News
Read the latest news about the CSC community and find out more about our current Scholars and Fellows, Alumni and partners.
Latest News
Promoting inclusive learning for students with disabilities in Higher Education in Tanzania
In December 2024, Commonwealth Alumni Stanslaus Francis and Sardina Zabron Tinkasimile delivered a workshop to promote awareness on inclusive learning for students with disabilities in Higher Education (HE) in Tanzania.
Spotlight on Olalekan Aduloju – exploring the role of brownfields in urban planning and political ecology
Olalekan Aduloju is a 2020 Commonwealth PhD Scholar from Nigeria studying at the University of Chester. His research focuses on brownfield sites in Nigeria and explores how urban planners address the contested issue of brownfield development. Olalekan presented his...
Interchange25: Empowering Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Between 19-28 March 2025, the CSC’s global conference, Interchange25, brought together over 400 scholars and alumni from 45 countries for a series of expert panel discussions and interactive sessions on the theme, ‘Entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation’. The...
Introducing the Commonwealth Startup Fellows
We are delighted to introduce Cohort One of the Commonwealth Startup Fellows who began their programme with a bootcamp in Accra, Ghana. Below is the list of twenty businesses and their founders, who join the CSF programme. About the fellowship...
Together we thrive – celebrating shared values at Commonwealth Day 2025
On Monday 10 March, Commonwealth Scholars attended a multi-faith service held at Westminster Abbey in London alongside leaders, dignitaries, and representatives from across the Commonwealth to celebrate Commonwealth Day. This...
Spotlight on Rubayet Ul Alam – predicting and preventing future pandemics
A S M Rubayet Ul Alam is a 2020 Commonwealth PhD Scholar from Bangladesh studying at the University of Glasgow. His research focuses on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) variants with the aim of predicting and preventing future infectious diseases. Rubayet...
Development in Action webinar series: Improving teaching practices in crisis settings
On Wednesday 26 February, Commonwealth Alumnus Siddharth Pillai delivered a webinar on ‘Improving teaching practices in crisis settings’. This webinar addressed the CSC development theme of Access, inclusion and opportunity. The CSC’s Development in Action webinar...
Spotlight on Joyce Chivunga – providing a roadmap for energy resilience in Malawi
Joyce Chivunga is a 2020 Commonwealth PhD Scholar from Malawi studying at Loughborough University. Her research focuses on multidisciplinary approaches to improving the resilience of Malawi's electricity grid following climate change-related weather events. Joyce...
Welcoming Commonwealth Scholars at Connect and Collaborate 2025
On Thursday 13 February the CSC held its annual Connect and Collaborate event at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London. The event brought together Commonwealth Scholars studying at universities across the UK for a day of discussion and networking centred on...
Development in Action webinar series: Mobilising private investments for climate adaptation for African countries
On Thursday 30 January, Commonwealth Alumnus Derek Apell delivered a webinar on ‘Mobilising private investments for climate adaptation for African countries’. This webinar addressed the CSC development theme, Strengthening resilience and response to crises. The CSC’s...
Latest Publications and Resources
Insect Technology for Sustainable Fish Farming and Waste Management in Kenya
The CSC is pleased to share a new impact case study as part of our on-going evaluation work identifying and demonstrating the outcomes and impact of Commonwealth Scholarships. Featured in this case study is Proscovia Amondi Alando, a 2018 alumnus who completed a...
Promoting Housing Rights and Improving Access to Bone Marrow Donations for Cancer Patients in India
The CSC is excited to bring you the first new Case Study of 2023, continuing its series of published in 2022, as part of our ongoing work exploring the individual trajectories of Commonwealth Alumni, the wide-ranging impact that they are having, and the contribution...
Empowering Ugandan Citizens to Access Information, Engaging the Youth in Policy Making and Promoting Entrepreneurship
We are very pleased to share our latest case study, featuring Phionah Kanyorobe, a Commonwealth Alumnus whose developmental work cuts across three CSC Development Themes: Strengthening global peace, security and governance; Access, inclusion and opportunity; and Promoting global prosperity.
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.
