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AN INTRODUCTION TO CHEVENING FELLOWSHIPS Partners in leadership 12-WEEK COURSES – JANUARY TO APRIL 2010 OFFERED BY THE UK FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE FIFTH EDITION

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Page 1: Introduction chevening-fellowship-programme

AN INTRODUCTION TOCHEVENING FELLOWSHIPS

Partners in leadership

12-WEEK COURSES – JANUARY TO APRIL 2010OFFERED BY THE UK FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICEFIFTH EDITION

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What is the Chevening Programme? 5

Fellowship courses offered in 2010 5

The application procedure 6

The Fellowship offer 8

Course content 8

After the Fellowship course ends 9

CONTENTS

‘The Chevening Fellowship was a turning point in my life. I have learned a lot of things and unlearned a lot of things. I can say that the Chevening Fellowship and especially the Reform, Regulation and Public Servicecourse at Bradford University was a real experience that gave me knowledge, exposure, leadership, andenthusiasm to change.’Ibrahim Abdel Rahim, Egypt, Chevening Fellow, 2009

‘The Chevening Fellowship courses provide an excellentopportunity to develop strong international networksbetween highly successful professionals in the publicand private sectors. For us at Bradford they are a keypart of our global outlook and reflect our commitmentto “making knowledge work”.’Professor Mark Cleary, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bradford

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WHAT IS THE CHEVENINGPROGRAMME?Chevening is the Scholarship and Fellowship Programme funded by the UK’s

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Since the programme was established

in 1983, it has provided over 32,000 Scholarships and Fellowships to students

around the world allowing them to study at prestigious universities in the UK.

The Chevening Programme is made up of two distinct schemes: the Scholarship

scheme and the Fellowship scheme. The Fellowship scheme offers awards for

study on 12-week courses that focus on particular subjects aligned to the FCO’s

Strategic Framework (see opposite). Fellowships are aimed at mid-career

professionals with several years’ experience, who are in positions of leadership

and influence (or in line for such positions), and who are active in the field of

the Fellowship subject.

The Scholarship scheme is different: it aims to attract and select candidates

from around the world with the greatest potential to be future leaders.

Successful candidates are offered postgraduate courses, generally of

12 months’ duration at universities in the United Kingdom. If you would

like to know more about Chevening Scholarships, please check our

website: www.chevening.com.

FELLOWSHIP COURSES OFFERED IN 2010All of our Fellowship courses fit into the FCO’s Strategic Framework, which

consists of four policy goals: Countering terrorism and weapons proliferation,

and their causes; Preventing and resolving conflict; Promoting a low-carbon,

high-growth global economy; and Developing effective institutions (above all

the UN and the EU). The FCO’s Strategic Framework also consists of a flexible

global network serving the whole of the British government and essential

services to support the British economy and British nationals abroad.

In 2010 we will offer 14 Fellowship courses, which will run from

11 January to 1 April:

� Conflict Prevention and Resolution

� Delivering Economic and Regulatory Reform

� Democracy, the Rule of Law and Security

� Economics of Climate Change

� Economics of Energy

� European Political Economy

� Finance and Investment in a Low-Carbon Economy

� Government Relations with NGOs and Civil Society

� Implementing Human Rights Conventions

� International Institutional Governance and Effectiveness

� Managing Migration

� Peacekeeping and International Capacity Building

� Reforming the Security and Justice Sectors in Post-Conflict Countries

� Using Democracy for Peace.

‘I would like to profusely thank the FCO for providing me with thisexcellent opportunity to visit the UK and enrich myself with valuableinformation and knowledge, whichwill positively contribute towards my professional career as well as organisational development in the long run.’Yasmin Yusuf, Pakistan, Chevening Fellow, 2009

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THE APPLICATION PROCEDUREMost Chevening Fellows are nominated directly by our British Missions, which

comprise Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates; however, we are happy

to consider applications from individuals who are suitably qualified. Selection is

highly competitive and we receive many more applications than the limited

number of Fellowship places available each year. We can accept applications

only from those who meet all the following criteria:

Selection criteria: to be eligible to apply you must be:

� A successful mid-career professional (for example, a director-general,

director or senior civil servant or head or director of an NGO) with several

years of experience. We would not normally consider applications from

those who have completed only one or two years’ full-time employment.

� In a position of leadership/authority and influence or in line for

such a position.

� Active in the field of the Fellowship or with recent relevant work

experience or having demonstrated a developed interest in the subject

area of the Fellowship.

� Already fluent in English and with a high standard of written English.

Although we do not formally test English language skills, we expect

candidates to have an IELTS score of at least 6.0 (listening and speaking)

and 5.5 (reading and writing) or a TOEFL score of 580.

� Academically able to follow a UK postgraduate course and willing to actively

contribute to it.

� Interested in developing international links in the subject of the Fellowship.

� Able to attend the full 12-week Fellowship course. Those who anticipate

not being able to attend 12 weeks should not apply. You should have outline

agreement from your employer to be absent for 12 weeks before you apply.

Please note that applicants who are very qualified/experienced are unlikely

to gain significant personal benefit from attending a Fellowship course.

In some cases, overqualified or over experienced Fellows can have an

unsettling effect on other participants. If you are in doubt about your

suitability for a Fellowship course, please discuss your circumstances with

the Chevening officer at the British Council or British Mission before you

submit your application.

STAGE 1: MAKING AN APPLICATION

If you think that you meet all the above criteria, please contact the Chevening

officer in June to discuss your application. Those who appear to qualify for

the Fellowship scheme will be asked to complete an application form.

The application form will ask you to provide a personal statement of up to

1,200 words. This should describe how a Chevening Fellowship might help you

to contribute to achieving change and improvement in your country as well as

how you would build on your Fellowship experience and share what you have

learned. You will also be asked to explain how the Fellowship would fit with your

career plans and personal aspirations.

The closing date for receipt of completed application forms varies so please

check the date very carefully. Applications should be sent directly to the

British Mission, and not to the British Council.

STAGE 2: THE FIRST SIFT

Each British Mission has a quota and can nominate only one candidate per

course per year (in some circumstances the quota is increased to three

candidates per course per year). The British Mission will sift all application

forms and reject those from candidates who do not meet the strict criteria

detailed above or do not provide a convincing personal statement. A large

number of applications will fail at this stage and it is not possible to appeal

if you are unsuccessful.

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‘I found this experience extremely engaging and rewarding. A tremendous opportunity that has exposed me to a wealth of new knowledge and skills and a network of truly remarkable people that will certainly enhance my effectiveness in my organisation to the benefit of my country, my region and indeed the world.’Yvonne Alexander, Dominica, Chevening Fellow, 2009

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STAGE 3: THE INTERVIEW

A small number of candidates will be invited by the British Embassy to attend

a short interview. During the interview, the level of their spoken English will

be informally assessed.

STAGE 4: THE SELECTION PANEL IN LONDON

The papers of a small number of candidates will then be passed to London and

assessed by an independent selection panel. The membership of the panel will

typically consist of officials from the FCO and other government departments,

a representative from the university (often the course director/leading

academic) and a representative from the British Council with experience

in training and professional development. The selection panel makes its

decision on the basis of the application form and recommendations from

British Missions. There is no need for candidates to travel to London

to attend the selection panel.

STAGE 5: NOTIFICATION

Successful candidates will be notified by the British Council/British Mission

between August and early October. A small number of reserve candidates

will also be identified and may be offered a place (sometimes at short notice)

in the event of a successful candidate being unable to take up the offer

of a Fellowship.

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‘The opportunity to engage in one of the biggest global challenges facing us today,namely climate change, with peers from around the world, in a world-leading institutionsuch as Cambridge, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The discussion and debate that we encourage the Fellows to have during their time with us is stimulating not only forthem as participants but also for us as organisers and the contributors to the programme. We look forward to next year’s programme.’Dr Aled Jones, Deputy Director, University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership

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THE FELLOWSHIP OFFER Overall, the Fellowship offer is generous and the FCO will provide or pay

for the following:

� economy class travel costs to and from the UK

� visa fees

� all course fees

� travel insurance

� accommodation (single study bedroom)

� a package of allowances.

If you are successful the British Council will contact you and help you make

arrangements for your travel to the UK. They will also give you access to

the members only area of www.chevening.com, which has full details of your

Fellowship, including travel arrangements, the course programme,

accommodation and allowances.

COURSE CONTENTFurther details of each course are available on www.chevening.com/fellowships.

Please study the course outlines carefully to ensure that you apply for the

most appropriate course. Chevening Fellowships are designed as development

opportunities for mid-career professionals and provide unique learning and

networking experiences. Courses are usually limited to about 14 participants

from a range of countries, backgrounds and experiences. Previous Fellows

have found the courses rigorous, challenging and rewarding.

Each course begins with a welcome programme to help Fellows settle into

their universities and the UK. Thereafter, courses consist of formal lectures

with contributions from leading academics and experts and study visits to

relevant UK organisations and businesses.

Each course includes up to two weeks of placements, as one or two blocks in

the timetable. Some courses include a two-week group placement while others

are organised on an individual basis; in some cases placements take the form

of a series of engagements with practitioners and relevant organisations.

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All placements will require your active contribution. Some placements will not

be tailored to your profession; however, they will always be pertinent to your

Fellowship subject.

Each Fellowship course is very demanding and requires a high degree

of personal commitment. We are therefore very unlikely to accept applications

from people who will be undertaking alternative studies or research at the time

of the Fellowship. We also very strongly advise against any family member

accompanying you during the period of the Fellowship. Experience has shown

that the presence of family members can distract Fellows and even have

a disruptive effect on the rest of the group. If you are considering bringing

a family member to the UK, you must discuss this with the Chevening officer

at the British Council or the British Mission at least two months before your

departure. If you decide to bring a family member, we will not assist with

any arrangements or payments such as booking flights, obtaining visas,

insurance and airport transfers in the UK. In addition, family members may

not share Fellows’ university supplied accommodation nor may they

accompany Fellows on study visits.

AFTER THE FELLOWSHIP COURSE ENDSIn an interdependent world it is of crucial importance that countries build

and maintain strong and meaningful international relations. The aim of the

Fellowship scheme is to make links with new generations of leaders and other

influential people across the globe and to promote an affinity and greater

understanding of the UK’s cultures and values. Our hope is that during their

time in the UK, Fellows will develop an appreciation of UK policies and

approaches in their fields of study and bear these in mind when contributing

to developments in their own countries. We ask Fellows, as alumni, to maintain

contact with our British Missions when they return home at the end of their

Fellowship. To help them, Fellows have access to the members only section

of www.chevening.com, which promotes networking and policy exchanges.

We hope that those with an interest in becoming a Chevening Fellow

will have found this brief introduction helpful. If you have any questions.

please check the Frequently Asked Questions section on our website –

www.chevening.com/fellowships – or speak to the Chevening officer

at the British Council or British Mission. We look forward to welcoming

successful candidates to the UK in January 2010.

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‘The last 12 weeks were excellent and have immensely contributedtowards enhancing my skills and competencies both in terms ofpersonal as well as professional development. I have a hands-onapproach about UK public sector institutions and would transferthe best practices learnt to be replicated at the policy-makinglevel. I am motivated to make a difference as per UK key learningsin the public sector and adding value to our services back home.’Yasmin Yusuf, Pakistan, Chevening Fellow, 2009

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‘The 2009 Chevening European Political Economy programme wasa particularly gratifying experience, in great measure because ofthe striking breadth of experience of the Fellows – ranging fromcentral bank economists to e-journalists, coming from core EU newmember states, new member states from the Eastern Balkans andcandidate countries from the Western Balkans. I believe that in ourSussex seminars, our London and Brussels meetings, our projectplacements, and, above all, in our alumnus conference, we gave the Fellows platforms where they could debate and interact onsome of the key policy issues of Europe today.’Dr David Dyker, Course Co-ordinator, University of Sussex

‘As a police officer, the knowledge acquired will assist me to improve policing in my home country.’Stanley Kilonzi, Kenya, Chevening Fellow, 2009

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THE FELLOWSHIP TIMELINE

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Application

forms for the

2010 Fellowship

scheme will be

available from

British Missions

overseas

Closing date for applications. Please note

that each Fellowship course has a different

closing date. The closing dates will be

announced in June

Selection panels meet in London

(they are paper selection panels and

there is no need for candidates to

travel to London)

Candidates are informed if they

have been successful

Fellows travel

to the UK during

the weekend of

9–10 January

2010

Fellowship courses run in the UK from

11 January to 1 April

British Council offices contact successful candidates and

make arrangements for visas and travel. They also

provide information about the course programme,

accommodation and allowances

June 2009 July August September October November December January 2010 February March

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© British Council 2009 Design Department/Y038/QLT

Printed on recycled paper with vegetable based inks. The laminate on the cover is biodegradable.

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