News
Read the latest news about the CSC community and find out more about our current Scholars and Fellows, Alumni and partners.
Supporting Botswana at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as Sport Psychologist
Over the last few weeks, Commonwealth Alumnus Kagiso Tlhabano-David has been attending the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as the sport psychologist for the Botswana national team. As an emerging advocate for disability inclusion in sport, Kagiso has been...
Development in Action webinar series: Machine learning, blockchain technology & sustainable development in Africa
On Friday 29th July, the CSC Alumni Team hosted the latest webinar, ‘Machine learning, blockchain technology & sustainable development in Africa,’ delivered by Commonwealth Alumnus Faithful Onwuegbuche. The webinar addressed the CSC development theme, Promoting...
The CSC Farewell Event 2022: Scholars celebrate the next step in their development journey
On Thursday 21 July 2022, the CSC welcomed Commonwealth Scholars and guests to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for the annual Farewell Event. For Scholars approaching the end of their time in the UK, this event marked an important moment to reflect on...
Scholars join UK Parliamentarians to discuss democracy and the Commonwealth
Last month, we welcomed 37 Commonwealth Scholars to the Palace of Westminster for the annual Parliamentary Reception event organised by the Council for Education in the Commonwealth’s Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) Support Group and co-sponsored...
Two Fellows and a Host reflect on the 2022 Girls’ Education Professional Fellowship programme
On Friday 10 June, the 2022 Professional Fellowship programme focused on Girls’ Education came to a close. 29 Professional Fellows from 11 Commonwealth countries have spent the last three months in the UK as part of this programme, learning from this year’s five host...
Development in Action webinar series: Inclusive mobility as a service in Lagos, Nigeria
On Friday 24 July, the CSC Alumni Team hosted the latest webinar, ‘Inclusive mobility as a service in Lagos, Nigeria,’ delivered by Commonwealth Alumnus Ejiro Matilda Ikoko. The webinar addressed the CSC development theme, Science and technology for development. The...
Research for sustainable development: PhD Scholars attend the second residential workshop of 2022
Over three days in May and June, the CSC held its second residential workshop of the year for Commonwealth PhD and Split-Site Scholars. Returning to Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Scholars participated in a comprehensive programme of sessions that focused on...
Applications are now open for the 2022 CSC Research Impact Awards!
Applications for the CSC Research Impact Awards (RIA) are now open. The awards celebrate the research and publication endeavours of Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni at the early and mid-career researcher stages. Open to current doctoral Commonwealth Scholars and...
Development in Action webinar series: Mind the borders: Governing borderless climate risks
On Tuesday 31 May, the CSC Alumni Team hosted the latest webinar, ‘Mind the borders: Governing borderless climate risks’, delivered by Commonwealth Alumnus Martin Munene. The webinar addressed the CSC development theme, Strengthening resilience and response to crises....
Sustainability and Society: Commonwealth Scholars propose development solutions at workshop in Cambridge
On Friday 13 May, Commonwealth Scholars in Cambridge joined the Sustainability and Society workshop co-organised by CSC Commissioners, Emeritus Professor Madeleine Arnot and Professor Sarah Hawkes, and the Regional Network Coordinator for Cambridge, Soniya Gupta. The...
What motivates the 2022 cohort of Professional Fellows focused on Girls’ Education?
Since March 2022, 29 Professional Fellows from 11 Commonwealth countries have been taking part in a programme of professional development in the UK focused on Girls’ Education. The Fellows were selected from a range of professional backgrounds, roles, and fields. What...
Development in Action webinar: Experiences of a social entrepreneur within the gender equality and peace education space
On Wednesday 27 April, the CSC Alumni Team unveiled the refreshed Development in Action webinar series, which will replace the Knowledge Hub webinar series going forward. The first webinar of the new series was ‘From Chennai to Coventry: A peace educator's journey...
2022-23 Alumni Community Engagement Fund – Applications now open!
The CSC’s Alumni Community Engagement Fund (ACEF) is an annual fund which seeks to support Commonwealth Alumni in raising awareness of key development issues at the community level through the organisation of an engagement activity. Small Changes for Big Impact Small...
Looking ahead to the Climate Change and Sustainability Nexus panel for Scholars
To mark the end of the Leaders in Sustainable Development programme 2021-22 next month, we are hosting a special panel that examines the Climate Change and Sustainability Nexus. This session will provide a forum for Scholars to discuss the problems, solutions, and...
Building the foundations for sustainable development impact: Scholars attend the first residential workshop of 2022
In April, the CSC held the first residential workshop of 2022 for Commonwealth Master’s and Shared Scholars. The Maximising your Impact: training for development workshop took place between Friday 1 April and Sunday 3 April 2022 at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great...
2022 Professional Fellows Welcome Event
On 28 March, the CSC was delighted to welcome all 29 Professional Fellows from the 2022 cohort to Birmingham University for two days of networking, cross-organisation engagement and learning focused on the theme for this year’s programme: Girls’ Education. This was...
Commonwealth Scholars join the celebrations at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day
On Monday 14 March, Commonwealth Scholars and members of Commonwealth Scholarship Commission attended a commemorative service at Westminster Abbey to mark Commonwealth Day. This annual celebration event observed by people across the Commonwealth is an opportunity to...
Knowledge Hub webinar series: The prospects of bicycle hire as alternative transport
On Tuesday 29 March, the CSC Alumni Team hosted the latest webinar in the Knowledge Hub series. Commonwealth Alumnus Dr M Shafiq-ur Rahman presented on the topic, ‘Public Bike-Sharing Schemes (PBSS): Prospects in Bangladesh’. The webinar addressed the CSC theme,...
Looking ahead to the CSC residential workshops for Commonwealth Scholars
We are pleased to announce the return of the CSC residential workshops for Commonwealth Scholars which will be held at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park in April and May 2022. Maximising your Impact: training for development The residential workshops on Maximising...
Delivering a Common Future: Alumni in Cameroon mark Commonwealth Day
On Friday 11 March, the Cameroon Alumni of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows (CACSAF) held a one-day hybrid conference to mark Commonwealth Day on Monday 14 March. The theme of the conference was ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating and Transforming...
The CSC Connect and Collaborate Event for Commonwealth Scholars
On Friday 25 February the CSC hosted the Connect and Collaborate Event for Commonwealth Scholars studying in the UK at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London. The Connect and Collaborate Event, which this year was held in place of the annual in-person Welcome Event,...
Latest insights from the CSC’s Alumni Advisory Panel
In January and February, members of the Alumni Advisory Panel 2021-2023 were invited to review the CSC’s Pre-Departure Briefing sessions (PDB) and materials, as part of an ongoing review of this activity led by the CSC’s Programme and Policy teams. Preparing Scholars...
Chevening, CSC and Marshall Alumni collaborate to combat climate change with launch of new policy report
A new policy report brings together 36 innovative environmental ideas designed over the course of 24 hours by Chevening, CSC and Marshall Alumni from over 50 countries around the world. A policy “hackathon” coinciding with COP26 in late 2021 brought together 150...
CSC’s Alumni Advisory Panel virtual meet-up
On Tuesday 22 February, 26 members of the CSC’s Alumni Advisory Panel 2021-2023 joined a virtual meet-up. The objectives of the meet-up were to provide an opportunity for panel members to network, discuss completed panel activities, and work together to identify and...
Virtual meet-up for Commonwealth Alumni in Canada
On Sunday 30 January 2022, the Canadian Association of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows (CACSF) hosted a virtual meet and greet event for members. The event was organised by the association coordinator, Kevin Goheen (1983 Scholar from Canada) and Liz Raddatz (2005...
Discovering the latest news from the CSC Regional Networks
Over the past few months, the CSC’s Regional Network Coordinators have been busy getting to know the Scholars in their UK regions and organising a number of activities to build connections and develop a supportive, vibrant network for Scholars during their scholarship...
Introducing the new Chair of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
The CSC is pleased to welcome Professor Robin Mason as the new Chair of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom. Professor Robin Mason, who is also Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) and Professor of Economics at the University of Birmingham, as...
Insights from the CSC’s Alumni Advisory Panel
In December, members of the Alumni Advisory Panel 2021-2023 were invited to consult on the draft Alumni Engagement Strategy 2022-2025 to inform developments and the delivery of alumni activities. As part of their participation, panel members were asked to share their...
Apply Now for Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships
Applications are now open for Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships for PhD candidates from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries to spend 12 months at a UK university as part of their doctoral studies in their home country. What are Commonwealth Split-site...
Register for Interchange 22, the online conference for Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni
We are pleased to announce Interchange, the online conference for Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni, hosted by the British Council, is returning for a second year! The conference will take place between 14-16 March 2022. Exchange ideas across the CSC community This...
Countdown to the CSC Connect and Collaborate Event
We are pleased to announce that our in-person CSC Connect and Collaborate Event for Commonwealth Scholars will be held in London on 25 February 2022. This is the largest event in the CSC’s calendar and a chance to celebrate the achievements of new and continuing...
Farewell to the outgoing Chair of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
In December, the CSC bids farewell to Mr Richard Middleton whose distinguished tenure as CSC Chair and formerly as a CSC Commissioner comes to an end in December 2021. Championing higher education and sustainable development Richard Middleton has served the...
CSC Welcome meeting for new Scholars in the UK
On Friday 3 December the CSC held a virtual Welcome meeting for new Commonwealth Scholars studying in the UK. The Welcome Event was hosted by Richard Middleton, Chair of the CSC, and featured short talks by Regional Network Coordinators and CSC staff on how Scholars...
The CSC’s Leaders in Sustainable Development programme of workshops begins with sessions in November
In November, the CSC hosted the opening sessions of the Leaders in Sustainable Development programme 2021-22 with workshops on Writing for Development (11 November) and Leadership Models and Decision Making (25 November). The workshops were led by trainers from...
Discovering the insights from the CSC’s Climate Action webinar series
Between 25 October-19 November, the CSC Alumni Team hosted 12 webinars as part of the CSC Climate Action webinar series. The series provided an opportunity for Commonwealth Alumni to share their work, research, and contributions to tackling climate crises in different...
The Host Organisations for the CSC Girls’ Education Programme are announced
Each year, the CSC offers Professional Fellowships for mid-career professionals from low- and middle-income countries to spend a period of time at a UK Host organisation for a programme of professional development. The Fellowships provide recipients with an...
New Chair of Commonwealth Scholarship Commission is announced
The CSC is delighted to announce that Professor Robin Mason has been announced as the new Chair of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom by the Foreign, Development and Commonwealth Office (FCDO), and will take up duties from 1 January 2022. He...
Join our panel of Academic Advisers
Advisers play a critical role in the selection of graduate Commonwealth Scholars and Professional Fellows. The panel consists of academics from a wide range of UK higher education institutions with expertise in a broad range of subject areas. Applications are...
Commonwealth Scholar Jeremiah Thoronka wins the prestigious Global Student Prize 2021
On 10 November, Commonwealth Shared Scholar Jeremiah Thoronka was awarded the inaugural Chegg.org Global Student Prize for his innovative work on clean energy solutions for communities and schools in Sierra Leone. The award was presented by actor Hugh Jackman during a...
Resisting decay: how research into material corrosion is contributing to environmental sustainability
The climate crisis presents a multi-dimensional challenge to the development of the built environment. With finite global resources and increasingly unpredictable climate patterns, the need to improve our understanding of sustainable practices and materials for...
The winning team of the joint Scholarships’ Climate Hackathon propose a solution to boost resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalayas region
On 27 October 2021 we welcomed back four shortlisted teams to present to an audience of judges, fellow Alumni, and Scholars at the grand final policy hackathon event. The finalist teams were: 'Accessible Finance Brazil', 'Sunrise', 'IMAGED (Incentives for Mitigating...
RESILIENT: Developing new goals to reduce inequality and create a healthier planet
Commonwealth Alumnus Barbara MacKinnon shares information about the Foundation for Resilient Health (RESILIENT), launched by the New Brunswick Lung Association in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in Canada. Opportunity and motivation can arise from...
The finalists of the joint Scholarships’ Alumni Climate Change Hackathon are announced
The climate crisis affects every person, every country and every region. Big ideas from the best minds are needed to help tackle this crisis. Between 19 October and 21 October 2021, 36 scholarship teams (representing over 130 alumni from Chevening, CSC, and Marshall)...
Knowledge Hub webinar series: Sport as an intervention for peace and security
On Friday 24 September 2021, the CSC Alumni Team hosted the latest webinar in the Knowledge Hub series. Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Lin C Sambili Gicheha presented on the topic, ‘Youth, sport, and cultural interventions in preventing violent extremism: Insights from the...
The CSC’s Climate Action webinar series – registration now open!
Between 25 October – 19 November 2021, the CSC Alumni Team will host a Climate Action webinar series, featuring 15 webinars delivered by Commonwealth Alumni, on their work, research, and contributions to tackling the climate crisis. The webinars will explore a range...
Investigating the East African Climate Paradox: Research and youth engagement to tackle the climate challenge
Today’s youth will bear the burden of climate change impacts that are already in motion. But education, outreach, and advocacy can be crucial tools in bringing young people together in the struggle against climate change. As Commonwealth Scholar Babatunde Osho...
Announcing the HMG Scholarships Alumni Climate Change Hackathon presentation events
The climate crisis affects every person, every country and every region. Big ideas from the best minds are needed to help tackle this crisis. Watch scholarship teams from Chevening, CSC, and Marshall pitch their innovative climate solutions, to win a place in the...
Promoting girls’ education – applications for the Alumni Community Engagement Fund are now open!
The CSC’s Alumni Community Engagement Fund (ACEF) is an annual fund which seeks to support Commonwealth Alumni in raising awareness of key development issues at the community level through the organisation of an engagement activity. This year, the CSC will be offering...
Introducing the CSC’s Alumni Advisory Panel 2021-2023
The CSC’s Alumni Advisory Panel provides a platform for Commonwealth Alumni to support the future of the programme and its Scholars by sharing personal insight and expertise to contribute to the development of CSC activities. In September 2021, the CSC appointed its...
Announcing the 2021 Research Impact Award winners
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) and Taylor & Francis Group are delighted to announce the winners of the 2021 Research Impact Awards (RIA). One prize is awarded per stream, with an annual topical prize also available to entrants. This year,...