CSC Connect and Collaborate
Join us for a day of talks, discussions, and networking to build new connections and support your development impact goals.
About the event
The Connect and Collaborate Event is the largest event in the CSC’s calendar and brings together Scholars studying across the UK.
It is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate your scholarship and share experiences with other Scholars based around the UK! The programme will feature talks and interactive sessions throughout the day, as well as opportunities to network with fellow Scholars from across the Commonwealth.
Please note that spouses, guests, and children of Commonwealth Scholarship award holders are not able to attend the event.
Overview
Date: Tuesday 20 January 2026
Venue: Queen Elizabeth II Centre, London
Registration opens: 09:00 GMT
Event times: 10:00-19:00 GMT
Dress code: formal or traditional dress
Venue
The Connect and Collaborate Event will be held at the QEII Centre in London. The venue address is: QEII Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London, SW1P 3EE
You can find more information about getting to the venue on the QEII Centre website.
You can view the venue map and interactive floorplan to find out more about the layout of the QEII Centre ahead of the event.
Programme
09:00-10:00 Registration and networking | Lobby and Pickwick
10:00-10:15 Delegates to be seated in Churchill
10:25-10:35 Welcome by Professor Robin Mason ORB, CSC Chair | Churchill
10:35-10:40 FCDO address by FCDO address by Minister Chris Elmore, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office | Churchill
10:40-11:20 Keynote address by The Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Commonwealth Secretary General | Churchill
11:20-11:45 Delegates move to breakout rooms: Churchill; Gieldgud; Olivier; Redgrave and Burton; Victoria; Albert
11:45-13:15 Development theme discussion panels | Breakout rooms
13:15-14:15 Lunch and networking | Pickwick
14:15-14:30 Delegates move to breakout rooms: Churchill; Gieldgud; Olivier; Redgrave and Burton; Victoria; Albert
14:30-16:00 Networking for impact workshops | Breakout rooms
16:00-16:15 Afternoon refreshments and networking | Pickwick
16:15-16:30 Delegates to be seated in Churchill
16:30-17:15 Keynote address by Professor Daniella Tilbury, UK Government’s focal point at the UNECE and an expert adviser to the European Commission on sustainable development; Commonwealth Alumnus | Churchill
17:15-17:20 Vote of thanks by Commonwealth Scholar representative | Churchill
17:20-17:30 Closing remarks by Professor Robin Mason ORB, CSC Chair | Churchill
17:30-17:45 Delegates move to Pickwick for reception
17:45-19:00 Reception and networking | Pickwick
Event close
Development theme discussion panels
In the morning, you will attend a development theme discussion panel featuring guest speakers. The development theme discussion panels will take place between 11:45-13:15.
Your final details email will include information about which discussion panel you have been allocated to. You can see the full development panel group allocation here.
Find out about the topics, questions, and speakers for each panel.
Networking for impact workshops
In the afternoon, you attend a workshop on networking for impact with fellow Scholars. The workshops will take place between 14:30-16:00.
Your final details email will include information about which group you have been allocated to.
You can see the full networking workshop group allocation here.
Pre-workshop tasks
Before attending the networking workshop, you should refer to the workshop guide and familiarise yourself with the activities and case studies below:
Filming, photography, and audio recording
We will be taking photographs, recording audio of talks, and filming various videos throughout the event, and intend to publish these on the CSC’s Flickr, YouTube, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn channels as well as the CSC website.
If you do not consent to being in any photographs, audio recordings, or videos, please inform the CSC Engagement Team by emailing engage@cscuk.org.uk so that we can ensure your name, image, and audio are not included in any published recordings, photography, or filming.
Event delegate list
When registering for this event, we asked you if you would like to share your details for inclusion on the delegate list. This will be a useful resource for you to refer to when forming your networks.
Please be aware that not all Scholars have consented to share their details on the delegate list.
You can view the event delegate list here.
Food and drink
The lunch will include a choice of starter, main course, and dessert. Gluten free options will be available, and the chicken/meat will be Halal. There will be tea, coffee, and light refreshments available during the day and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at the evening reception. You will need to provide your own evening meal after the event.
Please speak to the catering staff on the day about any dietary requirements and they will be able to assist.
Lunch menu
Starter: Thai soup or oak smoked chicken salad
Main course:
Vegetarian: Hyderabadi paneer cheese biryani, roasted cauliflower and red onion, boiled egg, pilaf rice, toasted seeds
Meat: Jamaican spiced venison haunch, rice and peas, ginger and carrot slaw
Dessert: Vanilla set custard, crushed cookies (ve), or apple and gingerbread crumble (ve)
Travel and accommodation
You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements to and from the QEII Centre and organising any overnight accommodation, if required.
When booking trains to London, some rail operators offer advance tickets. These are often significantly cheaper than tickets bought on the same day of travel, so we recommend booking your train tickets to London in advance to get the cheapest fare. For help in planning your journey, you can visit the National Rail and TFL Journey Planner websites.
