News
Read the latest news about the CSC community and find out more about our current Scholars and Fellows, Alumni and partners.
Latest News
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...
Youth unemployment strategies to reduce youth at risk in Jamaica
In January 2025, Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Kerissa Nelson delivered a training workshop to promote awareness of effective employment strategies for youth at risk in Jamaica.
Commonwealth Scholarships – A story of success
Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Terri-Ann Gilbert-Roberts reflects on her Commonwealth Scholarship experience as part of our 65th anniversary celebrations.
Promoting social inclusion through Special Olympics Unified Sports (SOUS) in Kenya
In December 2024, Commonwealth Alumnus Stephen Ojwang delivered a training workshop to promote Special Olympics Unified Sports (SOUS) for students with disabilities in Kenya.
Delivered on 3 December, the workshop marked World Disability Day, which promotes the rights and well-being pf persons with disabilities globally.
Latest Publications and Resources
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.
Learning more about the Commonwealth Split-site programme
The CSC has proudly offered Scholarships for Split-site doctoral study for over twenty years and is delighted to announce the launch of the 2021 programme. Since 1998, this programme has provided a unique opportunity for more than 500 Commonwealth Scholars studying...
Twenty Years of Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
The CSC is proud to have supported over 3,000 exceptional scholars from 41 countries across the Commonwealth to undertake Commonwealth Scholarships by Distance Learning over the last two decades. In the run-up to the twentieth anniversary of the programme, the CSC is preparing to undertake an in-depth programme evaluation, beginning with the publication of a short rapid analysis summary and infographic highlighting the unique attributes and impact of the programme.
Commonwealth Doctoral Scholarships 1960 – 2015
The CSC is extremely proud of its support for doctoral research and of the thousands of Commonwealth Alumni who have obtained their PhD as a result. This review, completed in 2017 looked at the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship programme from 1960-2015 by which point over...
Successes and complexities: the outcomes of UK Commonwealth Scholarships 1960-2012
The CSC's commitment to evaluation and monitoring and to understanding the post award experiences of its Scholars and Alumni led to the further expansion of its data gathering, with a refined survey building on the experience of the initial alumni impact survey...
