News
Read the latest news about the CSC community and find out more about our current Scholars and Fellows, Alumni and partners.
Latest News
Development in Action webinar series: Exploring impact through doctoral research: In conversation with the 2023 CSC Research Impact Award winners.
On Tuesday 30 January, the CSC Alumni Team launched the 2024 CSC Development in Action webinar series. To kickstart the series, the team hosted a special conversation event with recent CSC Research Impact Award (RIA) winners, Commonwealth Alumni Maryam Bashir and Dr...
Exploring gender in higher education in Nigeria
On 1 February 2024, Commonwealth Alumni in Nigeria attended a panel discussion on, ‘Intersectionality of Gender and its Impact on Higher Education’. Alumni were joined by Emma Hennessey, Head of The Scholarships Unit at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development...
Welcome Home Event for Commonwealth Scholars in Nigeria
On 30 January 2024, recently returned Commonwealth Scholars from Nigeria joined a virtual welcome event to share their UK study experiences and plan the next steps in their personal and professional development. They were joined by Emma Hennessey, Head of Scholarships...
Welcome Home Event for Commonwealth Scholars in Nigeria
On 30 January 2024, recently returned Commonwealth Scholars from Nigeria joined a virtual welcome event to share their UK study experiences and plan the next steps in their personal and professional development. They were joined by Emma Hennessey, Head of Scholarships...
Latest insights from the CSC’s Alumni Advisory Panel
In November, members of the Alumni Advisory Panel 2023-2025 were invited to consult on the proposed event series which aims to prepare scholars for the initial post-scholarship period once they have completed their studies and returned home. Preparing scholars for the...
Transforming India: Alumni panel discussion on fostering a digital ecosystem
On 16 December 2023, Commonwealth Alumni based in Mumbai, India gathered to take part in a panel discussion on, ‘Transforming India: fostering a digital ecosystem in the next decade’. The event brought together experts representing academia, public health, law, and...
Exploring how modern lifestyles affect mental health in Kolkata, India
On 8 December, Commonwealth Alumni in Kolkata, India attended a panel discussion on, ‘Mental Health Emergency - How Modern Lifestyle affects our Mental Health’. The event opened with a welcome address by Aatreyee GuhaThakurta, Head of Higher Education Mobility,...
Development in Action webinar series: Understanding how carbon financed projects contribute towards Sustainable Development Goals
On Tuesday 28 November, the CSC Alumni Team were joined by Commonwealth Alumnus Lilian Kagume for the Development in Action webinar series. Lilian delivered a webinar on ‘Understanding how carbon financed projects contribute towards Sustainable Development Goals’....
Promoting Commonwealth Shared Scholarships in Ghana
On 30 November, Commonwealth Alumni in Ghana participated in an information session on Commonwealth Shared Scholarships. The event was comprised of a general information session on Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, how to apply, and what makes a good quality...
Exploring the impact, use and effects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the socio-economic agenda
On 01 December 2023, the Commonwealth Scholarships Alumni Association of Kenya (CSAAK) hosted a hybrid panel discussion on, ‘Leveraging Technology and Innovation in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Kenya and beyond’. The event coincided with Kenya Innovation...
Latest Publications and Resources
Promoting gender equality, improving access to justice, and promoting positive health outcomes for underserved communities: three new case studies
We are pleased to share the latest three alumni case studies, this time focused on the CSC Development Theme: Access, inclusion and opportunity. They join the twelve individual case studies published earlier this year demonstrating the outcomes and impact of Commonwealth Scholarships on international development across the six CSC Development Themes.
Expanding Horizons: The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship Programme
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships were established in 2001 as part of an initiative designed to expand the modes of scholarships offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK. To date, it has funded nearly 4,000 Scholars from 41 Commonwealth countries to study at 45 different higher education institutions in the United Kingdom.
Tackling corruption, addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development: three new case studies
The CSC brings you three new alumni Case Studies that vividly demonstrate how Commonwealth Alumni are applying the skills and knowledge sharpened on Scholarship to lead and influence change and to successfully deliver developmental activities that have improved livelihoods in their communities and beyond.
Exploring the developmental impact of Commonwealth Alumni: three new case studies
The CSC is excited to bring you three new Case Studies as part of our on-going work exploring the individual trajectories of Commonwealth Alumni. They complement the six case studies published earlier in 2022 and provide further evidence as to the wide-ranging impact of Commonwealth Alumni and the contribution their Commonwealth Scholarship has made to their developmental work.
Exploring Diary Methods to Measure the Outcomes and Impact of International Scholarships
The CSC Evaluation Team is always keen to explore more innovative ways to identify and measure the outcomes and impact of Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships. In 2019-2020 we conducted a trial and a pilot study to test the feasibility and effectiveness of using diary methods as a potential tool to collect information on the experiences, activities, and events of our alumni ‘in the moment’ following the Scholarship.
Knowledge, Networks and Development: 20 years of Commonwealth Professional Fellowships
‘In my career, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened’ said Dr Akinniyi Ayobami Adeleke, reflecting on the transformative impact of his CSC Professional Fellowship. As Head Librarian at Redeemer’s University in Nigeria, Dr Adeleke continually applies the advanced computer programming and management skills gained through his Fellowship at the University of East London towards the upgrading and modernisation of his university’s library services, as well as the upskilling of his colleagues.
Alumni Voices: Exploring the Outcomes and Impact of Commonwealth Scholarships
The CSC has long known that its Alumni go on to become change agents in their institutions and communities and that their Scholarships and Fellowships are a key contributor to this work. The establishment of the CSC’s dedicated Evaluation and Monitoring programme has facilitated the systematic gathering of evidence and data to support this knowledge, initially through surveys but increasingly through more innovative and rich methodologies including, most recently, a case study approach. This approach, as applied by the CSC, has involved investigation of individual Alumni trajectories through in-depth interviews, giving them an opportunity to share details of their experiences and developmental activities following the Scholarship. The case study approach allowed for a much more thorough investigation and understanding of the wider benefits of the Commonwealth Scholarships as well as the wide variety of contexts that have facilitated or hindered the achievement of Scholarship outcomes and impact.
CSC @ DHG 2021
After co-hosting the 10th Donor Harmonisation Group Forum in London in partnership with the Association of Commonwealth Universities and British Council, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission was pleased to attend the 11th Donor Harmonisation Group Forum in Basel,...
Experiences of Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni: Enabling Factors and Barriers to Scholarship Impact
The CSC offers a wide range of Scholarships and Fellowships which provide opportunities for talented and motivated individuals from across the Commonwealth to gain knowledge and skills with the aim of contributing towards sustainable development. Over the years, data collected from the Commonwealth Alumni has reinforced anecdotal evidence that the wide variety of contexts that Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows return to can act as barriers or enabling factors (or in some cases both) when it comes to Alumni securing relevant employment, applying the skills and knowledge acquired during their studies to their full potential, and realising their potential for development impact.
Forging connections and collaboration across the Commonwealth: A Review of the Commonwealth Academic Fellowship Programme
As well as offering Scholarships for postgraduate and doctoral study, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission has funded almost 2,500 Academic Fellowships since 1969, providing early and mid-career academics from across the Commonwealth with the opportunity to work and undertake research at UK universities. The CSC Evaluation Team recently undertook a review of the programme using data gathered from the 2015-2017 cohorts. The aim was to identify the outcomes, impact, and the scope of the potential short and long-term benefits of the Academic Fellowships on the Fellows’ Host institutions in the UK and their employing institutions in their home countries, as well as on the Fellows themselves.