme is‘The world in 2113: what will it be like, how canwe prepare?’. The CSC is offering a number ofbursaries for Commonwealth Scholars to attend – formore information and details of how to apply, visitwww.dfid.gov.uk/cscukPARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES RECOGNISEVALUE OF COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPSCommonwealth Scholarships and the work of theCSC have been praised in two recent reports by UKparliamentary committees.In its report ‘Building scientific capacity for development’(published in October 2012), the Commons Scienceand Technology Committee praised CommonwealthScholarships and Fellowships as ‘much-valued’ fortheir role in providing effective support to early careerresearchers in developing countries.‘DFID’s support for individuals through theCommonwealth Scholarship Commission has beenhugely important’, according to the Committee,In addition, the Commons Foreign Affairs Committeeacknowledged the key role Commonwealth Scholarshipsplay in providing a cost-effective way ofwidening opportunities for young people. Their reportalso recommended that the number of awards shouldincrease if the commitment of the UK to strengtheningCommonwealth relations is to mean anything.The Committee’s report on ‘The role and futureof the Commonwealth’ (published in November2012) cited evidence from the CSC, the Associationof Commonwealth Universities and the Foreignand Commonwealth Office, amongst others, whichrecognised the importance of CommonwealthScholarships both to the Commonwealth and theUK. The Committee urged the UK government togive a commitment at least to maintaining fundingin real terms.DOCLINKS – RESOURCES AND INFORMATIONFOR PHD CANDIDATES AND EARLY CAREERRESEARCHERSA new website providing resources for PhD studentsand early career researchers has been launched.Doctoral candidates can now access information onavailable funding, research support materials, andevents on the newly-developed DocLinks websiteat doclinks.org. The website also links to a growingonline networking community of PhD candidateswho can communicate and share relevantinformation with each other, as well as approachpotential partners for cooperative research. Thewebsite and the network primarily address theneeds of PhD students from Africa and the EuropeanUnion, reflecting the geographical priorities of theDocLinks project.February 2013 3

OUR SCHOLARS AND FELLOWSCommonwealth Scholars and Fellows report on their awards and how what they have learnt will benefittheir home countries.PHD RESEARCH LEADS TO A NEWBIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANYKantaraja Chindera is a 2009 CommonwealthScholar from India, studying for a PhD at the RoyalVeterinary College. His research has resulted inthe development of a new class of polymer-basednanoparticles that can be used for drug delivery –and a spin-off company.‘Delivering therapeutic molecules into cells with lowtoxicity is a major hurdle in solving many challengingdiseases’, explains Kantaraja. ‘There is a need fornon-toxic, clinically compatible delivery tools.During my PhD, two new classes of biodegradablepolymeric delivery technologies compatible withclinical applications have been developed.‘These polymers form nanoparticles with a widevariety of drug molecules and have huge potentialfor developing nontoxic drug formulations. The mostimportant applications are likely to be antimicrobialand anticancer formulations for clinical use.Furthermore, this technology may help to overcomedelivery hurdles that hamper the development ofgene therapy for many diseases.’In addition to clinical applications, this technologycan also be used to enhance research in basic scienceand drug development. ‘The Royal Veterinary Collegeencouraged my supervisor, Dr Liam Good, and I tostart a biotech company to develop the technologiesfor commercial and clinical applications. Tecrea Ltd(www.tecrea.co.uk) was founded in February 2012,and is based at the London Bioscience InnovationCentre, London.‘Tecrea’s reagents for plasmid, RNAi and proteindelivery have shown great promise in a numberof academic and industrial labs. Indeed, Tecrea’sdrug reformulation platform (Nanocin) has beensuccessfully out-licenced to one biotechnologycompany and is being evaluated by a number ofother biopharmaceutical companies. Tecrea aims todevelop the delivery technology in a range of drugformulations for clinical use.’Kantaraja has been actively involved in promotingawareness among UK and overseas students aboutthe importance of harnessing innovation andbelieves that studying in the UK has allowed him togain exposure to world-class research methodologiesand facilities. Through his PhD studies, he hasacquired the necessary skills and expertise to be ableto tackle health problems that are prevalent in hisKantaraja Chindera, 2009 CommonwealthScholar from Indiahome country and find new ways to tackle infectiousdiseases. These new findings can be applied tocombating drug resistant pathogens, whichcould ultimately result in improving commercialproductivity as well as health outcomes for patients.‘I am most grateful to the CSC for providing mewith the opportunity to work on an exciting andinnovative project in the UK. I was lucky to get asupportive supervisor who encouraged me to workin an area that has direct applications in clinics. It hasbeen a great experience for me to work on a cuttingedgeproject and learn how to develop researchfindings into practical applications. In addition, Ihave gained diverse and valuable professional andpersonal contacts. I have enjoyed the experienceand I am very pleased that our research may beable to help improve animal and human health inthe near future.’PROFESSIONAL FELLOW GAINS IN-DEPTHKNOWLEDGE ON BIOENERGYGabriel Quansah is one of five 2012 ProfessionalFellows who were hosted by the Institute forEnergy Systems at the University of Edinburgh inSeptember-October 2012. Gabriel is a ResearchScientist at the Council For Scientific And IndustrialResearch-Soil Research Institute in Ghana. His onemonthProfessional Fellowship involved lecturesand case studies with input from distinguishedlecturers and facilitators, and workshops, visits andnetworking with Scottish organisations working onclimate change and bioenergy.Gabriel found his Professional Fellowship – andspecifically its focus – timely and appropriate. ‘Thereare global concerns about climate change andhow it is impacting negatively on food securityparticularly in Africa. Food production in Africa is ona subsistence level and mostly on marginal soils thatare unproductive. Yields are very low and the risk offood insecurity is a concern to many nations on thecontinent. There is the need to consider adaptationand mitigation strategies to reduce and respond tothe risks that climate change poses to people’s livesand livelihoods.’Gabriel’s research interest is biochar – the use ofcharcoal to enhance soil productivity. ‘Given myspecial interest in biochar, my expectation was thatI would be introduced to best practice in biocharproduction and utilisation, as well as current researchareas in relation to soil fertility improvement tocombat food security and climate change.‘Having had this great opportunity to holda Professional Fellowship, I must say that myexpectation has been met and even more. I havegained in-depth knowledge and insight into climatechange and bioenergy issues. I also had theopportunity to learn from the other Professional4 Commonwealth Scholarships News

(l-r) Dr Sapna Kamal Sangra, Ezabir Ali, Syed Waqas Ali Kausar, and Ayesha Saeed, 2012 Commonwealth Professional Fellows at Conciliation Resourcesuncertainty, and marginalisation in their day-to-daylives for more than two decades. A holistic solution,which is currently not being taken into account orincluded in the dialogue process, can be developedif these women are brought together.The Professional Fellows’ combined enrichedexperience and critical thinking has created astepping stone for furthering not just their academicgrowth, but also their personal growth. They havelearnt in detail about the plight of the familiesaffected by the conflict, and have engaged with likemindedpeople at national and international level.They have not just gained conceptual clarity, buthave also picked up practical tools to be utilised inthe field of teaching, knowledge sharing, research,conflict transformation, and, most importantly,peacebuilding.The experiences offered to these Professional Fellowsby Conciliation Resources will inform their futurework in the region, as they continue their effortsto increase Kashmiri participation in peacebuildingmechanisms. They aim to bring together importantstakeholders and encourage them to be heard, tomake a difference, and to act as a catalyst for change– and to understand the difference in choosing to bepart of the problem or part of the solution.February 2013 7

OUR ALUMNIAlumni newsCOMMONWEALTH SCHOLAR APPOINTEDGOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ENGLANDMark Carney, 1991 Commonwealth Scholar andnew Governor of the Bank of EnglandMark Carney (1991 Commonwealth Scholar fromCanada, DPhil Economics, University of Oxford)has been announced as the next Governor of theBank of England. He will serve in his current roleas Governor of the Bank of Canada until May 2013,taking up his new post in June.Since his DPhil at Oxford, Mark has worked inthe private sector at Goldman Sachs, in the UK aswell as Tokyo, New York, and Toronto. His publicservice includes the roles of Senior Associate DeputyMinister of Finance, and Deputy Governor of theBank of Canada; he was appointed Governor in2008.over international economics and exchange andmonetary issues.Peter believes that Mark is well equipped for his newrole for a number of reasons. The Bank of Canadaalready has joint responsibility for both monetarypolicy and banking regulation, and Canada has notfelt the effects of the global recession to degreethat the UK has, despite its proximity to the UnitedStates. ‘A good deal of the credit for that must go toGovernor Carney’, said Peter.Unlike his predecessors at the Bank of England,Mark has investment banking experience, and Peteralso praises his management style. ‘He doesn’tbully or immediately claim superior knowledge.He listens; and he seeks the views of colleaguesand subordinates – but without shrinking fromleadership.’Dr John Kirkland, Executive Secretary of the CSC,congratulated Mark on his new position. ‘The CSCis delighted to learn of the appointment, which isanother example of a Commonwealth Scholar risingto the very highest level of their profession.’PROVIDING A ROLE MODEL FOR WOMEN INSCIENCEMususu Kaonda (2008 Commonwealth Scholarfrom Zambia, MSc Advanced Engineering Materials,University of Liverpool) graduated with a Distinctionin her Master’s course, and returned to take up apost at the University of Zambia. Mususu becamethe first female lecturer to be appointed in theSchool of Mines, Department of Metallurgy andMaterials. This achievement was recognised bywidespread coverage in the press and on nationaltelevision, with Mususu becoming a role model toencourage girls and women to consider studyingmaths and science subjects and pursuing a careerin science.Mususu was awarded a second CommonwealthScholarship in 2012, to study for a PhD in MaterialsScience at the University of Birmingham. ‘When Ifinish the PhD, my knowledge in my subject area willbe broadened and I will acquire more research skills,thereby becoming more efficient in my lecturingprofession. I will inspire girls to take up sciencesubjects by giving talks to schoolchildren throughthe Engineering Institution of Zambia.’COMMONWEALTH SCHOLAR AT THEOLYMPICSPadmraj Patil (2011 Commonwealth Shared Scholarfrom India, MSc Water and Waste Water Engineering,Cranfield University) took part in the London 2012Olympic Games as a performer in the openingceremony and as a marshal for the athletes. Padmrajsaid, ‘I am grateful to the CSC for granting me aCommonwealth Scholarship and the opportunity Ihave had to be a part of this spectacular ceremony’.Mark has said that he is honoured to accept thedemanding role at the Bank of England. ‘This is acritical time for the British, European and globaleconomies; a decisive period for reform of theglobal financial system including its leading financialcentre, the City of London; and a crucial point inthe Bank of England’s history as it accepts vital newresponsibilities.’Professor Peter Oppenheimer was a Fellow atChrist Church, Oxford while Mark was studyingfor his DPhil, and remembers him as a ‘wideranging’postgraduate, engaging in discussionsMususu Kaonda, Commonwealth Scholar fromZambiaPadmraj Patil, 2011 Commonwealth Scholar, atthe Olympic Stadium10 Commonwealth Scholarships News

Awards andprizesProfessor Emmanuel Adekeye (1970 CommonwealthMedical Scholar from Nigeria, Dental Surgery,University of London) was presented with a lifetimeachievement award at the Biennial World CleftLip and Palate Congress in May 2012. The awardrecognised Emmanuel’s academic contribution,invaluable services to African patients withmaxillofacial deformities, and four decades ofmentorship.Wellen Atuhaire (2010 Commonwealth Scholar fromUganda, MSc Water and Environmental Management,University of Bristol) has been awarded the BestTaught Component prize for his course.Dr Abayomi Jimoh (2005 Commonwealth Split-siteScholar from Nigeria, PhD Biotechnology of theBrackish Water Prawn, Lagos State University andUniversity of Hull) has had his finished thesis judgedthe best PhD thesis in the discipline of biologicalsciences within the Nigerian university system bythe National Universities Commission, under theNigerian Universities Doctoral Thesis Award Scheme.Abayomi said, ‘This award is further testimony tothe great work of the CSC, and I am grateful forthe scholarship which enabled me to carry out themolecular aspect of the programme at the Universityof Hull. At the awards ceremony, I dedicated myaward to the CSC as well as my supervisors’.Dr Molefe Coper Joseph (2006 CommonwealthScholar from Botswana, PhD Sustainable UrbanLivelihoods, University of Reading) has been awardedan Early Career Fellowship by the Leverhulme Trust.The fellowship, tenable for 36 months at theCentre of African Studies, University of Edinburgh,will enable Molefe to conduct his research onmainstreaming men into gender and developmentin Botswana.PublicationsDr Poonam Bala (1983 Commonwealth Scholarfrom India, PhD Sociology, University of Edinburgh)has edited Contesting Colonial Authority: Medicineand Indigenous Responses in Nineteenth- andTwentieth-Century India (Lexington Books, 2012).Professor I M Dharmadasa (1977 CommonwealthScholar from Sri Lanka, PhD Solid State Electronics,Durham University) has published Advances inThin-Film Solar Cells (Pan Stanford Publishing,2012).Ernest Mufuruki (2007 Commonwealth DistanceLearning Scholar from Tanzania, MA InternationalEducation and Development, Institute of Education,University of London) has published his Master’sdissertation as a book, Private Financing ofHigher Distance Education in Tanzania: A Reviewon Higher Distance Education (LAP LAMBERTAcademic Publishing, 2012).Nicholas Neufeld (2007 Commonwealth Scholarfrom Canada, MSc Clinical Neuroscience, UniversityCollege London) has published his Master’s work asa paper, ‘Reading without the left ventral occipitotemporalcortex’ in Neuropsychologia (Volume 50,Issue 14, December 2012).Dr Jakobus Van Zyl (1998 Commonwealth Scholarfrom South Africa, PhD Engineering, University ofExeter) has published Introduction to IntegratedWater Meter Management (Water ResearchCommission, South Africa, 2011).RecentappointmentsDr Tsitsi Chataika (2002 Commonwealth Scholarfrom Zimbabwe, MEd Special Educational Needs,University of Leeds) has been appointed Lecturerat the Department of Education, University ofZimbabwe.Professor Godwin Nyiutaha Imandeh (1995Commonwealth Scholar from Nigeria, PhDEnvironmental Biology, Swansea University) hasbeen appointed Professor of Entomology at theUniversity of Jos, Nigeria.Dr Seeni Mohamed Ismail (2005 CommonwealthAcademic Fellow from Sri Lanka, Economics,Development and Conflict Study, University ofBradford) has been reappointed Vice-Chancellorof the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. He hasalso been appointed an Honorary Professor by theShenyang Aerospace University, China.Professor Emmanuel Aloysius Ngara (1971Commonwealth Scholar from Zimbabwe, MPhilEnglish and Education, Institute of Education,University of London) has been appointed ChiefExecutive Officer of the Zimbabwe Council of HigherEducation.Professor Malla Bhaskara Rao (2000 CommonwealthAcademic Fellow from India, Neurosurgery andEpilepsy Surgery, Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and BiomedicalSciences) has been appointed Professor ofNeurosurgery and Head of Unit at the NationalInstitute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India.Professor Saleem Raza Samo (1996 CommonwealthScholar from Pakistan, PhD Building EnergyAssessment Methods, University of Manchester)has been appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Deanof the Faculty of Engineering at Quaid-e-AwamUniversity of Engineering, Science and Technology,Pakistan.Dr Eris D Schoburgh (2010 CommonwealthAcademic Fellow from Jamaica, Local GovernanceInstitutional Capacity, University of Manchester) hasbeen appointed Associate Dean for Special Initiativesand Outreach in the Faculty of Social Sciences, andpromoted to Senior Lecturer in the Department ofGovernment, at the University of the West Indies atMona, Jamaica.Professor Stephen Charles Vasciannie (1984Commonwealth Scholar from Jamaica, DPhilInternational Law, University of Oxford) has beenappointed Jamaican Ambassador to the UnitedStates and Permanent Representative to theOrganisation of American States.Have you changed job, email or postaladdress? Let us know atalumnitrace@cscuk.org.ukPlease note that all employment informationreceived by the CSC will be added to ourdatabase and included in our annual refreshof the online Directory.February 2013 11

ALUMNI PROFILEFollowing the recent launch of the CSC’s Public Health Professional Network on LinkedIn, threealumni explain how they have had an impact in the field of health care – from international policyimplementation to improving community health provision.Professor Rifat Atun (1982 Commonwealth MedicalScholar from Cyprus, MB BS Clinical Medicine, Guy’s,King’s and St Thomas’ Schools of Medicine, Dentistryand Biomedical Sciences) is currently Professor ofInternational Health Management and Head of theHealth Management Group at Imperial CollegeLondon. He heads amultidisciplinary groupwith research focusingon innovation in healthsystems both in the UKand internationally.Rifat says that hisCommonwealthScholarship has beenRifat Atun, 1982Commonwealth Scholar‘critically important’ tohis career in medicalfrom Cyprusresearch. His postat Imperial gives himthe opportunity toimprove health carefor those most in need. ‘The research, whichspans more than 20 countries in four continents,includes collaborations with leading universities andinstitutions abroad.’Between 2008 and 2012, Rifat was a member of theExecutive Management Team of the Global Fundto Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, based inGeneva, Switzerland. ‘I led the Strategy, Performanceand Evaluation Cluster. The experience was mostrewarding; with a portfolio of more than USD 22billion in 150 countries, the Global Fund rapidlyestablished itself as the largest international funderof health programmes globally, with the objectiveof addressing the HIV, tuberculosis and malariaepidemics.‘An exciting aspect was chairing the Phase 2 Panel,which assessed the performance of Global Fundsupportedgrants and made recommendations forcontinued funding for additional periods of threeyears or more.’ The panel’s decisions enabledmore than 3.5 million people with AIDS to receiveantiretroviral treatment, funded the distribution ofmore than 100 million insecticide nets, and ensuredthe provision of treatment to more than 2 millionpatients with tuberculosis – all within the space offew years.Rifat’s recent policy research has identifiedinefficiency in the allocation of malaria funding(with the University of Oxford), and demonstratedthe heath and economic benefits of investing inantiretroviral treatment for those affected by AIDS inAfrica (with Harvard University).Professor Wah-Yun Low (1989 CommonwealthScholar from Malaysia, PhD Psychology, University ofSurrey) is a Professor of Psychology at the Faculty ofMedicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia. In additionto teaching both undergraduate and postgraduatestudents, her research interests include sexualand reproductivehealth, HIV/AIDS,ageing, and men’shealth, and sheundertakes researchconsultancies withlocal governmentand internationalagencies.Wah-Yun Low, 1989 Wah-Yun is alsoCommonwealth Scholar Head of thefrom MalaysiaScholarly PublicationSupport Unit at theuniversity, whichprovides a scientific editing service and trainsresearchers, academics, and postgraduate studentsin communicating the results of their researcheffectively and publishing their research in relevantresearch journals.Wah-Yun led a UNFPA (United Nations PopulationFund) research consultancy project dealing with theimpact of HIV/AIDS on marginalised communitiesin Malaysia, which had a profound effect on herpersonally. ‘I am humbled by the experience gainedmixing with people living with HIV/AIDS and learninghow they have fought to maintain their qualityof life and their rights to healthcare services, anddealt with the stigma and discrimination they facein society.’ At the end of the project, a policy briefwas presented to UNFPA and discussions were heldwith government agencies, NGOs, and civil societyorganisations in the field to implement programmesaimed at improving the quality of life of thesecommunities.Remmy Mukonka (2010 CommonwealthProfessional Fellow from Zambia, Public Healthand Education, George House Trust) is an HIV/AIDS Educational Trainer at the Ministry ofEducation in Zambia. As well as providing HIV/AIDScommunications and institutional training, Remmyundertakes countrywide provision of technicalguidance on HIV/AIDS programmes, relationshipbuilding, and grant management. Implementingbehavioural change management involves workingwith teachers, support staff, and young people toaccelerate the education sector’s response to HIV/AIDS.‘My ProfessionalFellowshipexposed me totop managementsystems, peopleskills, prudent useof resources, andchange management.One year after myRemmy Mukonka, 2010Commonwealth Professionalreturn, the Ministry ofEducation identifiedFellow from Zambia my abilities andpromoted me to headHIV programmingat a national level, aposition that gives methe privilege to advise on and technically guide thestrategic direction of the Ministry on HIV and AIDS.’Directly as a result of the mentoring he receivedduring his Professional Fellowship, Remmy hasacquired skills in dealing with policy issues and isnow leading a review of the Ministry’s workplacepolicy on HIV/AIDS. ‘My work now is recognised ata regional level by UNESCO and UNICEF. This hasbeen the greatest impact from my fellowship andI remain greatly and profoundly indebted to theGeorge House Trust.’12 Commonwealth Scholarships News

PROVIDING SUSTAINABLE PRIMARYHEALTH CARECommonwealth Distance Learning Scholar David Musoke is using his expertise to help equip others with theskills to improve primary health care in Uganda.Prior to his Distance Learning Scholarship in2007, David was a Public Health Officer atEntebbe Municipal Council, Uganda. He hada broad range of responsibilities in overseeing theenvironmental health of the community, monitoringwater quality, solid waste management, and wastewater and pollution control. Another key areawas ensuring food hygiene and safety, as wellas monitoring and supervising all public healthinterventions and primary health care activities inthe region.David was keen to apply for the Distance LearningScholarship to study MSc International PrimaryHealth Care at University College London as it wouldenable him to develop his role at the council. ‘I didthe MSc mainly for career advancement – to be ableto increase knowledge and skills that I would usefor my future work, including best practice, teachingand research.’The course was very relevant to David’s work, withmost modules being applicable to his health careresponsibilities. ‘However, the area from the coursethat is very useful to me at present is the researchprocess, including the research methods anddissertation modules. This directly relates to teachingand research in my current work at MakerereUniversity. I also found the skillsI gained in scientific writing andliterature reviews very useful.’For David, a key benefit of hisscholarship was being able toremain in his community andin his job, while broadening hisexperience of primary health care. ‘Studying bydistance learning enabled me to continue withmy work while pursuing the degree. This ensuredcontinuity in my career prospects, as opposed tobeing away from my job if I was on a full-timeprogramme away from my country. I was also ableto use the knowledge and skills obtained from thecourse immediately in my work.’In common with many people, David found timemanagement the biggest difficulty while studyingvia distance learning. ‘The main challenge I facedwas finding enough time for the course, given mywork commitments. For this reason, I had to deviseways of spending more time on my studies, forexample, by working late in the evenings and overthe weekends.’David started working at Makerere University in2007, soon after starting his MSc. ‘On completionof the course in 2010, I was promoted fromTeaching Assistant to Assistant Lecturer, which wasa major career advancement. In this new position,On completion of the course, I was promoted.In this new position, I have been able to take onmore obligations and responsibilities.I have been able to take on more obligations andresponsibilities, including teaching and supervisingpostgraduate students.’ David also undertakesresearch, consultancy and community service.David’s studies benefited his department in aparticularly direct way. A tutor on his MSc coursetold students about a funding opportunity forhealth resources offered by the British MedicalAssociation/British Medical Journal InformationFund for developing countries. ‘I then wrote andsubmitted an application for my university, whichDavid Musoke, 2007 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar from Ugandawas successful. I was awarded public health booksand materials for Makerere University School ofPublic Health worth £2,000. These materials havesince been very useful to students and faculty at theuniversity.’David’s Distance Learning Scholarship providedhim with opportunities to broaden his professionalcareer. He is currently involved in several projects toimprove primary health care in Uganda. One schemeis promoting an integrated approach to malariaprevention in rural communities.This project, implementedin partnership with CardiffMetropolitan University, advocatesthe use of several strategies in aholistic manner to help householdsto prevent the occurrence of malariain endemic areas. David is also stillcollaborating with his tutors from his MSc course. ‘Iam in the process of publishing some research worktogether with my former tutors at University CollegeLondon.’While acknowledging the demands of a distancelearning course, David has been able to benefit fromusing new vocational skills in his work. Like manyother Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows, he hasbeen able to share his knowledge with colleaguesand students, enabling his scholarship to have animpact far beyond the initial recipient.February 2013 13

OUR IMPACTThe CSC Evaluation Team takes the lead in identifying and measuring the effect that funding scholarshipsand fellowships has on individuals, institutions, and, on a wider scale, communities and societies. FarukBarabhuiya, one of two new members of the team, reports on their latest activities.WHY IS EVALUATION IMPORTANT?Evaluation ensures that the CSC is doing its bestfor award holders, by helping us use resources ina responsible and strategic way. As we learn abouthow our funding is making an impact, we can justifycontinued funding and also make improvements tothe way we work.2012 EVALUATION SURVEYA major part of our work to date is a survey of alumnito find out what they have achieved and what parttheir Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship hasplayed in those achievements.Evaluation surveys are sent to a fifth of alumni eachyear on a rolling basis, with invitations based on theyear of award. So, in 2012, alumni members whoseaward years end in 2 or 7 were asked to completethe survey.In total, the survey was sent to 1,494 alumnimembers who held awards commencing in yearsending in 2 and 7 and for whom we held contactdetails that could be assumed to be current. 360alumni completed the survey, and the main findingsare as follows.Gender• 71% male, 29% female (total alumni: 66%male, 34% female)Regions• Sub-Saharan Africa 34%, South Asia 30%,Australasia 13%, North America 9%, Far East6%, Caribbean 5%, Europe 2%, Pacific 1%Disciplines studied• Science, technology and engineering 25%,Health 23%, Environment 16%, Governance8%, Other 3%, Agriculture 9%, Growth 7%,Education 7%, International relations 2%Knowledge and skills• 89% reported an increase in knowledge, skills,the ability to utilise skills and/or the ability tomake changes at work.• 73% indicated that it was true or completelytrue that they have been able to introduce newpractices or innovations into their workplace asa result of the skills/knowledge acquired throughtheir award.Importance of award• 68% indicated that it would have beenimpossible or near impossible for them tocomplete their chosen programme of study inthe UK without a Commonwealth Scholarshipor Fellowship.Further qualifications and employment• 52% gained a further qualification after theirCommonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship.• 69% obtained a more senior post than the onethey had before undertaking their award within12 months of completing it. 79% of thesealumni indicated that their CommonwealthScholarship or Fellowship helped them gain thisemployment.• 69% stated that their employer was eithersupportive or very supportive of their applicationfor a scholarship or fellowship.• 82% are currently working or, if retired, live inthe same region as the country of which theyhold citizenship.Impact• 68% reported affecting change at an institutionallevel, 53% at a local level, and 43% at a nationallevel.• 97% reported having some kind of impact inone of the development priority areas (see box).• Out of the eight development priority areas (seebox), Education is where most alumni reportedhaving had an impact (90%), followed byEnvironmental Issues (48%), and Health (43%).Figure 1: 2012 evaluation survey – awarddiscipline of respondents25%3%8%21%7%5%6%AgricultureEducationEnvironmentGovernanceGrowthHealthInternational relationsScience, technology and engineeringOther15%10%DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY AREAS• Economic Growth and the Private Sector• Education• Environmental Issues• Gender Equality• Governance, Security and Conflict• Population Growth and Development• Poverty Reduction• Strengthening Healthcare SystemsThe results show quite conclusively thatCommonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships havenot only increased expertise, but also that theskills gained on award are directly relevant to theworkplace. Alumni are empowered to take onleadership roles, such as passing on skills andknowledge to others and introducing new practicesand innovations.HOW CAN YOU HELP?The next survey will be sent out in March 2013to those with award years ending in 3 or 8. If youreceive an email asking you to complete the survey,please do take the time to respond if you can – yourparticipation will be very much appreciated!Figure 2: 2012 evaluation survey – sector ofprimary employment2%3%5%22%50%11%7%Academic or higher education sectorNon-governmental or charity sector(including international NGOs)Private or corporate sectorPublic sector/national or local governmentSelf-employedNone of the aboveNo answer14 Commonwealth Scholarships News

NETWORKS AND EVENTSA discussion session at the CSC Welcome Programme 2012CSC WELCOME PROGRAMME 2012The annual Welcome Programme for newCommonwealth Scholars and Fellows was held on19 November 2012, at Senate House, London.Secretary of State for International Development,the Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, addressedattendees in the morning. Other speakers includedMmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, CommonwealthDeputy Secretary-General, and Professor JustinFisher, Director of the Magna Carta Institute, BrunelUniversity.One of the afternoon sessions featured apanel discussion on the importance of the CSCCommunity. The panel featured Preksha Gupta(2010 Commonwealth Scholar, PhD MolecularBiology, Imperial College London – and coordinatorof the CSC South East Regional Network), OlajideOlusola (2012 Commonwealth Scholar, PhDEnvironmental Sustainability Systems, SheffieldHallam University), who is being supervised by aformer Commonwealth Scholar, and AishwaryaPadmanabhan, (2012 Commonwealth Scholarfrom India, LLM, King’s College London).Aishwarya said, ‘The three of us talked about ourdifferent experiences in helping other Scholars andFellows through the CSC Regional Networks, as wellas our aims to inspire other Scholars and Fellowsin the future. Olusola discussed how he hopes hisresearch on solar energy can help build sustainablecommunities in Nigeria, and I shared how I am thefirst from my home institution to be selected fora Commonwealth Scholarship. All this took placebefore a vast audience of Scholars, Fellows andCommonwealth Scholarship Commissioners.‘It was a highly memorable event, culminating witha reception at Canada House. It was heartwarmingto see such camaraderie and bonhomie amongstthe Scholars and Fellows during the event. I foundit extremely heartening to personally thank allthose who made the scholarship possible for notonly me, but also other scholars and fellows fromacross the Commonwealth.’RegionalNetworksMIDLANDS AND OXFORDThe Midlands and Oxford Regional Networkorganises both social and academic events, enablingaward holders to make new friends and enjoynew activities. Recent seminars have included‘Planning your research’ and ‘Biofeedback as toolfor managing stress’ at the University of Nottingham,plus a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon and an endof-yearget-together at the Birmingham BotanicalGardens and Glasshouse.NORTH WESTThe North West Regional Network organisedan event at the University of Lancaster in June2012 where 11 Scholars shared their researchand personal experiences. Researchers from theUniversities of Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchesterexplained their diverse array of research to fellowScholars. Research topics included:• Natural immunity against pneumonia• Radioactive polonium recovery fromenvironmental samples• Soil contaminant degradation endpointdetermination• Mental health and socioeconomic inequalities inthe UK• Molecular mechanism and treatment of heartfailure and arrhythmia• Marketing performance of organisations• Agricultural practice improvement to encompassclimate change mitigation and biodiversityconservation• Thermoelectric material development for powergeneration16 Commonwealth Scholarships News

• Biological data analysis method for understandingof evolution• Role of social background in higher educationchoice in Bangladesh• Improvement of wireless communicationsystemsThe meeting was organised by Sanjoy K Chowdhury(2011 Commonwealth Scholar, PhD MedicalScience/Cardiovascular Science, University ofManchester) and Bolaji Bernard Babatunde (2011Commonwealth Split-site Scholar, PhD CoastalPollution Monitoring, University of Port Harcourtand University of Lancaster).WALESRecent highlights from the Wales Regional Networkinclude a local welcome event, which saw 2012Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows from sixdifferent countries meet and share experiences atthe start of their awards.The Christmas party weekend in Aberystwythprovided an opportunity for family members toparticipate in the social activities. The year endedon a high for a few members, who completedthe journey to Snowdon, the highest mountain inEngland and Wales.Join your local Regional Network –visit http://bit.ly/cscuk-regional-networksProfessionalNetworksGENDEROne of the main purposes of the Gender Networkis to highlight gender-related issues within the CSC’swork. Though vast improvements have been madeover the years, the gender disparity in CSC schemesis significant. Data disaggregated by gender revealsthat 72% of awards taken up from 1960 to thepresent were by males, and only 28% by females.Though in recent years the gap has narrowed(58% male, 42% female), there is still an obviousdifference that needs to be addressed.In addition, a study conducted on alumni useof the CSC Professional Networks showed thatonly 14.8% of respondents belonged to theGender Network, highlighting the need to increasemembership. As a result, the Gender ProfessionalNetwork was relaunched at the CSC WelcomeProgramme in November 2012.The Network now operates via LinkedIn and,while it will provide the same platform forinformation sharing and dissemination as theother Professional Networks, it also functionsas a support mechanism for current and formerCommonwealth Scholars and Fellows, linkingthem together so they can discuss academic orwork-related issues.PUBLIC HEALTHA large proportion of alumni work in public health;a recent report showed that the absolute numberof people taking up Commonwealth Scholarshipsor Fellowships in health-related subjects hastended to rise decade on decade, and in totalrepresents just over one-fifth of all awards.The Public Health Network has now also movedto LinkedIn. The Network provides memberswith news of recent developments, publications,and grants, and also enables them to share theircurrent activities.Dr Hafiz T A Khan (2005 Commonwealth Fellowfrom Bangladesh, Demographic and HealthConsequences of Ageing in Bangladesh, Universityof Oxford) is currently a Senior Lecturer atMiddlesex University, UK, and is an active memberof the Network. He said, ‘I find the LinkedInbasedPublic Health Network very useful fordisseminating as well as sharing knowledge andresearch experiences. It is a real opportunity forbuilding bridges between current and formerCommonwealth Scholars and Fellows. I havebenefited a lot from learning about othermembers’ research work. Sometimes researchqueries and questions that are posted help us torethink and seek a better solution’.Feedback from members is welcomed on areas ofresearch or funding opportunities that are mostrelevant to their needs.EDUCATIONThe Education Network has also transferred toLinkedIn. The Network is popular amongst Scholars,Fellows and alumni, especially given the strongties many have with academic institutions andresearch. Professor John Morgan, coordinator of theNetwork and former Commonwealth ScholarshipCommissioner, provides a comprehensive guideto current trends, publications, and events, andwelcomes input and posts from members.Alumni eventsALUMNI ATTEND HIGH COMMISSIONRECEPTION IN BOTSWANAFormer Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows wereamongst guests at a reception hosted by HE MsJennifer Anderson, British High Commissionerto Botswana, in July 2012. The reception washeld during the Commonwealth Summer School,with guests drawn from the Summer School andCommonwealth and Chevening alumni.KENYA CHAPTER MAKES LINKS WITH NEWSCHOLARSThe Kenya Chapter held a range of social andnetworking events during 2012, as well asparticipating in events with key stakeholders inKenya. Chapter representatives also attended apre-departure event at the British High Commissionin Nairobi in August 2012, to facilitate networkingwith new UK government-funded scholars, as wellas alumni.CSC PROFESSIONAL NETWORKSThe CSC has seven Professional Networks forboth current Scholars and Fellows in a rangeof professional subject areas:• Agriculture and Rural Development• Economics and Finance• Education• Environment• Gender• Governance• Public Health• Science and TechnologyTo join a Network, you first need to sign up toLinkedIn, and then join the CommonwealthScholarships parent group at http://linkd.in/commonwealthscholarships – once you area member, you can then join any of the CSCProfessional Network subgroups.February 201317

CSFP NEWSAndrew Harvey, a 2011 Commonwealth Scholar from Canada supported by the CSFP endowment fund,describes the motivation behind his studies and his plans for the future.Flying over East Africa, I remember being stunnedby the patchwork of browns and greens and redsthat spread out underneath me. A quotationfrom J M G Le Clézio bubbled up to the front ofmy mind: ‘Today, the most insignificant tracts ofland, from the heart of the Amazon to the frozencanyons of the Antarctic, have been examined,photographed, analyzed by the cold eye of thesatellite. If there remains a secret, it is to be foundinside the soul, in its long progression of desires,of legends, of masquerades and of chants whichblend with time and resurface and run across theskin’.Neither of these events – flying to Tanzania, normusings about Le Clézio – were happenstance.Two years earlier, I had been teaching at a smallroadside school in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, coveringblackboards with trite grammar rules, whilesimultaneously coming to terms with the region’smind-boggling diversity. The following year, I holedmyself away at the central library of MemorialUniversity of Newfoundland in Canada, writingabout the new Nobel laureate J M G Le Clézio,becoming increasingly entangled in his nightmarishvisions of modernity. My thesis, titled J.M.G. LeClézio: The Voice of the Voiceless, included arather vague sentence proclaiming the necessityof ‘reclaiming voices’. In the context of my thesis,‘reclaiming voices’ was a poor conclusion – wobblyin its brevity. How does one go about reclaiming avoice? Over the course of the next two years, thiswas the question I would seek to answer.I began studying language endangerment. I studiedIrish Gaelic, the language that my ancestors usedwhen they arrived in Newfoundland. I went toLabrador and observed speakers of Innu-Aimunin Sheshatshui, rebuilding their traditional identityin their mother tongue. I discovered great joy inthe thousands of different iterations of the humanspirit as manifested in language. Simultaneously,I cultivated an anxiety over the rate of languageextinction worldwide: of the thousands of languagescurrently spoken today, only 50% will continue tobe used at the turn of the coming century.One of the areas predicted to undergo the mostdrastic levels of language extinction is East Africa.Therefore, when the opportunity to take up aCommonwealth Scholarship to study MA Linguisticsat the University of Dar es Salaam presented itself,the decision was natural, and I moved to Tanzania.Andrew Harvey, 2011 Commonwealth Scholar supported by the CSFP endowment fundLanguage extinction matters: the level of thetragedy summed up well by a good friend ofmine named Aloice. During a trek through theUsambara Mountains, our party became lost in therainforest. That night, we cleared the undergrowthwith machetes, set up our tents, and spent theremainder of the night sitting within the tiny spherecircumscribed by the firelight, talking, joking, andtelling stories. Using language to reassert ourhumanity against the wilderness. The climax ofthe night arrived with a vivid epic told in the localKisambaa language and recounting the history ofSimbawene, the traditional king of the Sambaapeople. Afterwards I asked why Aloice, fluent in bothEnglish and Swahili, had chosen to recite the storyin Kisambaa. He looked at me, and simply said, ‘Iuse my language because it is the key to my culture.Without my culture, I am a refugee’.Culture is humanity crystallised. Language, as amanifestation of culture, is humanity’s essence.‘Reclaiming voices’ is about reaffirming thathumanity.I am currently writing this article in central Tanzania,where I have come to live for one year withan ethnic group called the Gorwáa. With theirguidance and support, I will learn the language,develop an alphabet, and, through my MA thesis,lay the theoretical foundations for a communitybasedlanguage documentation programme whichwill see the production of the first grammar book,and the compilation of the first dictionary. Noneof these skills can be developed without practicalexperience. I therefore expect the coming monthsto be stimulating, challenging, and sometimesfrustrating, but ultimately to be a formative periodboth professionally and personally.It is my goal that, upon completion of subsequentdoctoral studies, the Gorwáa language will, for thefirst time in its history, be available for examinationby theoretical linguists; Gorwáa children will beable to read in their native tongue; and Gorwáatraditional knowledge can be stored in books. Thedirect benefits to the people could be considerable,and the indirect benefits (for example, communitypride in having a written language) just as positive. Amajority of languages remain undocumented – bothin Tanzania and throughout the rest of the world– and if, throughout my career, I can contribute tochanging that, I feel I will have succeeded in makinga contribution to science, and indeed, to discoveringthat secret of the soul described by Le Clézio.18 Commonwealth Scholarships News

COUNTRY PROFILE –TRINIDAD AND TOBAGOTo date, 422 Commonwealth Scholarships andFellowships have been awarded to citizens ofTrinidad and Tobago who have applied through thenational nominating agency, the Ministry of PublicAdministration, Scholarships and Advanced TrainingDivision. According to the ministry, CommonwealthScholarships are ‘integral in addressing the shortageof manpower in critical areas of development and inparticular the public service in Trinidad and Tobago’.Dr Nadeem Hosein, 2012 CommonwealthScholar from Trinidad and TobagoFebruary 2013Dr Nadeem Hosein (2012 Commonwealth Scholar,MSc Clinical Neurology, University College London)was motivated to apply for a CommonwealthScholarship by two of his mentors who are formerCommonwealth Scholars. Additionally, he had astrong desire to help address the developmentalchallenges in internal medicine and neurology inTrinidad and Tobago, where there are delays indiagnosing and treating patients, due to an acuteshortage of trained neurologists, and longer waitingtimes for clinical appointments.Nadeem likes the ‘the diversity of colours, ethnicitiesand cultures’ he experiences living in London. Hefound that the transition into life in London wasmade more manageable by the ‘the hard work ofthe diligent staff’ at the CSC.Nadeem is confident that the clinical skills he acquiresin the UK will directly enhance the lives of the patientpopulation in Trinidad and Tobago, which will be oftangible benefit to his home country. His particulargoal is ‘to introduce acute thrombolysis for eligiblepatients with ischemic strokes’ at the hospital heworks for in south Trinidad, as this has the potentialto decrease morbidity associated with the disease.The CSC has a large and active alumni communityin Trinidad and Tobago. Alumni have achievedtremendous outcomes in their fields of expertise aftercompleting their awards, and have made significantcontributions to development in their homecountry. For example, Dr Shelton Nicholls (1991Commonwealth Scholar, PhD Economics, QueenSan Fernando, TrinidadMary, University of London; 2000 CommonwealthFellow, Economics, University of Nottingham) is nowDeputy Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidadand Tobago.Dr Karla Georges (2005 Commonwealth Split-siteScholar, PhD Veterinary Epidemiology, Universityof the West Indies at St Augustine and NewcastleUniversity) lectures in veterinary public health atthe School of Veterinary Medicine at the Universityof the West Indies at St Augustine. Her doctoralresearch was one ‘Detecting arthropod transmittedhaemopathogens of companion animals using areverse line blot hybridization assay’ and, sincecompleting her award, Karla has continued herresearch on tick-borne diseases.Karla feels that, as an alumnus, she is part of agroup of individuals who are passionate about theirfield of study and who have all excelled in differentareas, making it an honour to have been awarded aCommonwealth Scholarship. In addition, being partof the CSC community has provided networkingopportunities with like-minded people throughoutthe Commonwealth.Karla has been working on transferring technologyto the School of Veterinary Medicine both to buildcapacity in using molecular methods in clinicaldiagnosis and to strengthen research that benefitsthe country. In addition, her department is alsoworking on improving other areas of molecularresearch and, eventually, providing diagnosticservices for veterinary diseases in the region.19

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in theUnited Kingdom (CSC) is responsible for managingBritain’s contribution to the Commonwealth Scholarshipand Fellowship Plan (CSFP).The CSC supports around 700 awards annually. Awardsare funded by UKaid from the Department for InternationalDevelopment (for developing Commonwealth countries) and theForeign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for Business,Innovation and Skills and the Scottish Government (for developedCommonwealth countries), in conjunction with UK universities. TheCSC also nominates UK citizens for scholarships to study in otherCommonwealth countries under the CSFP.The CSC makes available seven types of award:· Scholarships for PhD research· Scholarships for Master’s study· Shared Scholarships with UK universities in support of Master’s programmes· Academic Fellowships for staff serving in developing country universities· Split-site Scholarships for PhD students to spend up to one year in the UK· Professional Fellowships for mid-career professionals in developing countries· Distance Learning Scholarships for developing country students to study UK Master’s degree courseswhile living in their own countriesThe CSC is a non-departmental public body in its own right, and members are appointed in line with the Codeof Practice of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The CSC’s secretariat is provided by theAssociation of Commonwealth Universities; financial administration services are provided by the British Council.The CSFP is an international programme under which member governments offer scholarships and fellowshipsto citizens of other Commonwealth countries. The Plan was established at the first Commonwealth educationconference in 1959 and is reviewed by ministers at their triennial meetings – the only scholarship scheme in theworld to receive such high-level recognition.www.dfid.gov.uk/cscukwww.flickr.com/cscukhttp://twitter.com/commscholshttp://linkd.in/commonwealthscholarshipsCommonwealth Scholarships News is published for information purposes only and no liability is accepted for its contents by the CSC or by any contributor to it. While all reasonable efforts have beenmade to ensure that the information contained therein was correct at the time of compilation, it should not be regarded as definitive and no responsibility is accepted for the inclusion or omission ofany particular item. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the CSC.This magazine is printed using vegetable-based inks on Ecoplex paper, made from 100% post-consumer waste fibre to Blue Angel standard RAL UZ-14. It is chlorine free, uses no optical brightenersand has one of the lowest energy requirements and smallest carbon footprints of any coated paper.