1COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS GO GLOBAL! · COUNTRY PROFILE – SINGAPORE · NEWS ROUND-UP

SCHOLARS' NEWS · ALUMNI IN ACTION · NETWORKS AND EVENTS

NEWSIssue 11

January 2010Promoting learning, development and co-operation

Common ground, different shores:

Commonwealth Scholarships set to expand

2 Commonwealth Scholarships News2 Commonwealth Scholarships News

Commonwealth Scholarships News

Editorial Team:Dr John Kirkland, Jocelyn Law, Anna O’Flynn and Natasha Lokhun

Design and Print: dsi colourworks

Commonwealth Scholarships News is published threetimes a year by the Commonwealth ScholarshipCommission in the United Kingdom.

Commonwealth Scholarship Commissionc/o The Association of Commonwealth UniversitiesWoburn House, 20–24 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HF, UK

comments@cscuk.org.ukwww.cscuk.org.uk

Commonwealth 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 been made 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 of any

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 brighteners and has one of the lowest energy requirements and smallest carbon

footprints of any coated paper.

Cover Karen Stockin, CommonwealthScholar from the UK, studying for a PhDin Marine Biology at Massey University,New Zealand.

2 Editorial

3 News round-upThe latest from the CommonwealthScholarships community.

4-5 Scholars’ newsHow our Scholars are making an impacton their home countries and beyond.

6-7 The world’s most internationalscholarship scheme?Commonwealth Scholarships go global!

8 Alumni in actionAn update on the activities of ouralumni.

9 Alumni profile Alumni who have held CommonwealthScholarships in a variety of countriesover the last 50 years share theirmemories and experiences.

10 Networks and eventsReports from CSC events.

11 Country profile– SingaporeA closer look at the CommonwealthScholarship and Fellowship Plan inoperation internationally.

This issue of Commonwealth Scholarships News focuseson new destinations for Commonwealth Scholarships.The broadening of the Commonwealth Scholarship and

Fellowship Plan (CSFP), to embrace more south-southcollaboration and attract the best international talent to newly-emerging centres of higher education, is a trend that I verymuch support.

Although not a Commonwealth Scholar myself, I benefitedfrom scholarships at every stage of my own education.Scholarships transformed my life. They opened my eyes to awider and more exciting world – intellectual as well asgeographical – and made possible my own career in the UKdiplomatic service. During that career, I had the privilege tolive and work on four continents and saw at first hand howeducation is the key to development and the quality of life –regardless of country or culture. That awareness led me to my present role as a Commonwealth ScholarshipCommissioner. Naturally, my principal focus, and that of my colleagues on the UK Commission, is onhelping Commonwealth students study at UK universities and UK students study in other Commonwealthcountries. Some of the UK’s outward Scholars are profiled in this edition, on page 9.

But we are all very conscious that the UK effort is but part of the wider CSFP, under which many otherCommonwealth countries also offer awards. This global reach is one of the factors that makeCommonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships unique and so prestigious. We have been glad to offersupport and encouragement to other countries and to the Commonwealth Secretariat in their efforts todevelop further this dimension of the scheme.

The endowment fund set up to mark the 50th anniversary of the CSFP has already attracted over £1.7 millionin donations and pledges, and the first awards are expected to be made in late 2010. The fund is aimedexclusively at encouraging awards in low and middle income Commonwealth countries and it means that somecountries will be able to host Commonwealth Scholars for the first time. You will see from pages 6-7 that theanniversary has also led to Botswana, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago offering Scholarships.There is a real prospect that 15 countries will host awards in 2011 – the highest ever figure in a single year.

I am sure that this would be welcome news to the far-sighted women and men who set up the CSFP in1959. The many success stories that can be found in the Directory of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows1959-2009 (www.cscuk.org.uk/alumni/directory.asp) are testimony to the success of their original vision.But the more countries and institutions that are committed to the CSFP and feel that they have a directinterest in its success, the greater confidence we can all have that Commonwealth Scholarships andFellowships will continue to grow and prosper over the next 50 years.

Sir Brian DonnellyDeputy Chair of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UKFormer UK High Commissioner to Zimbabwe

EDITORIALTHIS ISSUE

Sir Brian Donnelly,Deputy Chair of the Commonwealth

Scholarship Commission in the UK

January 2010 33

NEWS ROUND-UPREPORT SHOWS IMPACT OF CARIBBEANALUMNIEvaluating Commonwealth Scholarships in theUnited Kingdom: Assessing impact in theCaribbean, the latest report of the CSC Evaluationand Monitoring Programme, was launched at theCommonwealth Heads of Government Meeting(CHOGM) in November 2009.

The report looks atthe impact ofCaribbean alumni onthe region. 75% ofthose surveyed havereturned to work intheir home countries,with a further 12%working in otherCaribbean countries.99% gainedknowledge and skillsthrough their

Scholarship or Fellowship, and 95% reported thatthey use these in their employment. Examplesinclude micro-financing to encourageentrepreneurship across the Caribbean, educationon climate change in Trinidad and Tobago, andestablishing a DNA database in Jamaica. The reportis available online at www.cscuk.org.uk/docs/Assessing_impact_Caribbean.pdf

FRIENDS OF THE COMMONWEALTHFriends of the Commonwealth is for those individualsaround the Commonwealth who want to do more fortheir communities. It brings individuals together andenables them to make a real difference. Friends hasover 2,200 individual members and chapters in threeCommonwealth countries: Trinidad and Tobago,Uganda, and the UK. It has helped support a numberof projects, including a women’s livelihoods project inZanzibar and a hospital in St Lucia, as well as helpingdisadvantaged children around the Commonwealth.

Membership is free and open to everyone. By joiningFriends, you will receive regular e-newsletters,opportunities to network and share ideas, and alsothe chance to take part in events and to ‘givesomething back’ to communities around theCommonwealth. For more information, visitwww.commonwealthfoundation.com/friends

ASSOCIATION OF COMMONWEALTH STUDIESOccasional conferences on Commonwealth themes,involving academics, officials, media and publicfigures, have been held for many years under theleadership of Professor Tom Symons of TrentUniversity, Canada. Exploratory discussions havebeen taking place to see whether this informal

Association of Commonwealth Studies could belinked with the Commonwealth Scholars alumniassociation.

The idea is that a biennial conference could be anattractive means of stimulating formerCommonwealth Scholars and Fellows to participate,both as participants and presenters, and throughdistributed publication of papers and outcomes, aswell as providing alumni with a link to a widernetwork of Commonwealth aficionados.

The Commonwealth Foundation has shown interestin supporting this venture, and Cumberland Lodge,Windsor, is keen to be a venue for UK gatherings.The Round Table would publish a special issue ofconference proceedings, and the RoyalCommonwealth Society is also taking part indiscussions. Comments and suggestions at thisformative stage would be welcomed by Dr JohnKirkland at john.kirkland@cscuk.org.uk

NEW AWARDS ADMINISTRATOR

We are delighted to welcome Ana Pereira as AwardsAdministrator at the CSC’s secretariat. Ana started inOctober 2009, having previously been TeamAssistant, and she recently completed an MA inRussian Studies at University College London.

Ana Pereira, new

Awards Adminstrator

AUT OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPErin Hill from Canada will be the firstCommonwealth Scholar to be hosted by theAuckland University of Technology (AUT), NewZealand, from February 2010. Erin will beundertaking doctoral research on the ‘quality oflife’. Canadian citizens are currently eligible forCommonwealth Scholarships in India, NewZealand and the UK.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONSA reception celebrating the 50th anniversary ofCommonwealth Scholarships was held on 4September 2009 at Parliament Buildings inWellington, New Zealand, hosted by the Speaker,Hon Dr Lockwood Smith (a formerCommonwealth Scholar) in association withNZVCC. More than 150 guests attended, includingCommonwealth Scholars, CSFP alumni,Commonwealth diplomatic representatives, stafffrom the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade andNZAID, as well as representatives from universitiesand scholarship organisations. A specialanniversary publication was launched at thereception – it is available online atwww.nzvcc.ac.nz/50Commonwealth

A CSFP 50th anniversary reception was held at theNational University of Singapore (NUS) on 2October 2009. The event was attended by HisRoyal Highness, Prince Andrew, together witharound 100 CSFP alumni, representatives andfriends, who gathered at NUS to celebrate theCSFP’s longstanding tradition of recognising and

promoting the highest level of intellectualdevelopment (see page 11 for more details).

On 29 October 2009, a reception marking the 50thanniversary of the CSFP was held at FairmontChâteau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa, Canada. Theevent was co-hosted by Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade Canada (DFAIT), which fundsCanadian Commonwealth Scholarships, and theCanadian Bureau for International Education(CBIE) which currently administers them. Speecheswere given by the celebration’s Patron, The Rt HonMadam Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, and bytwo alumni, Mark Carney (Governor of the Bank ofCanada) and Dr Basil Alexander (Senior Lecturer atthe University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)

Commonwealth Scholars at the

New Zealand anniversary reception

4 Commonwealth Scholarships News

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN SOUTH AFRICA

South African Commonwealth Scholar Kevin Mearnsis currently working towards a PhD at the Universityof Portsmouth, focusing on the impact ofsustainability on nature-based tourism, which is‘often vulnerable, and the conservation of theresource itself is dependent on the wisedevelopment and implementation of the tourisminitiative. Tourism can be seen as the key to thesurvival of protected areas, but may, however, bethe very factor that threatens the protected area. It istherefore of fundamental importance that tourismactivities in and around pristine natural areas bemanaged in a sustainable way’.

In an attempt both to set a baseline for futureinvestigations and to establish its status quo, Kevinconducted an investigation into the sustainability ofcommunity-based ecotourism in Southern Africa,using a number of environmental, economic andsocial indicators. The findings were presented atthree academic conferences this year which, asidefrom ‘eliciting valuable feedback and suggestions forthe research’, also proved to be ‘very valuablenetworking and scholarly activities which assisted inguiding the research. An article has also justappeared on some of the preliminary findings of theresearch. My time in the UK has been reallyproductive and has been a wonderful learningexperience that I intend to build on in the future,upon my return to South Africa and in my career asan academic and researcher.’

TAXATION, GOVERNANCE AND JUSTICEDuring his time as a DPhil student at the Institute ofDevelopment Studies (IDS) at the University ofSussex, Wilson Prichard, CommonwealthAnniversary Scholar from Canada, has had many

opportunities to work directly with internationalorganisations and civil society to begin to transformresearch into practice. His research deals with the‘centrality of taxation to the emergence of responsiveand accountable governance’, and fieldwork carriedout in Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia has allowed himto develop a rich understanding of the practicalcontext of taxation in these countries and to build animportant network of professional contacts.

‘While the relative success of my research alone hasbeen hugely rewarding, I have also hadopportunities to link my research into networks ofpolicy advocacy and practice. I initially partneredwith a civil society consortium in Ghana to publishthe Tax Justice in Ghana Report, which provides thefoundation for public advocacy on questions ofequity, transparency and engagement around taxissues. Since then, I have continued to act as aprimary resource person for a variety of civil society

initiatives in the UK andacross Africa, primarilywith the Tax JusticeN e t w o r k - A f r i c a ,Christian Aid, ISODEC,Panos and ActionAid. Iwas also able to publishan initial working paperthrough IDS, andadditional papers are onthe way, along withhopes for a book in thenot-too-distant future.’

Wilson’s work has opened doors for equally practicalcollaboration with DFID and the OECD. ‘Both havetaken an interest in how to make tax issues morecentral to their aid agendas, and particularly to theirefforts to foster public engagement andaccountability. In doing so, they have drawn explicitlyon my work, while inviting me to makepresentations and feed into their policy processes.Collectively, these experiences have dramaticallyenriched my experience, for which I am deeplygrateful, and have, I hope, begun to contribute to thebroader developmental objectives of theCommonwealth Scholarship scheme.’

JOINT DENTAL RESEARCH IN INDIA ANDTHE UKDr Neeraj Gugnani, Commonwealth Scholar fromIndia, is currently researching diagnostic tools for

novel dental caries atthe University ofManchester. ‘It wasindeed a veryenriching experienceto be trained at one ofthe premierinstitutions in the UK.During myScholarship, I wastrained in the latestcaries diagnosticmethodology, whichhelps to detect dentaldecay in its earlystages, and in turnhelps us to motivatepatients to take

appropriate steps toward remineralisation. Suchadvanced technological tools are not usuallyavailable in developing countries, and the fact thatnow I am not only trained to use them, but am alsodoing so among my home population, is a source ofreal satisfaction.

‘I am working on two joint clinical projects betweenthe Dental Health Unit at the University ofManchester and my home institution, DAVCentenary Dental College. Both projects involveclinical fieldwork at my home institution, and thiskind of joint venture truly upholds the spirit ofCommonwealth Scholarships, by ensuring that thehome population benefits.’ Dr Gugnani adds that ‘itwas a moment of extreme happiness when mysupervisor, Prof Roger Ellwood, visited my dentalschool and participated in the joint clinical study.Prof Ellwood’s visit was an encouraging experience,and I was able to work under his direct supervisionand benefit from his direct participation. I feel thatthis continued collaboration has helped to developmy perspective on caries research, and that mypresent research will help us understand better waysto detect caries in their incipient stages.’

REGIONAL NETWORK FOR DISTANCELEARNING SCHOLARS IN EAST AFRICAWhen Kenyans Nelson Ndegwa Gichora and MtakaiNgara both received Commonwealth DistanceLearning Scholarships in 2007 to study MScBioinformatics at the University of Manchester, theysaw an opportunity to exchange knowledge at aregional level. Nelson explains that ‘a total of eight

4 Commonwealth Scholarships News

Wilson Prichard,Commonwealth Scholar

from Canada

Dr Neeraj Gugnani,Commonwealth Scholar

from India

Kevin Mearns interviewing a community member

in Lesotho

SCHOLARS’ NEWSCommonwealth Scholars and Fellows represent a diverse community, studying a wide range of subjects in various ways. What they all have in common, however, is their desire to make a positive impact on their home countries and beyond.

January 201055

The primary aim of my research is to shortlistand screen a number of commonly-usedJamaican medicinal plants for

chemoprevention and anticancer properties throughthe modulation of human cytochrome P450enzymes. Initially, this hasinvolved completing abroad representativesurvey of the Jamaicanpopulation to identifycontemporary medicinalplant use and to shortlistten key medicinal plants.These plants are nowbeing screened as crudeextracts for inhibition ofcytochrome P450enzymes, in particular theenzymes known to beinvolved in carcinogenesis. In addition, I amscreening for inhibition of key drug metabolizingenzymes, an area of research that increases theunderstanding of potential herb drug interactions.

To date, I have completed the survey, with over 400household interviews in both rural and urbancommunities, shortlisted ten key plants, andcompleted nearly 50% of the initial P450 screening.

The survey has been both a challenging andextremely rewarding experience. As a visitor toJamaica, I have been shown incredible warmthand hospitality by the people I have worked withand interviewed. In a number of cases, we haveundertaken interviews with people living in verychallenging circumstances, both in inner cityKingston communities, such as Rose Town, andrural communities, such as Flagstaff in St Jamesand Dallas in St Andrew.

Rose Town is one of the poorest communities inKingston and until very recently suffered from brutalinter-community and gang violence. The area iscurrently in the planning stages for a developmentproject with the Prince’s Foundation for the BuiltEnvironment. Flagstaff is located within an areaknown as the Cockpit Country, one of the mostbiodiverse areas in the world and a proposed WorldHeritage Site; it also boasts a rich Maroon history andsaw the recent launch of an exciting new visitorcentre and ecotourist trail.

Undertaking research in a developing country canand does present a number of practical challenges. Iwas pre-warned that I would need to plan ahead andbe willing to take a flexible approach to managing my

project goals and timelines. When equipment breaksdown and replacement parts and chemicals needordering, it can take weeks or even months ratherthan days for orders to arrive and clear customs.Things certainly can take a lot longer, but part of the

learning for me has andcontinues to be aboutbeing adaptable, notbecoming too frustrated,and finding alternativeand often creativesolutions.

My return to the UK is justover a year away, but I’malready starting to thinkabout ways to incorporatemy experiences here inJamaica into practical

opportunities on my return. Jamaica has an almostuntapped wealth of plant-based medicines and highlevels of rural unemployment. The government ispushing to increase agricultural output, currently atjust 5% of GDP. There are significant exportopportunities for Jamaican medicinals into both theEuropean and American markets, which wouldcontribute significantly to the development ofalternative livelihoods. Future collaborations withboth the Natural Products Institute and the MedicinalPlant Research Unit at the university will, I am sure,open up some very interesting opportunities.

On a final note, I should say that the experience formy family in coming to Jamaica has beenimmeasurable. Relocating here has not been withoutits challenges, such as finding schools for both mychildren, a job for my wife and a safe place to live. Butthe cultural experience and the growth that comeswith meeting these challenges has greatly enrichedall our lives. And not least of which my 13-year olddaughter gets to be coached in track and field by theuncle of the fastest man in the world!

IN YOUR OWN WORDSDavid Picking is a Commonwealth Scholar from the UK, and iscurrently undertaking doctoral research into Jamaican medicinalherbs at the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica.

students from East Africa were awardedCommonwealth Scholarships for the course thatyear, and this prompted us to establish a network.We all joined the Regional Student Group of Africa(an affiliate of the International Society forComputational Biology Student Council) and activelyparticipated in its various activities, eventually takingup leadership positions. Due to rapid growth in itsmembership across the continent, it was split intofive groups and we were left with the RegionalStudent Group of Eastern Africa.’

This group then established an active mailing list anda Facebook group to facilitate networking betweenmembers, so that they could share ideas on how totackle various bioinformatics problems, as well asstudy and job opportunities. ‘We have so farorganised six workshops on bioinformatics and, incollaboration with other organisations, hosted thefirst African Virtual Conference on Bioinformatics in2009, bringing together over 100 students fromvarious countries in Africa and scientists from Africaand abroad. The virtual conference was a convenientevent, as we were able cut down on the huge sumsof money required to organise conferences, not tomention the travel fellowships that lock out manyparticipants from Africa.’ The success of the virtualconference resulted in a report in the EuropeanMolecular Biology Network newsletter and an articlein the PLoS Computational Biology journal. ‘As aconsequence of these activities, interest in the fieldamongst our members has increased and, tocomplement these, we are inviting partnership andcollaboration between our student group and anyorganisation or individual who might want to offerour members internship or study opportunities orvirtual projects in bioinformatics.’

Nelson Gichora (left) with fellow members of the

Regional Student Group of Eastern Africa The survey team pressing plant samples in

Dallas, Jamaica

David Picking (right) completing a questionnaire

in Dallas, Jamaica

6 Commonwealth Scholarships News6 Commonwealth Scholarships News

THE WORLD’S MOST INTERNATIONALSCHOLARSHIP SCHEME?COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS GO GLOBAL!Dr John Kirkland on plans for expansion of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.

What makes a Commonwealth Scholarshipscheme? In recent years, the emphasis hasbeen on providing opportunities for

students from throughout the Commonwealth tostudy in a relatively small number of countries withadvanced higher education systems. However, thefounders of the scheme had a very different vision50 years ago.

Unlike most scholarship schemes, theCommonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan(CSFP) was intended to provide a genuine sharing ofeducational opportunities between developed anddeveloping countries. Of course, this involvedstudents from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and thePacific studying in the UK, Canada and New Zealand.But it also involved UK students studying in Africaand Asia – not to mention Africans studying in Asiaand Asians studying in the Pacific.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the model worked well. TheUK was always the biggest contributor ofScholarships – as it promised from the outset – butit was far from the only one. In fact, no less than 24countries have hosted Commonwealth Scholarshipsat some stage. UK students were also beneficiariesof the scheme, studying in locations as varied asGhana, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Pakistan and SierraLeone. Most returned to distinctively internationalcareers, in diplomacy, development or academia.

Some even stayed and made the development oftheir host countries a lifetime’s vocation. Above all,Commonwealth Scholarships were a perfectexample of a sharing process in which all countrieshad something to contribute, and all had somethingto gain.

Countries such as India, Jamaica and Trinidad andTobago have preserved this tradition. However, the1980s and 1990s saw a decline in many countries’higher education provision. Others, such as HongKong and Nigeria, left or were temporarilysuspended from the Commonwealth. Although theimpact of Commonwealth Scholarships was as highas ever, the number of countries offering themdeclined.

In recent years, the Commonwealth-wide nature ofthe Plan has been restored. Countries such as BruneiDarussalam, Botswana, Ghana, Malaysia and SouthAfrica have resumed offering CommonwealthScholarships in recent years. The first ever CSFPendowment fund (see right) will complete thisprocess. By 2011, there should be more countriesoffering Commonwealth Scholarships than everbefore.

As a taster of what we can expect, here are someexamples of countries that are boosting theircommitment to the CSFP.

NIGERIAThe CSFP is about Fellowships, as well asScholarships. Thanks to a donation from the Britain-Nigeria Educational Trust, the CSFP endowmentfund will establish a new Commonwealth Fellowshipfor a visiting academic at the University of Ibadan.

Historically the most prestigious university in Nigeria,Ibadan is seeking to re-establish its internationalreputation, and particularly its commitment topostgraduate work. Vice-Chancellor Prof OlufemiBamiro, himself a former Commonwealth Scholar toCanada, views the new Fellowship as an importantelement of this strategy. Chair of the Britain-NigeriaEducational Trust, Derek Reeves, said that theFellowship is part of their work to make a permanentand noticeable impact on Nigerian education.

KENYAKenya was one of the first donors to the CSFPendowment fund, having never hostedCommonwealth Scholarships in the past. It is hopedthat the first awards will be announced there in early 2010.

Announcing his country’s support toCommonwealth education ministers at theirconference in June, Assistant Minister of HigherEducation, Science and Technology Dr Kilemi Mwirianoted that Kenya had received almost 1,000Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships overthe 50-year history of the CSFP, and that it was keento demonstrate areas of expertise in its universitiesthat could attract international students. PermanentSecretary Professor Crispus Kiamba, formerly aCommonwealth Scholar at the University of Reading,UK and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi,will also serve on the management committee of theendowment fund.

SINGAPORESingapore will offer its first CommonwealthScholarships in 2010, following an announcementmade by the President of the National University ofSingapore (NUS), Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, inOctober 2009. NUS will offer two CommonwealthUniversity of Nairobi, Kenya

January 2010 77

Scholarships each year for doctoral study; the first twowill be four-year awards in an area of science andtechnology, open to applicants from anyCommonwealth country. The Scholarships fit in withNUS’s strategy to become a leading global institution,having already reached the top 30 in the Times HigherEducation-QS World University Rankings 2009.

Professor Tan is himself an alumnus – he held aCommonwealth Fellowship at the RadcliffeInfirmary, Oxford, UK – as are several other seniorstaff at the university.

MAURITIUSAnother donor to the new CSFP endowment fund,the Government of Mauritius regardsCommonwealth Scholarships as a means ofattracting international talent. It is likely that at leastone Scholarship at the University of Mauritius willform part of the first batch of awards supported bythe fund. Former Commonwealth Scholars inMauritius include the Minister of Health and Qualityof Life, Dr Rajesh Jeetah, and the Minister ofIndustry, Science and Research, Dharam Gokhool.

SOUTH PACIFICDiscussions are taking place with the University ofthe South Pacific (USP), which covers 12 Pacificisland countries, about hosting the first everCommonwealth Scholarship in the region. The newScholarship would be jointly funded by the CSFPendowment fund and the university itself, whichwould waive tuition fees and make somecontribution to living costs. USP Vice-ChancellorProfessor Rajesh Chandra was himself aCommonwealth Scholar at the University of BritishColumbia, Canada.

And this could be just the start! As the endowmentfund continues to grow, opportunities forpartnership will develop with an even wider range ofcountries. Over the next two years, CommonwealthScholarships are on course to become one of themost international, as well as one of the mostprestigious, scholarship schemes in the world.

University of the South Pacific, Fiji

CSFP endowmentfund: an updateSince the last issue of CommonwealthScholarships News, the CSFP endowment fundhas made great progress. To add to commitmentsalready made by governments and otherorganisations before and at June’s Conference ofCommonwealth Education Ministers, we havereceived 70 individual donations, including 62from alumni. The Government of Mauritius hasalso contributed £25,000 – all of which means thatwe have raised nearly £1.75 million. Moreinformation, including details of how to donate, isavailable at www.csfp-online.org/fund.html

DONORSLorna Gibson

Sir George Bain

Stephen Pitel

Michael Jenkin andPhyllis Colvin

Christine Humfrey

Barry P Hickey

David Micheni Mbae

DharmeshkumarRameshchandraGotawala

Thomas W Sag

Ashfaque Ahmed

Mark J Golding

Robert Décary

Edward Warrington

Sunita Abraham andAndrew Talks

Jonathon Peter Moore

Joseph Coleiro

Emanuel Buttigieg

Hung Wan Chung

Lisa Harris

Fung Man Yee Mary

David Goldsworthy

Aniekan Edet

Christopher J Bayne

Fiona Tompkinson

Ian Timothy Oakley

P D Waister

Torrance Kirby

I M Dharmadasa

Robyn Owens

A E J van Langenberg

Leslie Holborow

Margaret Mabbett

Euty Mwangi Wathuta

Lanna Cheng

Richard Ehlers

Barry Taylor

Graham C Prior

Anikara StanfordAtamunotoru

Emma Zoe LouiseRichardson

Rachel Mines

Dato’ Zawiyah Baba

Samuel SamdeoRamsewak

Albert N J Matthew

Tim Boswell MP

Royal Over-SeasLeague

Jane Walters

Janet Elliott

Asipu Sivaprasadarao

Ian Breward

Cumberland Lodge

Paula Walter

Joyce M M Harding

Ibilola Dotun Oyegade

David J Johns

John M S Patton

Stephen EmmanuelOwusu

Kolawole Adebayo

Bhagirath Kent Lall

Hakki M Atun

Ong Wee Hong

The Council forEducation in theCommonwealth

W Dean Sutcliffe

J L Baker

8 Commonwealth Scholarships News8 Commonwealth Scholarships News

ALUMNI IN ACTIONAlumni NewsALUMNUS WINS NOBEL PRIZE

Professor Elizabeth Blackburn (CommonwealthScholar from Australia, PhD Molecular Biology,University of Cambridge, 1973-1974) has beenawarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine2009.

Elizabeth, currently professor of biology andphysiology at the University of California, SanFrancisco, shares the award with Carol W Greider, ofJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, andJack W Szostak, of Harvard Medical School. The triowon the Prize for their discovery of an enzyme thatplays a key role in normal cell function, as well as incell aging and most cancers.

The enzyme, called telomerase, produces tiny unitsof DNA that seal off the ends of chromosomes,which contain the body’s genes. These DNA units –named telomeres – protect the integrity of the genesand maintain chromosomal stability and accuratecell division. Their work has inspired research intothe possibility that telomerase could be reactivatedto treat such age-related diseases as blindness,cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerativediseases, and deactivated to treat cancer.

STRENGTHENING TEACHING CAPACITYDr Catherine Ade (Commonwealth Fellow, Faculty ofLaw, Sheffield University, 2004) established a privateteacher training college in Kumba, Cameroon, whichcelebrated its tenth anniversary in June 2009. Thecollege carries out valuable work in training teachersat nursery, primary and lower secondary levels ofeducation, with little state funding for either thecollege or its students. Catherine would welcomeany donations, such as books, instructionalmaterials, computers, or multimedia projectors.More detailed information on materials needed andhow to donate are available atwww.cscuk.org.uk/alumni/alumni_general.asp

ALUMNI AWARDED AUSTRALIANSCHOLARSHIPSDr Sevvandi Jayakody (Commonwealth Scholar, PhD

Conservation Biology, University of Aberdeen, 2002-2005) was awarded the 2009 Endeavour ExecutiveAward from the Government of Australia, and iscurrently conducting postdoctoral research oninvasive species management at the CommonwealthScientific and Industrial Research Organisation,Australia. Professor Mangala De Zoysa(Commonwealth Fellow, School of Agricultural andForest Science, Bangor University, 2006) will be a2010 recipient of the award.

E-WASTE UNESCO GRANTSimon Maina Karume (Commonwealth DistanceLearning Scholar, MSc Computer Based InformationSystems, University of Sunderland, 2004-2007) hasreceived a KES 2 million grant from UNESCO for ane-waste management policy for Kenya. The projectwill boost the capacity of e-waste handlers in Kenyathrough online and offline training and will fostercollaborative learning among students throughinformation exchange. A web-based bulletin boardwill educate the general public about the effects andmanagement of e-waste.

ALUMNUS WINS NATIONAL RESEARCHGRANT

Professor Samina Bano (Commonwealth Fellow,School of Health Sciences, University of WalesInstitute, Cardiff, 2008) has been awarded a grant ofPKR 2.67 million by the Higher EducationCommission of Pakistan, under the NationalResearch Programme for Universities. Samina’s two-year project will look at pharmacologicalinterventions in alcohol dependence andsubsequent withdrawal syndrome in rats.

NEW PUBLICATIONSBooks recently published by alumni include On theBenches of the Eastern Caribbean, by Justice AlbertN J Matthew (Commonwealth Scholar, LLM, LondonSchool of Economic and Political Science, 1966-1967); Salman Rushdie, by Professor D C R AGoonetilleke (Commonwealth Scholar, PhD EnglishLiterature, Lancaster University, 1966-1969); and ATextbook on Criminology and Penology, by DrCatherine Ade (Commonwealth Fellow, Faculty ofLaw, Sheffield University, 2004).

Alumni eventsCOMMISSIONER HOSTS DINNER IN ST LUCIACommonwealth Scholarship Commissioner KathyMansfield hosted an informal dinner for a smallgroup of alumni in Rodney Bay, St Lucia on 27October 2009.

In briefAWARDS AND CAREER ANNOUNCEMENTSProfessor Leslie Holborow (CommonwealthScholar, BPhil Philosophy, University of Oxford,1963-1965) has been awarded the Companion ofthe Queen’s Service Order in the New ZealandQueen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2009.

Professor Sumaiya Khair (Commonwealth Fellow,School of Law, School of Oriental and AfricanStudies, 2007) has been appointed Head of theDepartment of Law at the University of Dhaka,Bangladesh.

Dr Pratap K Mohanty (Commonwealth Fellow,Centre for Global Atmospheric Modelling, Universityof Reading, 2006) has been appointed Head of theDepartment of Marine Sciences at BerhampurUniversity, India.

Dr Shafikuddin Mollah (Commonwealth Fellow,School of Electrical and Physical Sciences, Universityof Surrey, 2007) has been appointed as a Professorin physics at Aligarh Muslim University, India.

Dr Poonam Piplani (Commonwealth Fellow,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universityof Strathclyde, 2006) received a travel award fromthe Department of Science and Technology, India, togive an invited talk at BIT’s 7th Annual Congress ofInternational Drug Discovery Science andTechnology in Shanghai, China, in October 2009.

Allan Seckel (Commonwealth Scholar, LLM,University of Cambridge, 1985-1986) has beenappointed Deputy Minister to the Premier, CabinetSecretary and Head of the Public Service of BritishColumbia, Canada.

Professor Narpinder Singh (Commonwealth Fellow,Institute of Food Research, John Innes Centre,Norwich, 1995) has been elected a Fellow of theIndian National Science Academy.

Professor Alexandra Walsham (CommonwealthScholar, PhD History, University of Cambridge, 1990-1993) has been elected a Fellow of the BritishAcademy and has been appointed Chair of ModernHistory at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Professor Samina Bano, Commonwealth Scholar

from Pakistan

Professor ElizabethBlackburn,Commonwealth

Scholar from Australia

and 2009 Nobel Prize

winner

© Elisabeth Fall/fallfoto.com

January 2010 9

Dr Colin Pritchard was awarded a CommonwealthScholarship to study for a PhD in ChemicalEngineering at the Indian Institute of Technology(IIT), Delhi from 1964-1967. During his previousdegree at the University of Cambridge, Colin hadcorresponded with Professor Frank Rumford, whowas establishing a department at the newly-founded IIT Delhi and encouraged Colin to joinhim.

Colin relishedthe uniqueacademic andmountaineeringopportunities,and remembershis firstH i m a l a y a nascent prior toan eventful endto his PhD. ‘Thefirst draft of myt h e s i s“disappeared”and had to bereconstructedin a nail-biting

finish to my three years’ hard labour.’ Following theaward of his PhD, Colin has returned to Indiafrequently ‘for research collaboration, mountainclimbing, cultural visits and most of all to cementfriendships’. After working in both industry andacademia, Colin is now a Senior Research Fellowsteering a DFID-funded research consortium onbioenergy.

Professor Robin Cohen was a CommonwealthScholar at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria,studying for a PhD in Politics from 1967-1970. Robinand his wife arrived in Nigeria just as civil war brokeout: ‘It was tough to live in Ibadan at that time,though…we felt, by comparison, relativelyprivileged’. As political events depleted staffing inthe department, Robin found himself both studyingfor his PhD and teaching five courses, anexperience which he credits with providing himwith the confidence necessary for his future career.

Robin’s eventful doctorate, during which his firstchild was born, has had a profound effect. ‘We grewup, learnt how to take responsibility and remainedwarm friends with many students and staff on theIbadan campus. The Commonwealth is not only aprestigious award; it can lead to lots of adventures.’

Robin is currently Professor of DevelopmentStudies and Director of the International MigrationInstitute at the University of Oxford.

Janet Ridge held a Commonwealth Scholarship tostudy a Master’s of Environmental Studies (MEnvSt)at the University of Adelaide, Australia, from 1980-1981. She values the impact that her award has hadon her career. ‘Professionally, I had a number of

articles published inAustralian journalson the differencesin countrysidem a n a g e m e n tbetween the UKand Australia. Thiso p p o r t u n i t y ,together with theexperience ofstudying abroad,helped mye m p l o y m e n tprospects hugely onreturn to the UK.’

Janet has been ChiefExecutive of the Bedfordshire Rural CommunitiesCharity since 1989. ‘The variety of subjects covered inmy studies was invaluable in enabling me to developa successful, broad-based organisation, for which Iwas awarded an MBE in 2006.’

Dr Victoria Edwards was a Commonwealth Scholarto New Zealand, studying MSc ResourceManagement at the University of Canterbury from1987-1989. Victoria had been a rural charteredsurveyor prior to her Scholarship. Her MSc focusedon the public policy and management of naturalresources and, as the university was involved inadvising on new legislation, the course attractedmany people who are now leading environmentalmanagers.

The course had an enormous impact on Victoria,who subsequently began an academic career at theUniversity of Portsmouth; she is currently PrincipalLecturer in Land Management. She was appointedto the Countryside Agency board in 1998, made aGB Forestry Commissioner in 1999, and awardedan OBE for services to the environment in 2004.Victoria says that she is ‘forever indebted to theCommonwealth Scholarship Commission for thenumerous opportunities opened up by myScholarship’.

Dr Deborah Sutton held a CommonwealthScholarship to study for a PhD in History atJawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India, from1996-2001. She says that, ‘Looking back, from apost in a British university, I think I barelyappreciated the intellectual vibrancy which Iencountered at JNU. As an academic, intellectualand social environment, it remains, in myexperience, unparalleled.’

She particularly values the university fostering hercritical appreciation of the colonial archive, withstudents expected to engage carefully andexpansively with records of the colonial state. ‘Iloved, and miss terribly, the rhythm of life oncampus, from chai in the morning, through thehistorian’s pilgrimage on the 615 bus to theNational Archives of India on Janpath.’ Deborahwas appointed as a Lecturer in History at LancasterUniversity in 2002.

Emma Broadbent was a Commonwealth Scholarto Ghana, where she studied MA Religious Studiesat the University of the Cape Coast from 2006-2007.Her research focused upon the relationshipbetween religion and politics on the Africancontinent. Emma gained many benefits from herScholarship, such as an appreciation of thesimilarities and differences between UK and Africanstudent life, and an understanding of the linksbetween Ghanaian culture and the values whichunderpin socioeconomic organisation and thepolicy process, which have been useful whenundertaking subsequent research in Africa.

After working at the Overseas DevelopmentInstitute, Emma is now a consultant on aideffectiveness and governance in Africa, with aparticular emphasis on Anglophone West Africa.

9

ALUMNI PROFILEThis issue, we focus on UK alumni and the often life-changing impact of holding a CommonwealthScholarship in another Commonwealth country.

Dr Colin Pritchard, former

Commonwealth Scholar to India

Janet Ridge, former

Commonwealth Scholar to

Australia

Emma Broadbent (right), during her

Commonwealth Scholarship in Ghana

50 YEARS OF COMMONWEALTHSCHOLARSHIPS

Around 70 alumni, current Scholars,Commissioners and external guests from a widerange of Commonwealth countries gathered at

Cumberland Lodge on 11-13 November 2009 for acelebration of 50 years of Commonwealth Scholarships.

The event explored themes arising out of theDepartment for International Development (DFID)’srecent White Paper on Eliminating World Poverty:Building our Common Future, and discussed howscholarships can best advance international relations,meet development objectives, and continue to attractcandidates of the highest academic standard in thefuture.

David Hallam, Head of the United Nations, Conflictand Humanitarian Division at DFID, provided thekeynote speech on the first evening, emphasising theimportance of gender equality and of working withfragile states to the UK’s contribution to internationaldevelopment. He went on to praise the work of theCommonwealth Scholarship Commission over thepast 50 years, and the role it would have in facingfuture global challenges.

Many of these themes were revisited in subsequentdiscussion groups on the second day, drawingconnections between the work of the CSC and thepriorities outlined in the White Paper. Sessionsincluded ‘economic recovery and greener growth’,‘sustaining our common future’, and ‘buildingpeaceful states and societies’. Further sessionsdeveloped these themes within the context of today’sglobal economy, with Commissioners and alumnichairing discussion groups on ‘acting together throughthe international system’, ‘keeping our promises in adownturn’, and ‘ensuring value for money’.

Following sessions looked more specifically at thechallenges facing international scholarships –notably, ‘ensuring access’, ‘finding the bestcandidates’ and ‘evaluating our effectiveness’.

The next session explored the ‘CommonwealthDimension’, and discussed the important andunique role of the Commonwealth in ‘softdiplomacy’. Following this, a panel of alumni andcurrent Scholars spoke of their experiences ofreceiving an award, and its impact on their livesand careers.

However, the event was primarily a celebration,and Professor Myles Wickstead, former UKAmbassador to Ethiopia,Head of the Secretariat tothe Commission for Africa,and coordinator of the1997 DFID White Paper,commended theachievements ofC o m m o n w e a l t hScholarships in a keynotespeech at the anniversarydinner on the secondevening.

The final sessions on thethird day considered thefuture of and alternativeperspectives ondevelopment. A stimulatingdiscussion highlighted howbroad the field ofdevelopment can be, andthe role that internationalscholarships can playwithin it.

Dr John Kirkland, Executive Secretary of the CSC,and Professor Tim Unwin, Chair of the CSC,concluded the conference by discussing thedevelopment of the CSC community, and ways wecan move forward. It can be hard to condense aconference that encompassed so many themes,ideas and discussions into a few key outcomes.However, it became clear how important strongbranding and working with alumni is to the next 50years of Commonwealth Scholarships, as is buildingupon the important work evaluating the high impactof our awards – and that the role thatCommonwealth Scholarships have had for 50 yearsin the Commonwealth and in development really issomething to celebrate.

10 Commonwealth Scholarships News10 Commonwealth Scholarships News

NETWORKS AND EVENTSFor full reports on recent events, visit www.cscuk.org.uk/news/eventreports.asp

The 50 years of Commonwealth Scholarships celebration

Scholars in a discussion session at the 2009 Welcome Day for new

Scholars and Fellows. The event was held at Central Hall Westminster, and

speakers included Prof Tim Unwin (Chair of the CSC), Kamalesh Sharma

(Commonwealth Secretary-General) and Dr Danny Sriskandarajah

(Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society). The Welcome Day was

followed by an evening reception at Lancaster House.

January 2010 1111

AWARDS OFFEREDSingapore is one of the newest hosts ofCommonwealth Scholarships. At the CSFP 50thanniversary reception held in October 2009, it wasannounced that two Commonwealth Scholarshipswould be hosted at the National University ofSingapore (NUS) from 2010 (see pages 6-7 forfurther information). This is a welcome addition tothe CSFP community of institutions, and it is hopedthat numbers will expand further in the future.

Singapore will certainly be a popular destination.NUS is a leading international university, and offersa global approach to education and research with afocus on Asian perspectives and expertise. It has 14faculties and schools across three campus locationsin Singapore – Kent Ridge, Bukit Timah and Outram– providing a broad-based curriculum underscoredby multidisciplinary courses and cross-facultycollaboration. NUS promotes programmes thatprovide students with both opportunities andchallenges, and facilitates student exchanges,entrepreneurial internships at NUS OverseasColleges, and double/joint degree programmes withsome of the world’s top universities.

NUS provides a rich cultural environment, havinghosted 30,000 students from 100 countries. NUS isalso actively involved in international academic andresearch networks, such as the Association of PacificRim Universities and International Alliance ofResearch Universities. This global networking furtheremphasises NUS’s international presence.

Higher education is expanding fast in Singapore,with university provision from both the private andpublic sector. SIM University is the country’s first andonly privately-funded university, focusing on thelearning needs of working professionals and adultlearners. Other tertiary institutions include NanyangUniversity, Nanyang Technological University,Singapore Management University, and theSingapore University of Technology and Design.

ALUMNISingapore has a long and distinguished history ofCommonwealth Scholars and Fellows. 369Singaporean nationals have held CommonwealthScholarships over the past 50 years, travelling toAustralia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, New Zealandand the UK.

On their return to Singapore, these alumni havereached positions of prominence across a range ofsectors. Professor Walter Woon, currently Attorney-General of Singapore, spoke at the anniversaryreception in October, describing his ownCommonwealth Scholarship at the University ofCambridge as a significant period in his life. Otherprominent alumni in public service include DrNatatajan Varaprasad, Chief Executive of theNational Library Board; Abdullah Tarmugi, Speakerof Parliament; and Eddie Teo Chan Seng, Chair ofthe Public Services Commission.

Commonwealth Scholars have also been particularlyprominent in expanding Singapore’s highereducation provision.Professor Cham TaoSoon was FoundingPresident of NanyangTechnological University,and is currently Chair ofthe Board of Trustees ofSIM University. ProfessorPang Yang Hoong is ViceProvost (Undergraduate)and Dean ofAccountancy at theSingapore ManagementUniversity.

At NUS, CommonwealthScholars are wellrepresented acrosssenior management,from the President,

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, down. Professor Tanwas a Commonwealth Fellow at the RadcliffeInfirmary, Oxford, in 1989. Other alumni includeProfessor Lily Kong, Vice President (University andGlobal Relations); Professor Seeram Ramakrishna,Vice President (Research Strategy); Professor TanThiam Soon, Vice Provost (Education); Professor TanTai Yong, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and SocialSciences; and Professor Andrew Wee, Dean of theFaculty of Science.

Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows playimportant roles in a variety of areas of Singapore life.Satish Appoo is Director, Environmental Health ofthe National Environment Agency, and Dr Chin KianKeong is Group Director of the Land TransportAuthority. In the diplomatic sphere, Chay Wai Chuenis non-resident High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. Inthe private sector, Lim Chuan Poh is Chief Executiveof Singapore Telecommunications Ltd.

The administration of awards for Singapore citizensto study in the UK has changed in recent years.These are still advertised publicly by the PrimeMinister’s Office, and are open to citizens in all areas.Reflecting increasing demand, however, there havebeen experiments in recent years with a systemthrough which final nominations are made by apanel of eminent alumni – the first country in theCSFP to use such a process.

Although a new host country, the quality ofSingapore’s universities, their desire to reach a globalaudience, and the very high profile of SingaporeanCommonwealth Scholars and Fellows offer hugepotential for the country to play an important role inthe future development of the CSFP.

COUNTRY PROFILE – SINGAPORE

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President of the National University of

Singapore and former Commonwealth Fellow, with HRH Prince Andrew,Duke of York, at the recent CSFP 50th anniversary reception

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UnitedKingdom (CSC) is responsible for managing Britain’scontribution to the Commonwealth Scholarship andFellowship Plan (CSFP).

The CSC supports around 750 awards annually. Awards arefunded by the Department for International Development (for developing Commonwealth countries) and the Foreign andCommonwealth Office, the Department for Business, Innovation andSkills and the Scottish Government in partnership with UK universities(for developed Commonwealth countries). The CSC also nominates UKcitizens for scholarships to study in other Commonwealth countries underthe 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 courses while living in their own countries

The CSC is a non-departmental public body in its own right, and members areappointed in line with the Code of Practice of the Office of the Commissioner forPublic Appointments. The Commission’s secretariat is provided by the Associationof Commonwealth Universities; financial management and welfare support forscholars is provided by the British Council.

The CSFP is an international programme under which member governments offerscholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. The Planwas established at the first Commonwealth education conference in 1959 and isreviewed by ministers at their triennial meetings – the only scholarship scheme inthe world to receive such high-level recognition.

www.cscuk.org.uk