ANNIVERSARY RECEPTION HELD IN NEW ZEALAND
 A reception celebrating the 50th anniversary of Commonwealth Scholarships was held in Wellington, New Zealand on 4th September. The reception was held at Parliament Buildings, and hosted by the Speaker, Hon. Dr Lockwood Smith (in association with NZVCC). More than 150 guests attended, including Commonwealth Scholars, CSFP alumni, Commonwealth diplomatic representatives, staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and NZAID, tertiary education, as well as representatives from universities and scholarship organisations. A publication, marking the anniversary, was also launched at the reception, and can be accessed on the NZVCC website: www.nzvcc.ac.nz/50Commonwealth
COMMONWEALTH SCHOLAR AWARDED PhD SCHOLARSHIPS
Jason Pobjoy has been awarded the W M Tapp Studentship in Law and the Poyton Cambridge Australia Scholarship to undertake a PhD in law at the University of Cambridge. Jason is a 2008 Commonwealth Scholar from Australia, who studied for a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL).
COMMONWEALTH SCHOLAR WINS BEST STUDENT PRIZE
Commonwealth Scholar Hemant Sahni has been awarded the John and Elizabeth Sherris Graduate Student Prize for best student on the MSc Molecular Medicine course at University College London. Hemant, from India, has just completed his MSc; his research focused on malaria control.
COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARS RESPOND TO GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Commonwealth Scholars Jason Pobjoy and Julia Powles (both from Australia and studying BCL Law) recently sent a 30,000-word submission in response to an Australian government consultation, as part of a team of 12 Oxford graduate students. The consultation, on how Australia could better protect human rights and whether or not it should implement a federal bill of rights, received over 35,000 written submissions in total.
Jason formed the team to specifically address the lessons that Australia can learn from the UK on human rights – one of the objectives of his Commonwealth Scholarship. The team of law students from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada was also assisted by a number of professors from the Universities of Melbourne, Oxford and Cambridge, and by Lord Thomas Bingham, former Senior Law Lord. The submission, University of Oxford Pro Bono Publico, is available online.
COMMONWEALTH VS RHODES SCHOLARS CRICKET MATCH
 After losing the toss, the Commonwealth Scholars were put into bat, and found it hard to recover from the loss of some early wickets. Without the development of any serious partnership, their run scoring was restricted, save for a few late innings runs from Praveen Priyadarshi and Harri Kemp which saved the Commonwealth Scholars from total disaster. Bowled out after 21 overs, the team managed to put together 74. After lunch, even with such a low score, the Commonwealth Scholars knew they were in with a chance if they could snare early wickets, which they did. Harri picked up one of their openers and Simon Breakspear ran out the other with an inspired direct hit from square leg.
Rhodes' next two batsmen survived with luck on their side, managing to bat out 12 overs which put them in a strong position on the scoreboard. During this period, Ashiq Tuhin and Premanand Patil bowled well but without much going their way.
But even with the introduction of super-sub Angella McNeil, the Commonwealth Scholars were unable to stop a fortuitous but intelligent Rhodes innings from overhauling their total with 5 wickets in hand. Congratulations must go to a well captained Rhodes team who performed well under pressure - read the full match report online.
ONLINE ALUMNI REGISTRATION AVAILABLE
Scholars who are coming to the end of their Commonwealth award will soon receive an email inviting them to register as alumni using our new online form. Scholars will receive an email with a link to their alumni record, which will allow them to update information such as contact details and employment history. For more information on the alumni programme, please visit our alumni section.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS UNDER THE ESRC/DFID JOINT SCHEME FOR RESEARCH ON INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (POVERTY ALLEVIATION).
The Department for International Development (DFID) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) are pleased to announce that they have agreed to continue their strategic partnership to provide a joint funding scheme for development research.
The purpose of the scheme is to provide a more robust conceptual and empirical basis for development, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The second phase of funding retains the overall ‘poverty alleviation’ theme from the first phase, and applications under this broad heading will still be welcome. However, ESRC and DFID have identified three thematic areas for this call where work will be of particular interest. These areas are: • Security, Conflict and Development;
• Economic Crisis, Poverty and Growth: the Implications for Development Theory and Practice;
• Cities and Development Full applications are invited between £100,000 to £500,000 (100% FEC). The scheme is open to applicants from both UK and non-UK Institutions.
The deadline for applications is 4pm UK time on 24th September 2009. Full details of the call and all documentation can be accessed from the ESRC Society Today website: http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/opportunities/current_funding_opportunities/ESRC-DFID.aspx#0 Any questions should be directed to DFID@esrc.ac.uk Peter Stephenson (ESRC,RD) (01793) 442162
RESEARCH PRIZE
Melanie Bunce, a former Commonwealth Scholar at Oxford University, has received one of six Round Table Commonwealth Awards for Young Scholars. The prize includes a three-week research grant for travel to another Commonwealth country, together with the opportunity for publication of final work. Melanie, whose DPhil looks at journalism and stories on international conflict in Africa, and will travel to Nairobi as part of her prize.
CSC ALUMNUS TAKES UP POST AS CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR
Dr Atiur Rahman (Commonwealth Scholar, PhD at SOAS) was appointed as Governor, Bank of Bangladesh, on 1 May. Previously he has been a Professor in the Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, and has held a variety of offices spanning his interests in Economics and finance, and cultural learning.
ALUMNUS APPOINTED TO COMMISSION
Vidyaratha Kissoon (Commonwealth Scholar, University of Birmingham 1990 to 1993) has been appointed to the first Rights of the Child Commission in Guyana. The Rights of the Child Commission is tasked with ensuring that Guyana honours its committments to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
FORMER FELLOW APPOINTED VICE CHANCELLOR
 Dr. SMM Ismail has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the South Eastern University in Sri Lanka. He was a Fellow at the University of Reading in 2005. Dr Ismail was a Senior Lecturer in Economics and served as the Director of “Improving Relevance and Quality of Undergraduate Education (IRQUE) project funded by the World Bank. He has also served as the Head of the Department of Social Sciences and Dean Faculty of Management and Commerce at the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ALUMNI DURING CONFERENCE OF COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION MINISTERS
 Dr John Kirkland was able to meet with CSC alumni at a range of events surrounding the CCEM. He atteneded a joint reception for Commonwealth Scholarship and Chevening alumnni on the Thursday evening, and also met with alumni in Singapore at a lunch and evening event following the conference in Malaysia.
GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL AWARD
 Dr. Joyce Addo-Atuah (Commonwealth Scholar, MSc in Hospital Pharmacy, University of Manchester, 1989-1992), is one of 24 recipients of the Global Health Council’s New Investigators in Global Health (NIGH) Awards for 2009. This is a competitive abstract submission program for new research investigators on issues of global health importance. Dr. Addo-Atuah’s abstract was titled “Accessibility of ART for PLWHA in Ghana.” This was a component of her doctoral dissertation that examined the factors relating to access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Ghana.
Dr. Addo-Atuah is currently an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy and Health Outcomes at the Touro College of Pharmacy in New York.
(Dr. Addo-Atuah (in white jacket), center, front row, with the 2009 New Investigators in Global Health)
ALUMNUS APPOINTED DEAN
Professor Gurumayum Sharma (an Academic Fellow at Brunel University in the Department of Biochemistry in 1990) has been appointed Dean, School of Sciences, Manipur University from January 2009. Recently he won the Birbal Sahni Centenary Award 2009 for outstanding contribution in Radiation Biology
POETRY ANTHOLOGY PUBLISHED
 Aili McConnon (CSC alumnus MPhil in American Literature at the University of Caambridge, 2001) has co-edited a poetry anthology "Blooming Through the Ashes (An International Anthology on Violence and the Human Spirit)". The book features writings about violence and its aftermath, with authors including Seamus Heaney, Toni Morrison and Wole Soyinka, amongst others.
NEW POST FOR ALUMNUS
D. Sanjay K
Dr Sanjay Agarwal, a Fellow at the Manchester Royal Infirmary in 1995, has taken up the post of Head of the Department of Nephrology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He commented, "I feel it is a great responsibility and with my experience in Machester MRI Hospital, I feel I will be able to do justice to the post."
OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR AWARD
 Professor Mahinda Wijeratne of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna obtained the Most Outstanding Scholar – 2008 award at the inaugural session of the academic session held on March 25th. Professor Wijeratne was a Commonwealth Fellow in 2004 at the University of Reading.
ALUMNUS RECEIVES AWARDS
Dr. D. P. Biradar, currenlty Professor of Agronomy, University of Agricultural Sciences (a Fellow at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, 2004), was elected as a Fellow of National Academy of Biological Sciences, Chennai, and has also received the Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam National Award by Karnataka Janata Sena Dal and Janata Samaj Seva Trust, Bangalore, Karnataka and the Konda Lakshman Bapuji Award by Konda Lakshman Bapuji Felicitation Committee, Hederabad, Andra Pradesh (India).
RECEPTION TO MARK 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
 On 28 April 2009, 20 Commonwealth Scholars attended a reception at Buckingham Palace, to mark the 60th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth. The event included a performance of a Commonwealth cantata, a champagne reception, as well as a chance to view examples of art from the Commonwealth and to speak with the Queen. It was not only a wonderful opportunity to interact with members of the Royal family, High Commissioners and representatives from Commonwealth organisations and bodies, but was also an enjoyable and inspiring experience, as demonstrated by the following comments from Scholars:
“The opportunity to go to Buckingham Palace and meet other members of the Commonwealth was, to put it simply, an unforgettable moment. The painting room and the music room were stunning; shaking the Queen's hand was even better!”
''The event was remarkable and marked a day that I will forever cherish in my life. The opportunity to not only visit the Palace, but also meet and chat with HM the Queen was truly overwhelming. I told the Queen about my country and PhD studies under the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. She was impressed and remarked she had met a few other scholars. She said that we as scholars should strive to make an impact in society.”
LAUNCH OF NEW DIRECTORY
 The second Directory of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows was launched at a reception at Marlborough House on 23rd April. Guests from the worlds of education, government and civil society mixed with current Scholars, Alumni, Commissioners and CSC staff, and heard speeches from Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General, and Lord Malloch Brown, Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN. Pictured are Mathero Nkhalamba, Commonwealth Scholar from Malawi who gave the vote of thanks, and Kamalesh Sharma.
COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARS DEBATE THE FUTURE OF COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION
Ten Commonwealth Scholars had the opportunity to share in high-level debates on the future of Commonwealth education, at a recent conference in Oxford, celebrating 50 years of Commonwealth educational co-operation – full event report.
CSC RECEPTION IN UGANDA
 Commissioner Professor Ann Floyd hosted a CSC reception at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Uganda on the 27th of March. The reception brought together more than 50 guests from CSC distance learning scholars, alumni, and representatives from local stakeholders at the British Council and Makerere University. Professor Floyd said 'I was able to talk with every scholar, and it was evident from all the alumni that their scholarships had been of great value to their professional lives, just as the Commission had hoped. It was especially pleasing for me, as chair of the distance learning committee, to meet so many current distance learning scholars on a great variety of masters programmes, and to hear the many different ways in which their studies were already influencing their professional lives. Both the alumni and the current scholars were delighted to have the opportunity to get together, and exchange experiences, so I am very grateful to the British Council for their help in facilitating such a worthwhile event.
Alumnus Dr. Apollo Karugaba commented, "It was a wonderful opportunity to meet with so many people who have benefited in one way or another from their association with the Commonwealth. I trust we will continue to render services to the benefit of our people."
ALUMNUS UPDATE ON WORK WITH YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES IN ASIAN REGIONS
CSC alumnus Saeed Ullah Khan (MA in Development Economics from the University of Sussex, 2003) worked in Africa for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees until returning to his home country of Pakistan in 2008. He rejoined International Rescue Committee as Technical Advisor – Youth & Livelihoods Programs, covering the whole of Asia and Caucasus Region (including Afghanistan, Nepal, North Caucasus, Pakistan and Myanmar).
Saeed says, “My work for youth with the IRC is something that is close to my heart. It is a perfect use of the skills I acquired during my studies in UK as Commonwealth Scholar. The main focus of my job is to support the US$150 million 5-years development program for youth in FATA on Pakistan/Afghan border together with many other interventions IRC is currently undertaking in the region. Prior to joining the IRC, I was actively involved with UNHCR in the management of multi-sectoral humanitarian and development programmes for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and other communities with an annual budget of over US$15 million. In early 2008, I actively participated in the established of a new mega program in Tanzania to find a permanent solution to over 220,000 Burundian refugees who were displaced in 1972. This process will see the naturalization of as many as 150,000 Burundians into Tanzania, a success not heard of in recent years. Besides this I have contributed in different capacities to United Nations Online Volunteer Programme, United Nations Drug Control Programme Pakistan, Oxfam GB United Kingdom, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and IUCN Pakistan."
SCHOLAR NOMINATED FOR COMMONWEALTH PEOPLE'S FORUM
At a CSC 50th anniversary conference at Cumberland Lodge, Carol Holness, Commonwealth Scholar from South Africa, was nominated as a representative to attend the Commonwealth People's Forum, whcih immediately precedes the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago this November.
Carol said, 'I am currently undertaking an MSc Human Rights at the London School of Economics. Upon completing my Masters, I intend returning to South Africa to complete my articles of clerkship as a candidate attorney at Deneys Reitz Attorneys. It is a great privilege to have been elected to attend the Commonwealth People's Forum in Trinidad and Tobago. I am very grateful for this amazing opportunity and look forward to representing my fellow Commonwealth Scholars at this event'.
COMMONWEALTH DAY
 A group of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows representing all the Commission's schemes, including the Distance Learning Scheme, attended events to mark Commonwealth Day on Monday 9 March. Sixty awards-holders were able to attend the Observance at Westminster Abbey with a few going on to the Royal Commonwealth Society for a Tea Party which all found very enjoyable. In addition, five Commonwealth Scholars were fortunate enough to be invited to attend a reception at the Commonwealth Secretariat at Marlborough House which was also attended by the Queen. A Professional Fellow from South Africa, Theresa Subban commented on the day, that 'it was an interesting experience and for me there seems to exist an unspoken bond, a sense of pride and a unique identity in the Commonwealth, as echoed by the different speakers and the performing artists of the day - very heart-warming'".
INNOVATION IN AGRICULTURE AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN AFRICA AND ASIA
 Mr. Kamanda Josey Ondieki, a shared scholarships alumnus (MSc. Techonology Management at the University of Surrey),joined the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in December 2008 as an Associate Professional Officer. ICRISAT works on innovative agricultural research and capacity building for sustainable development in Africa and Asia, and belongs to the Alliance of Future Harvest Centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Currently based in India, Mr. Kamanda, a Kenyan national, works with the Global Theme on Institututions, Markets, Policy and Impacts as an Institutional Innovation Specialist.
SOLAR POWER PROJECT SUCCESS IN SRI LANKA AND BEYOND
 Professor I M Dharmadasa, pictured here with colleagues, is a former Commonwealth scholar at the University of Durham (PhD in solid state electronics) is building on the success of his solar energy pilot project in Sri Lanka. The first sola power project under the Solar Village umbrella was in Kaduruwewa village in the Kurunegala District, where solar energy powers the pumps used for water supply. As the switch from a diesel pump saves the villagers money, this can be redirected into community improvements, such as better education for children. An important feature of the Solar Village idea is that communities are encouraged to work together to improve the environment and agriculture of their area, also facilitating community development. Universities are also utilised to work in partnership with village development. There has been international interest in the Solar Village concept, with Nigeria recognising that it could benefit from this project.
NEWS ON EVENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD AS PART OF CSC ANNIVERSARY
You can now download an information sheet on the discussion panel of Commonwealth leader (including Lord Patten and Mr Kamalesh Sharma), examining developments over the past 50 years, and the priorities for
higher education in the Commonwealth in the 21st century. Visit the Anniversary section for details.
ALUMNI APPOINTED AS VICE-CHANCELLORS
Dr Gyanendra Singh (pictured right), formerly a Commonwealth Scholar in agriculture at the University of Reading, has been re-appointed for a further four-year term as Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya University, India.
Professor S V Sudhakar, who was a Commonwealth Fellow at Cardiff University, was also recently appointed as Vice-Chancellor at Dr B R Ambedkar University, India.
RESEARCH PROJECT ON AYURVEDA SYSTEM OF MEDICINE
Professor A P G Amarasinghe, who was a Commonwealth Fellow at the University of Exeter, has recently completed a four-year research project: “Studies on specific micro organisms, beneficial micro organisms, and microbial contaminations in herbal preparations used in indigenous systems of medicine in Sri Lanka, with a view to define an acceptable microbial quality standards and good manufacturing practice”. This is the first ever research of this nature in the field of Ayurveda and traditional systems of medicine in Sri Lanka, and has potential benefit for the manufacturers of Ayurvedic drugs, in producing safe, effective and high quality ayurvedic medicine.
ALUMNUS WORKING ON SUSTAINABLE URBAN ENVIRONMENT PROJECTS
 Dr Anil Namdeo,who was a Commonwealth Scholar at the University of Nottingham, has recently joined the Transport Operations Research Group at the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, as a Senior Lecturer. Dr Namdeo is is currently involved in three EPSRC funded Sustainable Urban Environment projects: 4M, ReVISIONS and SOLUTIONS. The 4M project seeks to investigate how much carbon the city produces – and look at ways it can be cut. In ReVISIONS, research will be carried out within an integrated modelling framework to understand how regional ‘top down’ spatial development policies would affect the size and densities of settlements and identify the most sustainable combinations of infrastructure. SOLUTIONS intends to answer how far, and by what means, can towns and cities be planned so they are socially inclusive, economically efficient and environmentally sustainable.
DELPHE SELECTION PROCESS: CALL FOR VOLUNTEER ASSESSORS
The DFID-funded Development Partnerships in Higher Education (DelPHE) scheme is looking for former Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows in senior academic positions in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, to assist in its review process for shortlisted applications.
Advisers should come from a wide range of subject areas, have significant academic standing, and have an awareness of development priorities within the region. The precise number of applications that each is asked to review will be determined by the balance of applications between subject areas, but it is not expected that any single reviewer will be asked to look at more than ten papers. Reviewers' comments will be placed before the final selection panel, which meets in London. For the current round of applications, it is likely that requests for review will be send out by mid-April, with responses being required within a four-week period. The process will be electronic, and it is essential that reviewers have access to good email facilities.
If you are from any of the three countires listed above and would like to be considered as a reviewer, please contact Emma Reilly at the British Council before 13 March 2009. Further details of the DelPHE programme more generally can be found at www.britishcouncil.org/delphe
ALUMNUS APPOINTED AS DEPUTY OMBUDSMAN
Peter Wilkins, former Commonwealth Scholar at the University of Southampton, has been appointed as Deputy Ombudsman of Western Australia. Peter studied for a PhD in Sound Vibration from 1974-1977.
SCOTLAND SUPPORTS COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS
The Scottish Government has announced direct support for Commonwealth Scholarships for the first time. It will support awards for students for developed Commonwealth countries for doctoral study at Scottish universities from 2009, working alongside the London-based Department for Innovation, Universities Skills. Award holders from developing countries will still be able to study in Scotland under the funding from the Department for International Development.
PRETORIA OFFERS COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS
The University of Pretoria is offering three new awards to citizens of any Commonwealth country, as part of South Africa’s commitment to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan. Two of the awards will be for doctoral study, and one for postdoctoral work. Closing date for applications is 31 March. For further information on the PhD award, visit http://web.up.ac.za/sitefiles/Commonwealth Scholarships for PhD Studies.pdf. For further information on the postdoctoral research award, visit http://web.up.ac.za/sitefiles/Commonwealth Scholarships for Postdoctoral Research.pdf.
COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARS IN THE POLICY PROCESS
Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows will have a direct opportunity to influence Commonwealth decision-making at an event to be held from 20-22 March. The seminar will form part of the formal consultative process for civil society, which is being organised by the Commonwealth Foundation, in advance of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, to be held in Trinidad this November. The Foundation will also support the cost of one Scholar, selected from those attending the seminar, to take part in youth events at the Heads of Government Meeting itself.
ALUMNUS PUBLISHES BOOK ON GLOBAL HEALTH
Professor Kent Buse (a former Commonwealth Scholar in Public Health Policy at London University) has published a new book, "Making Sense of Global Health Governance – The Policy Perspective" (Palgrave Macmillan). The book draws on the expertise of leading figures from academia, UN organizations and foundations to discuss and make policy-oriented recommendations to improve the governance of global health issues.
CSC ALUMNUS IN BBC DOCUMENTARY
 Professor M. Monirul H. Khan, a CSC alumnus who studied wildlife biology at Cambridge University, featured in a
BBC documentary film entitled 'Man-eating Tigers of the Sundarbans' on Friday 30 January at 8:00pm on BBC2. The film shows Professor Khan and his team in their work on behalf of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), trying to reduce tiger-human conflict in and around the Sundarbans of Bangladesh. The programme is also available via BBC iplayer at: www.bbc.co.uk
CSC SCHOLAR WINS WORLD UNIVERSITIES DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
James Dray, a Commonwealth scholar at Oxford studying for a DPhil in African Politics, has won the World Universities Debating Championship held in Cork, Ireland earlier this month. James, who represented Oxford Unviersity together with friend Will Jones, took home a Cavan Crystal replica of the Sam Maguire cup. A full report can be read in the Irish Times
COMMONWEALTH FELLOWS HONOURED
Two former Commonwealth Fellows have won prestigious honours recent weeks. Professor Venkateswarlu Kadiyala, whose Fellowship was undertaken at the University of Dundee in 1989, has been elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences in India. Professor Kadiyala is currently Professor of Microbiology at Sri Krishnadevaraya University. Meanwhile Professor Uplai S Amarasinghe, Commonwealth Fellow at Imperial College in 2000-01, has won the 2008 Sri Lankan Committee of Vice Chancellors and Directors award for the most outstanding researcher in biological sciences. Professor Amarasinghe has also received the Vice Chancellors award for the most outstanding researcher in sciences at the University of Kelaniya in each of the past two years.
ALUMNUS PUBLISHES NEW BOOK
Dr
Kiran Prasad, a former Commonwealth Fellow at the University of Leeds,has published a book "Communications for Development: Reinventing Theory and Action", examining how new media are
reshaping the ways in which communications can be used in development.Dr
Kiran Prasad is Associate Professor in Communication Studies, College of Applied Science at Salalah, Ministry of Higher Education, Oman and Professor in Communication and Journalism at Sri Padmavati Mahila University, Tirupati, India.
NEW FAITHS AND CIVIL SOCIETY NETWORK LAUNCHED
Commonwealth Scholars from throughout the country descended on Birkbeck College, University of London, over the weekend of January 17-18, for the launch of a new professional network in the area of Faiths and Civil Society. The launch follows an initial seminar at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor last year.
All current scholars and alumni are invited to sign up for the new network, which aims to bring together views from a wide range of faiths throughout the Commonwealth, and will be coordinated by Dr Adam Dinham, Director of the Faiths and Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths College, University of London.
The new initiative is the latest professional network of Commonwealth Scholars and alumni. Others operate in the areas of education, public health, governance, agriculture, environment, gender and science and technology. A new legal network is on schedule to be launched later this year.
INDIAN SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Government of India has invited nominations from UK students wishing to take up Commonwealth Scholarships in India this year. Applications should be with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in London by 13 February 2009. We would also be interested to hear from UK students interested in taking up future opportunities in India.
Almost 100 British students have undertaken Commonwealth Scholarships in India since the scheme commenced. Many have gone on to prominent careers with an international flavour, in government, NGOs or relevant academic posts. One example is Bruce Cleghorn, former British High Commissioner in Malaysia, who undertook his Commonwealth Scholarship from 1969-1972.
COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE GOVERNANCE AGENDA
The contribution of Commonwealth Scholars in the critical area of governance provides the focus of the latest edition of Commonwealth Scholarships News.
Amongst the several cases featured is that of Dr Julius Sandy, who secured his doctorate from the University of Birmingham in 2003, and has recently been appointed as Director of the Public Sector Reform Unit of the Government of Sierra Leone. Other cases are cited from Mozambique, New Zealand, Dominica, Bangladesh, Mauritius and Australia.
NEW COMMISSION CHAIR TAKES OFFICE
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission has a new Chair: Professor Tim Unwin, Professor of Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London. Tim was Director and then Senior Advisor to the World Economic Forum's Partnerships for Education programme with UNESCO from 2007-2008. From 2001-2004, he led the UK Prime Minister's Imfundo initiative, based in the Department for International Development, creating partnerships to deliver ICT-based educational initiatives in Africa. Since returning to Royal Holloway, he has created an ICT4D Collective, which undertakes research, teaching and consultancy in the field of Information and Communication Technologies for Development. Tim replaces Professor Trudy Harpham, who has retired after seven years in the post.
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