Corporate report

Commonwealth Scholarships annual report for the year ending September 2023: forging a sustainable and peaceful common future

Published 13 December 2023

64th Annual Report to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

For the year ending 30 September 2023

Presented to Parliament pursuant to Paragraph 5 (2) of Schedule 2 of the International Development Act 2002

Foreword

As Chair of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, I am continually inspired by the dedication, resilience, and innovation of Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni. Their commitment to addressing pressing global challenges – from the climate crisis to broader international development issues – is testament to the transformative power of education and the enduring impact of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC).

The 2022 to 2023 academic year has been a significant period of growth and reflection for the Commonwealth. With the world continuing to re- emerge from the pandemic, we have embraced the opportunity to foster deeper in-person interactions. This year, we have been fortunate to host numerous in-person events for our Commonwealth Scholars and various stakeholders, building upon the successes of our previous online engagement strategies. The Connect and Collaborate Event in London in February, for instance, was a vibrant gathering of over 350 Scholars from 78 universities across the UK. These events, centred around the 6 CSC Development Themes, have been instrumental in fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and sparking innovative solutions to global challenges. Our special programme on Clean Energy, Air and Oceans has been a highlight of the year. This initiative, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 14, ‘Life Below Water’, and Sustainable Development Goal 7, ‘Affordable and Clean Energy’, has empowered a group of mid-career professionals to deepen their expertise in these critical areas. We welcomed 19 Professional Fellows from 6 Commonwealth countries to the UK earlier this year for a 3-month programme to enhance their skills, knowledge, and networks, and enable them to contribute to improving Clean Energy, Air and Oceans in their workplaces and wider society.

Their work not only supports the objectives of the Commonwealth Blue Charter, and the UK Government’s ‘Clean Green Initiative’, but also paves the way for sustainable development across the Commonwealth.

Clean Energy, Air and Oceans was also a focus of this year’s Alumni Community Engagement Fund, where Commonwealth Alumni designed and delivered community-focused activities to raise awareness about preserving marine ecosystems, increasing the use of renewable energy, and improving air quality as key factors to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Earlier this year, on behalf of the CSC, the British Council hosted Interchange23, an annual global conference for Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni to support interdisciplinary learning, discussions, and networking all focused on actions to address Clean Energy, Air and Oceans.

However, Scholars and Alumni are not just addressing environmental challenges (as important as these are). Their work spans the breadth of international development, from promoting gender equality and improving health outcomes to fostering innovation and building sustainable cities. Their dedication to these causes, aligned with our development themes, is making a tangible difference in communities across the Commonwealth.

The stories featured in this Annual Report offer a glimpse into the myriad ways our Scholars and Alumni are driving positive change. Whether through cutting-edge research, community engagement, or policy advocacy, they are at the forefront of addressing the most pressing challenges of our time.

We discover how alumnus Vijay Siddharth Pillai has designed and delivered educational programmes for 60,000 students in Afghanistan through his work with the charity Street Child. Championing the right to education, particularly for girls, has not been without challenges since the Taliban returned to power, but Vijay has shown that resilience pays off. He is now advocating for change and pioneering new interventions to expand access to girls’ education in the country.

Current Scholar Leticia Chimwemwe Suwedi- Kapesa is striving to achieve an HIV-free generation by 2030 with her research on early infant HIV diagnosis services in Malawi. Through co-designed workshops and close collaboration with patients, healthcare workers, policymakers, and researchers, Leticia is developing a joined-up approach to strengthen health service delivery and increase early intervention in cases of HIV.

Reducing financial risk is a key priority for Caribbean economies, and a life-long mission of alumnus Louisianne Josiah-Roberts. By stress- testing the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank against threats such as money laundering, as well as working with the World Bank to implement a comprehensive training programme for financial regulators, Louisianne is boosting the region’s international reputation and optimising conditions for future trade and investment.

These are just some of the examples of positive change generated by Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni covered in this Annual Report. As our network of Commonwealth Scholarship award holders continues to grow, the impact of our Scholars and Fellows on their communities and workplaces is also continuing to deepen and expand. Seeing the innovative ways in which Scholars and Fellows are making a difference is incredibly exciting and my fellow Commissioners and I look forward to what they will achieve in the future.

On behalf of the CSC, I would like to thank the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for their continuing support through Grant-in-Aid and the generous assistance provided by their scholarships team in London. I am also grateful to the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) for helping the CSC to deliver higher education that achieves sustainable development across the Commonwealth.

Each passing year makes the mission vision and mission of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commissions ever more relevant. With the continued support of our partners, stakeholders, and the broader CSC family, I am confident that we will achieve even greater milestones in our shared mission of promoting sustainable development across the Commonwealth.

Professor Robin Mason ORB Chair, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK

About us

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government’s scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It supports the co-creation of research, innovation, and solutions to enact sustainable development priorities across the Commonwealth and beyond.

Our work drives forward global sustainable development objectives by supporting innovators and leaders of the future from across the Commonwealth, while simultaneously attracting outstanding talent to Britain’s universities.

Our objectives are 3-fold:

1.   To provide a world-class scholarship scheme that contributes to sustainable development across the Commonwealth.

2.   To ensure that our programmes promote equity and inclusion, reward merit, and deliver widespread access, especially to those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

3.   To support and encourage cutting-edge research, innovation, and knowledge exchange throughout the Commonwealth.

Throughout this Report, we have demonstrated how these objectives were met in the year ending September 2023.

2022 to 2023 key performance indicators

As agreed in the 2022 to 2023 Business Plan

The CSC agreed to employ 6 key performance indicators to measure success against our objectives and priorities.

1. The gender of candidates selected for each CSC programme will be at least 45% female and 45% male.

CSC Programme	Female	Male
PhD Scholarships	47%	53%
Split Site Scholarships	53%	47%
Master’s Scholarships	57%	43%*
Shared Scholarships	55%	45%
Distance Learning Scholarships	47%	53%
Professional Fellowships	48%	52%

2.   Partnerships with UK universities will generate at least £4.5 million in matching contributions.

£5.8 million was generated in 2022 to 2023 in matching contributions through partnerships with UK universities.

3. Fifteen alumni profiles of CSC Women Leading Change will be published demonstrating the CSC’s support of cutting-edge research, innovation, and knowledge exchange throughout the Commonwealth.

In 2022 to 2023, there were 15 profiles published demonstrating CSC Women Leading Change, including 11 development impact articles published on the CSC website; 2 articles published in issue #13 of Common Knowledge; 1 article published in issue #14 of Common Knowledge; and 2 reports on alumni work through the Alumni Community Engagement Fund published on the CSC website.

4. 15 profiles of CSC alumni impacting climate change will be published demonstrating the CSC’s support of cutting-edge research, innovation, and knowledge exchange throughout the Commonwealth.

In 2022 to 2023, there were 15 profiles published demonstrating alumni impacting climate change, including 7 development impact articles published on the CSC website; 2 articles published in issue #13 of Common Knowledge; 1 article on the CSC’s Research Impact Award topical winner for ‘Clean Energy, Air and Oceans’ related research; 4 reports on alumni work through the Alumni Community Engagement Fund published on the CSC website; and 3 videos published on the CSC’s YouTube channel showcasing alumni panel discussions on Clean Energy, Air and Oceans at Interchange23.

5. Ten alumni profiles will be published demonstrating research which promotes equity and inclusion and supports those who have been left behind.

In 2022 to 2023, there were 10 profiles published demonstrating research which promotes equity and inclusion and supports those who have been left behind, including 8 development impact articles published on the CSC website; 1 report on an alumnus’ work through the Alumni Community Engagement Fund published on the CSC website; and 1 article published in issue #14 of Common Knowledge.

6. Ten in-depth Evaluation Case Studies will be produced to demonstrate the CSC as an innovative world-class scholarship and fellowship scheme that delivers impact on sustainable development across the Commonwealth.

In 2022 to 2023, there were 10 case studies published demonstrating the innovation and impact of scholarship and fellowship recipients on sustainable development.

*The KPI was not met for the Master’s Scholarships Programme during this period. Considerable work has been done by the CSC to achieve a better gender balance to offset a deficit of female Scholars. This has been successful but the balance has gone slightly the other way on this particular programme. The Commission has taken initial action to adjust the nomination quotas and will monitor this during the next selection round, with action proposed to improve the gender balance in this Programme if the KPI is not met again.

Our programmes

Objective 1: To provide a world-class scholarship scheme that contributes to sustainable development.

The following pages demonstrate how the range of study, research, and professional development programmes we provide, alongside the Scholar and alumni engagement activities from the past year, helped to build an engaged community of Scholars and alumni with the potential to make real and lasting change in the development areas they choose to focus on.

Our programmes in numbers

The CSC offers 7 unique study, research, and professional development programmes to nations across the Commonwealth and to individuals of outstanding ability who are selected for their potential to enact development impact in their country.

The data below provides an overview of the number of Scholars and Fellows taking part in each of our 7 programmes in the 2022 to 2023 academic year. This includes new 2022 Scholars and Fellows and continuing Scholars and Fellows.

All scholars and fellows

Scholars and Fellows	Continuing Scholars and Fellows (1,005)	Total Scholars and Fellows 2022 to 2023: 1,676	2022 Scholars and Fellows: 671
All Doctoral Scholars	325	459	134
PhD	240	313	73
Split-site	85	146	61
All Master’s Scholars	680	1, 198	518
Master’s	1	96	95
Shared	5	213	208
Distance learning	674	889	215
All fellows	[0]	[0]	19
Professional	[0]	[0]	19

The Sustainable Development Goals and CSC Development Themes

The CSC is driven forward by international development objectives. As part of their application, Commonwealth Scholars select at least 3 UN Sustainable Development Goals that they aim to impact post-award in order to answer the UN’s global call to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

All Commonwealth Scholarships funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are offered under 6 key development themes chosen specifically to align with the UK government’s international development priorities.

The data below demonstrates the percentage of 2022 Scholars targeting each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and each of the CSC Development Themes.

Percentage of 2022 Commonwealth Scholarships applicable to each Sustainable Development Goal

SDG	%
Affordable and Clean Energy	12
Clean Water and Sanitation	18
Climate Action	29
Decent Work and Economic Growth	24
Gender Equality	20
Good Health and Well-Being	63
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	29
Life Below Water	6
Life on Land	6
No Poverty	29
Partnerships for the Goals	20
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16
Quality Education	31
Reduced Inequalities	38
Responsible Consumption and Production	15
Sustainable Cities and Communities	24
Zero Hunger	21

Percentage of 2022 Commonwealth Scholarships applicable to each CSC development theme

CSC theme	%
Science and technology for development	29
Strengthening health systems and capacity	27
Access, inclusion and opportunity	13
Strengthening resilience and response to crises	12
Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship	12
Strengthening global peace, security and governance	8

Building an engaged community of scholars

Providing a world-class scholarship scheme that contributes to sustainable development across the Commonwealth means providing Scholars and Fellows with the opportunities they need to build up the knowledge, skillset, and networks that will enable them to achieve their development goals when they return to their home countries. Below is a snapshot of the opportunities undertaken by Scholars and Fellows over the past year.

The Leaders in Sustainable Development Programme

The Leaders in Sustainable Development Programme aims to deliver practical skills development and discussion-based learning to enable Scholars to respond to development challenges in their countries and communities.

The programme begins with the online training course ‘Understanding Development Impact’ provides Scholars with the tools for designing and implementing development projects. This is followed by the Leaders in Sustainable Development workshops that run between October 2022 and July 2023 and focus on enhancing Scholars’ sustainable development practice in research, social impact, and public engagement.

In 2022 to 2023, over 120 Scholars attended the 11 virtual workshops and 9 face to face regional workshops hosted by the CSC.

A 2023 workshop participant said:

The training expanded my horizon about how to plan for social impact by setting short, medium and long term goals. It also taught me how to set smaller targets to achieve these goals while also pushing me to explore how I actually want to generate social impact and what steps can be taken next to realise that.

Connect and Collaborate Event

The Connect and Collaborate Event is the largest event in the CSC calendar and provides an opportunity for Scholars in the UK to come together to discuss their work, exchange ideas, and forge new connections for the future.

In February, 360 Scholars from 78 universities across the UK attended the Connect and Collaborate Event held at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster which featured panel sessions, workshops, and talks from a range of international speakers.

Professional Fellows’ welcome event

This year’s Professional Fellowship programme began in February when all 19 Professional Fellows representing 6 Commonwealth countries came together at the University of Edinburgh for 2 days of networking, cross-organisation engagement, and learning focused on the theme of Clean Energy, Air and Oceans. This was the first in a series of events bringing the Fellows together during their 3-month stay in the UK.

Maximising your impact workshop

As part of the Leaders in Sustainable Development Programme, the CSC delivers 2 residential workshops each year at Cumberland Lodge to enhance Scholars’ expertise in achieving impact.

In March, the CSC welcomed 46 Commonwealth Scholars studying at Master’s level to a residential workshop on current international development issues and how Scholars contribute to solving them.

In May, the CSC hosted its second residential workshop for 44 Scholars studying at doctoral level where they explored ways to engage decision makers and wider stakeholder groups in development-focused research.

A 2023 Maximising your impact workshop participant said:

The presentations were so engaging. The speakers not only shared information, but they also allowed us to express our ideas as well.

Parliamentary Reception for Commonwealth Scholars

The annual Parliamentary Reception gives Scholars a unique opportunity to meet UK parliamentarians and learn about the workings of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. This year’s event was held in June for 35 Commonwealth Scholars who engaged in discussions on governance and democratic process in the modern Commonwealth.

The event was organised by the CSC and the Council for Education in the Commonwealth’s Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) Support Group with support from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK).

Farewell Event

In July, Commonwealth Scholars joined Chevening and Marshall Scholars for the joint scholarship Farewell Event at Alexandra Palace celebrated Scholars’ achievements during their time in the UK. This year’s event featured guest speakers including The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP and HRH The Prince of Wales, and enabled Scholars to strengthen their international networks as they prepared to return to their home countries and make a difference in their communities.

Engaging the global alumni community

A Commonwealth Scholarship is for life. Upon finishing their Scholarship or Fellowship, Scholars join a thriving community of over 31,000 alumni, who are working across a range of sectors and fields, effecting real change at a local, national, and international level.

To highlight the work of Commonwealth Alumni across various sectors and fields, the following alumni engagement activities were delivered over the last year.

Development in Action webinar series

The monthly Development in Action webinar series highlights the work and contributions of Commonwealth Alumni to development across a range of contemporary global challenges.

Monthly webinars have covered a range of topics, including building climate resilience in Caribbean Small Island States, the role of financial technology (FinTech) in achieving sustainable development in Asia Pacific, and bridging the gap between public and private eye healthcare in Nigeria and African countries.

100% of attendees would attend future webinars.

96% of attendees learned something new to a large or moderate extent*.

*Based on participant feedback survey results.

Alumni Community Engagement Fund

Small changes implemented at the community level can lead to big impact over time. 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.

The selected themes for activities delivered in 2022 to 2023 were Clean Energy, Air and Oceans, addressing the CSC’s special programme for this year, and sport for development, coinciding with the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

In total there were 10 activities delivered by alumni from 7 countries. Find out more about one of the activities delivered under the theme of Clean Energy, Air and Oceans on page 40 of the Annual Report.

Research Impact Awards

The CSC Research Impact Awards celebrate the research and publication endeavours of Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni at the early and mid-career researcher stages, and their value to international development. The awards are sponsored by Taylor & Francis.

In 2022, winning articles addressed the suitability of land for rainfed rice paddy production in Zambia, the development of solar cell materials for use in clean renewable energy sources, and the design and building of a spaceborne atmospheric carbon dioxide monitoring instrument.

CSC Mentoring Programme

The CSC’s Mentoring Programme connects Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni to support knowledge and skills development and a practical understanding of how these can be implemented post-scholarship to achieve development impact.

In 2022 to 2023, the programme has been supporting 134 active mentoring pairs.

96% of participants in the 2021 to 2022 programme reported they would take part again.

A 2021 Mentee from Nigeria said:

The CSC Mentoring Programme has left a hunger for excellence. On a personal level, the programme has met my expectations of fostering personal growth, self-confidence, and the development of crucial life skills. My Mentor provided guidance on goal-setting, decision-making, and work-life balance which has positively impacted my personal well-being and overall satisfaction.

Alumni Advisory Panel

The Alumni Advisory Panel provides a platform for Commonwealth Alumni to provide constructive feedback on the CSC programme. By sharing personal insight and expertise, panel members help advise on the direction of the CSC’s activities and support future cohorts to flourish.

Appointed in September 2021, the 2021-2023 panel comprised 97 members, representing 24 Commonwealth countries.

In the report year, the panel was consulted on the CSC’s global conference, Interchange23, the CSC Scholar Handbook and onboarding experience, reviewed CSC application forms and applicant resources, and shared insights on future special programme themes and activities delivered by the CSC.

A 2021 to 2023 panel member said:

Being an Alumni Advisory Panel Member is an enriching experience. It has helped me to grow both as a person and professionally. It has also been worthwhile connecting with fellow scholars from all over the world, making new friends and connecting with the larger Commonwealth fraternity.

Interchange23

The third annual global conference for Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni, Interchange23, took place between 13 to 17 February 2023. The overarching theme of the conference was Clean Energy, Air and Oceans.

The 5-day programme featured a mix of roundtable discussions, skills workshops, and networking sessions, and provided an opportunity for Commonwealth Scholars, Alumni, and other stakeholders to share knowledge and research related to preserving marine resources, increasing the use of renewable energies, and reducing air pollution.

In-country events

Working with in-country partners, the CSC provides pre-award and alumni engagement activities in 12 countries. In the report year, there were 17 alumni in-country events on a range of topics, including a workshop on inclusion for people with visible and invisible disabilities, roundtable discussions on climate change adaptation strategies and adoption, and a session on the role of climate change on sports development.

Our scholars and fellows

Objective 2: To ensure that our programmes promote equity and inclusion, reward merit, and deliver widespread access, especially to those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

This section of the Annual Report demonstrates how our Scholar selections reach a wide pool of applicants from across the Commonwealth, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries and how we work with our nominating partners to ensure, all other things being equal, candidates from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds are chosen.

Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows: The 2022 cohort

We were delighted to welcome 671 new Scholars and Fellows from 31 Commonwealth countries in the 2022 to 2023 academic year to take part in our programmes. This cohort joined 81 universities and host organisations spread across the UK.

2022 new awards by region

95% of 2022 FCDO-funded awards were for citizens of least developed and lower middle income countries and fragile states.

2022 new awards by DAC list category

Least developed countries: 221

Lower middle income countries: 429

Upper middle income countries: 21

90% of Scholars would have been unlikely to study the same programme in the UK without the support of a Scholarship.

Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list of official development assistance (ODA) recipients

The DAC List of ODA recipients shows all countries and territories eligible to receive official development assistance. These consist of all low and middle income countries based on gross national income per capita as published by the World Bank, with the exception of G8 members, EU members, and countries with a firm date for entry into the EU. The list also includes all of the Least Developed Countries as defined by the United Nations.

2022 new awards by gender*

*Includes all new Scholarships and Fellowships taken up in 2022 to 2023.

Female: 347

Male: 324

Total: 671

2022 new awards by UK institution region

West Scotland: 53

East Scotland: 95

Northern Ireland: 5

North East England: 76

North West England: 77

Midlands: 77

Wales: 29

Cambridge: 21

South East England: 84

London: 95

Oxford; 23

South West England: 36

Widening access to Commonwealth Scholarships

Higher education can have a transformative effect on individuals and wider society. However, postgraduate study can remain out of reach for many people due to the barriers they face within their community or society. To ensure that our programmes promote equity and inclusion, reward merit, and deliver widespread access, especially to those from disadvantaged backgrounds, we work with National Nominating Agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and Charitable Trust Nominating Agencies across the Commonwealth to recruit Scholars.

Our partnerships with NGOs and Charitable Trusts are particularly important to help us reach out to specific underrepresented populations and break down the barriers that applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds often face. We have partnered with the following NGOs and Charitable Trusts working across multiple countries with a proven track record of widening participation to higher education:

Canon Collins Educational Trust and HALI Access Network - recruits applicants with a low socio-economic status.

Wellcome Trust - offers science and research focused awards for least developed countries in East Africa.

Windle Trust International - recruits refugees and internally displaced people in Kenya and Uganda.

Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) - open for applications from women working in education in Africa.

Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum - offers an application route for people with disabilities across the Commonwealth.

55 Scholars were nominated by NGOs and Charitable Trusts in 2022, up from 54 in 2021, 51 in 2020, and 40 in 2019.

Widening access for women

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a pan-African Non-Governmental Organisation established in 1992 to champion education rights for girls in Africa. Headquartered in Nairobi and with a presence in 33 African countries, FAWE uses a 3-pronged holistic approach to transform girls’ education and to achieve gender equity and equality in education across Africa through demonstrative interventions, advocacy, and research. FAWE supports applications from female candidates in 14 Commonwealth countries in Africa.

The CSC introduced FAWE as a nominating agency for the 2013 academic year and has worked with them to help advance our goal of achieving gender parity in nominations.

Widening access for refugees

Worldwide, only 5% of refugees have access to higher education.

Windle Trust International is working to lift these barriers and help more people from refugee backgrounds attend university. Since 1988, they have supported over 1,000 people reach higher education through scholarships at undergraduate and postgraduate levels by supporting scholarship opportunities for conflict-affected students from Eastern and Central Africa at universities and colleges in the UK, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. Their scholarships support the development of leadership and skills in African communities.

Fatuma Shidiye, 2022 Windle Scholar, University of Westminster, MSc TESOL said:

Through Windle International and funding from the CSC, this scholarship has been an opportunity for less fortunate individuals from the most vulnerable communities in East Africa to quench their thirst for education.

The CSC has worked with Windle Trust International for 20 years to offer awards to Master’s candidates resident in Kenya and Uganda.

Widening access for people with disabilities

The Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (CDPF) brings disabled people from all countries of the Commonwealth, regardless of their impairment, gender, age, race, indigenous and geographical background, religion or political affiliation, together with a view to having one voice to advocate for the promotion and equalisation of opportunities for all disabled people.

Dr Israel Adekunle Balogun, 2022 Commonwealth PhD Scholar, Nigeria said:

The Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum allows qualified individuals with disability to be included in the system and that’s something that’s very unique about the Commonwealth Scholarship.

CDPF offers a CSC application route for disabled candidates from 45 Commonwealth countries. Candidates must also be able to demonstrate how their studies will lead to an improvement in the position of disabled people in their country.

After introducing CDPF as a Nominating Agency, there was a 7-fold increase in the number of Scholars with a declared disability. Since then, the CSC has maintained a consistent number of disabled Scholars. In recognition of the additional challenges that disabled people often face in their education journeys, the CSC has also developed a contextualised nomination policy which enabled CDPF to identify and nominate candidates who have not met the CSC’s academic criteria but have demonstrated themselves as an otherwise excellent candidate for a Commonwealth Scholarship.

Development impact

Objective 3: To support and encourage cutting-edge research, innovation, and knowledge exchange throughout the Commonwealth.

The following pages demonstrate some of the ways in which our programmes, Scholars and alumni have fulfilled this aim in the report year, creating development impact at the community, country, and international levels across the 6 CSC Development Themes and beyond.

Impact in numbers

How Commonwealth alumni use the skills gained from their award

	Applying knowledge or skills at work	Transferring skills to others	Advocating change
All the time	54%	36%	23%
Often	41%	50%	44%
Rarely	4%	12%	29%
Never	1%	2%	4%

90% of Scholars and Fellows have used the skills and knowledge gained and/or made changes in their workplace as a result of their award.

95% of Scholars and Fellows used the skills gained as a result of their award in their employment ‘all the time’ or ‘often’.

How Commonwealth alumni are having an impact

Alumni report having an impact at a variety of levels:

Institutional: 88%

Local: 84%

National: 55%

International: 38%

The impact happens in different ways:

Social development: 77%

Policy making: 63%

Civic engagement: 59%

Economic development: 59%

Protecting the environment and climate: 55%

94% of Scholars and Fellows across all FCDO-funded programmes finishing awards in the report year returned to live/work in their home country or another low- or middle-income country.

Targeting national development priorities

Our mix of application routes enable governments in low- and middle-income countries to nominate Scholars and Fellows in line with their national development priorities. In this report year, these priorities included:

Health and medicine: 69%

Education: 66%

Infrastructure and engineering: 54%

Economic development: 49%

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries: 37%

Climate change, environment and conservation: 34%

Science and technology: 29%

Good governance and public service: 29%

Security: 17%

Tourism: 17%

95% of Scholars and Fellows consider their award as relevant to the needs of their home country.

Building lasting ties

92% of Alumni report continued contact with UK institutions and/or professional networks in the UK.

How do Commonwealth Alumni and Scholars rate their experience?

95% of Scholars and Fellows think Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships are prestigious.

95% of Scholars and Fellows would recommend applying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship.

98% of Scholars and Fellows would recommend studying in the UK.

CSC development themes

Science and technology for development

Dr Ikpaya David Ikpaya
2017 Rutherford Fellow
Nigeria
Post Doc. in Remote Sensing Instrumentation
University of Surrey

Across the world, increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases are driving up temperatures and worsening the effects of climate change. Monitoring carbon dioxide (CO2), the principal man-made greenhouse gas responsible for global temperature rises, is fundamental for understanding fluctuations in atmospheric gas levels and supporting international efforts aimed at mitigating climate change.

My research aims to increase research on CO2 levels and atmospheric conditions in Nigeria and similar low resource geographies. Determining the extent of carbon fluxes in the tropics, especially in regions around the equatorial zone, can be challenging owing to the relative lack of in-situ CO2 measurement networks in these regions. However, through my research, I found that measuring regional fluxes and the processes behind them could be significantly improved by utilising space-based observations and terrestrial observatories.

After receiving support from Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), I designed and built a spaceborne atmospheric CO2 monitoring instrument known as SHACS (Spatial Heterodyne Atmospheric Carbon-dioxide Spectrometer). The SHACS instrument can be mounted on a compact microsatellite platform with low operational costs to provide high-quality hourly measurements of atmospheric CO2 concentration when launched in constellation. These space-based observations monitor subtle changes in atmospheric CO2 providing valuable scientific data to support policymakers on progress against carbon targets and delivering interventions to mitigate further carbon emissions.

The SHACS instrument also has the potential to be operated as a network of CO2 monitoring hubs around the tropics to improve monitoring of CO2 and carbon emissions and contribute significantly to UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 in taking urgent action to combat climate change.

After receiving a wide range of interest from the space sector and academia, I am confident that the SHACS instrument will expand our understanding of atmospheric CO2 and become a vital tool for climate mitigation in Nigeria and beyond.

Dr Ikpaya David Ikpaya was awarded the 2022 CSC Research Impact Award for his clean energy-related research. His article, ‘Development of SHACS: Progress on Channel-1 Prototype Demonstrator’, is published in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing.

Transforming the future of coastal energy in Ghana

Jude Ofosu
2022 Commonwealth Shared Scholar
Ghana
MSc in Oceanography
University of Southampton

With its 550 kilometres of coastline and large coastal population, Ghana is reliant on the sea for its economy and food security. Despite this, the country’s coastal infrastructure remains underdeveloped, particularly in relation to producing renewable energy and preserving marine ecosystems.

As an oceanographer, I will use my knowledge and skills to advance renewable energy projects, such as offshore wind farms, that curb global warming, and support environmental protections for Ghana’s marine ecosystems.

Understanding the geological conditions of a proposed offshore wind site is essential because more than a third of the total building costs of an offshore wind system are spent on the foundation structure. My technical experience of modelling ice sheet behaviour and analysing bedrock environments will be important in determining the long-term suitability of offshore sites in Ghana and contributing to informed decision making. I am currently involved in an offshore wind energy project as part of an international research initiative which will stand me in good stead for undertaking similar projects in Ghana.

On a wider level, I plan to engage with the Ghana Maritime Authority on the need for a detailed bathymetric chart studying the ocean floor off Ghana’s coast. Not only will this contribute to Seabed 2030, an international framework for mapping the world’s ocean floors by 2030, but it will provide a blueprint for policymakers in Ghana on sites for future offshore wind farms.

The fisheries sector will also benefit from seafloor by mapping allowing them to identify species habitats with greater accuracy and gauge the impact of commercial fishing. It is my hope that this exercise would bring additional environmental benefits by, for example, enabling policymakers to establish clear guidelines on sustainable fishing and marine conservation, which would in turn boost coastal tourism and create healthier, more biodiverse environments for coastal communities.

Building on my scholarship experience, I intend to collaborate with international organisations to develop increased renewable energy production in Ghana and contribute to research that supports the transition to a greener future.

Strengthening health systems and capacity

A focus on radiation therapy in Ghana

Andrew Donkor
2013 Commonwealth Shared Scholar
Ghana
MSc Clinical Leadership in Cancer, Palliative and End of Life Care
University of Southampton

In 2020, Ghana recorded over 24,000 new cancer cases, leading to more than 15,000 deaths. Early detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes from cancer, but in countries like Ghana, limited access to essential medical equipment and trained professionals presents a significant obstacle.

As a lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), I have been at the forefront of coordinating postgraduate cancer training and transforming the university’s medical imaging and radiation therapy curriculum to improve early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Recognising the limited access to postgraduate medical imaging training in Ghana and other African countries and the inhibiting factors in cancer detection, including a lack of GP knowledge, scarce resources for biopsy procedures, and cultural practices such as seeking treatment from spiritualists was an important step in developing the curriculum.

Building on my radiation therapy background and scholarship studies in palliative and end-of-life care, I worked closely with colleagues at KNUST to develop the university’s radiation therapy curriculum based on Ghana’s healthcare system. This ensures that students’ knowledge and skills are appropriately adapted to the health care settings where they will work. The curriculum is also founded on a flexible model, so that it can be implemented in countries where equipment and resources may be different.

More than 200 medical imaging students have been taught under the new curriculum and can now deploy their expertise anywhere on the continent, reducing the reliance on outside medical professionals to treat cancer patients in Africa.

In 2014, I initiated a free community-based intervention, AD-Cancer Awareness, to educate communities about cancer and offer screening services. I have also developed the Readiness Self-Assessment Tool (RESEA) based on my doctoral research into radiotherapy accessibility in low- and middle-income countries. RESEA is a pioneering tool that is freely available to assist countries in evaluating their preparedness for establishing and sustaining radiotherapy facilities.

The skills and knowledge I gained during my Commonwealth Scholarship have transformed my ability to address challenges in radiation therapy and become a clinical leader in cancer care in Africa.

Improving infant HIV diagnosis in communities in Malawi

Leticia Chimwemwe Suwedi-Kapesa
2020 Commonwealth PhD Scholar
Malawi
PhD in Global Health
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

The goal of an HIV-free generation by 2030 is seriously challenged by the low current rates of HIV identification and treatment in children. Globally, just 63% of infants with HIV-infected mothers are tested for HIV by 6 weeks of age. This rate is slightly better in Malawi but remains low at 78.6% of infants tested.

My scholarship research seeks to enhance early infant HIV diagnosis services through the design of a context appropriate enhanced health system strategy in Malawi’s Blantyre district. While engaging with post-partum women and healthcare workers, I uncovered several factors impacting the uptake of early infant HIV diagnosis services, including insufficient resources and equipment, failure to identify infants, challenges with integrating services, and deficient knowledge and professionalism among healthcare staff. Wider social issues, like HIV stigma, also played a role.

In collaboration with patients, healthcare workers, national policymakers, and non-governmental organisations in co-designed workshops, we identified strategies to address these barriers. This inclusive approach empowered stakeholders, fostering solutions and productive engagement. Locally, these workshops aim to enhance early infant diagnosis services in Blantyre. On a national level, this approach could serve as a blueprint for broader efforts to improve HIV monitoring, adding to scientific evidence that stakeholder involvement is critical for strengthening health systems.

Through scholarship research, I have built strong ties with Malawi’s policymakers and healthcare managers. These connections will be crucial when presenting evidence-informed proposals for enhanced infant HIV monitoring post-scholarship. Expanding on my PhD research, I plan to create a mentoring platform for young female researchers, collaborating with the Forum for African Women Educationalists and other researchers to bolster Malawi’s health systems.

Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship

Delivering stronger financial regulation in the Caribbean

Louisianne Josiah-Roberts
2017 Commonwealth Shared Scholar
Antigua and Barbuda
MPA Public Administration
University of Exeter

Over the past decade, commercial relationships within the Caribbean’s financial sector have been restricted and terminated because of precautionary measures by foreign banks. This process of financial de-risking aims to limit the possibilities for financial crime by those linked to money laundering, or terrorist financing. Yet, financial de-risking has also created challenges for international trade, threatening national and regional economies in the Caribbean.

As a Bank Examiner at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), I play a leading role in ensuring that licensed financial institutions comply with anti-money laundering and counter-financing terrorism legislation (AML/CFT) while supporting the ECCB in maintaining the stability of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) and the integrity of the banking system.

Working across the 8 ECCU countries, a part of my role entails the assessment of their systems, laws, and regulations to identify areas which could be exploited for financial crime or where existing legislation falls short of international standards. This is followed by providing feedback to competent authorities on amending national AML/CFT laws to strengthen financial regulation and governance within the currency union.

In 2020, the ECCB collaborated with the World Bank on a 2-year training programme for ECCU regulators aimed at the implementation of effective risk-based AML/CFT programmes. Following the successful completion of this project, the ECCB initiated the AML/CFT Supervisory Mentorship Programme which provided technical assistance and mentorship to increase regulatory competence within the ECCU. Through these mentoring relationships, I have been able to support regulators in AML/CFT compliance and improve communication across the region. The success of this intervention was evidenced by the independent review of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFTAF), which reported that the banking sector within countries under the ECCB’s AML/CFT supervision had robust regulatory programmes and compliance.

Nevertheless, the evolution of financial technology, particularly virtual assets including cryptocurrency, has opened up new opportunities for crime. As a specialist, it is vital for me to remain alert to the threats of financial crime and support the ECCU countries to adopt changes in international standards and regulations. In streamlining information on AML/CFT through a quarterly newsletter to licensed financial institutions and other regulators, I have ensured that guidance on regulatory initiatives are deployed across ECCU, in addition to providing a platform to raise awareness of emerging money laundering and terrorist financing risks.

By improving the safeguards in the Caribbean’s financial and banking sector, I have boosted the region’s international reputation, helping to support future trade and investment that will sustain the region’s economy.

Implementing a green growth future in Bangladesh

Shahrima Tanjin Arni
2022 Commonwealth Master’s Scholar Bangladesh
LLM in International Law
University of Cambridge

In Bangladesh, foreign direct investment (FDI) is one of the main drivers of the country’s transitioning economy. Yet while foreign investment contracts have accelerated economic growth and development, they often come at the expense of social and environment protections that directly affect the lives and livelihoods of Bangladesh’s citizens.

My work looks at how Bangladesh can pivot towards more responsible investment that balances economic growth and sustainable development to achieve an inclusive, green economic transition.

Historically, countries such as Bangladesh have faced a legal backlash from foreign investors when attempting to implement reforms that promote human rights, labour standards, or environmental protection. Following dispute settlement mechanisms, which often judge in favour of investors, these countries can find themselves doubly penalised as they are barred from making the planned reforms and incur an economic loss from the legal proceedings.

In recent years, there have been calls for FDI contracts to incorporate policy concerns around climate, allowing countries to regulate and change the laws that impact their own citizens. However, converting these concerns into tangible action remains some way off, despite the Bangladesh government’s commitment to a green transition.

Through my research and using my expertise in international law, I will work with policymakers to revisit Bangladesh’s bilateral investment treaties and contracts to establish conditions that allow the government to pursue environmental protection reforms. Drawing on my civil society networks, I plan to create momentum for changing the regulatory framework around future FDI investments through stakeholder pressure, and by highlighting positive examples of FDI contract reform by countries such as India. In my role as a university lecturer, I am also well placed to develop further research in this area and educate the younger generation of legal scholars about the importance of responsible investment.

Through this work I hope to continue supporting Bangladesh’s economic development while delivering an expanded environmental platform to safeguard people at a local, regional, and national level, and align with international law on limiting the impact of climate change.

Strengthening global peace, security and governance

We all live in a world of increasingly complex and entangled problems, the impacts of climate change, as an example, perpetuate and exacerbate inequalities. Its roots are to be found among geographies of inequality, and its solutions require addressing very difficult questions about future inequalities and the lives we can all afford to lead. This is not easy. To understand problems like this, to grapple with them, and to solve them requires 3 things. Firstly, in-depth expert knowledge; secondly, an ability to work across boundaries - disciplines, sectors, countries; and thirdly, a desire to exert leadership and a commitment to make a difference in the world. Commonwealth Scholars are critical in this - academically talented, globally connected, and locally committed. Many of the issues we face today require entirely new perspectives, approaches and networks to solve them. Our Scholars are ideally placed to exert leadership in shaping a world that is better for all.

Professor James Smith, CSC Commissioner

Shaping democratic processes in Africa

Nicole Beardsworth
2013 Commonwealth PhD Scholar
South Africa
PhD in Politics and International Relations
University of Warwick

Promoting free, fair, and peaceful elections is a core element of democratic governance and vital to ensuring that people have a say in decision making and can hold decision makers to account.

Through my research and teaching, I work to build understanding of political parties and electoral histories to strengthen democracy and support political parties, donor groups, and voters to engage in peaceful electoral processes.

My scholarship research aimed to address the gap in empirical research on Africa’s political and electoral landscape in South Africa. After conducting doctoral fieldwork in Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, I was able to present a more accurate and relatable picture of politics in these countries, challenging preconceptions and enhancing understanding among my South African students.

In 2019, I received grants from the Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of Warwick and the British Institute in Eastern Africa to study the 2021 Zambian elections, and with colleagues at Warwick, UCT and the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research we established the Zambia Elections Research Network (ZERN). This initiative brought together local and international scholars to coordinate and fund a common research agenda on the elections, and provided a comprehensive overview of the electoral process.

The network also led to collaborations with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the creation of a set of 9 policy briefs on the electoral process as well as consultations with donors involved in supporting the elections. From ZERN, we recently published a special issue on the elections with the Journal of Eastern African Studies, which promises to have a substantial impact on various debates within African Studies but also in the policy arena. Since the elections, the network’s focus has shifted to the current Zambian administration’s impact and looking ahead to the 2026 polls.

After extensive work with donors on the political environment in Zimbabwe and how to positively influence democratisation in the country, in 2022 I conducted a pre-election analysis of the upcoming 2023 Zimbabwean elections to help support a peaceful election process. This comes on the back of my PhD research and more than a decade’s experience working on and in the country. I now also supervise 2 Zimbabwean PhD students and hope that this will continue to positively shape Zimbabwe’s future.

My experience has shown the valuable role that academic research can play in shaping political processes and facilitating engagement with policymakers. In my role at the University of Witwatersrand, I look forward to continuing research and teaching that strengthens understanding of politics across the region, while pursuing policy and consultancy work with governments to foster democratic values and institutions in Africa.

Tackling media power in Nigeria

Tordue Simon Targema
2022 Commonwealth Split-Site Scholar
Nigeria
PhD in Journalism
University of Glasgow

In Nigeria, the #EndSARS protests are remembered as a popular civil movement that called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and advocated for justice, responsible policing, and good governance. Despite widespread public interest in the movement’s aims, the Nigerian media’s coverage of the protests was often critical, tending to side with the government over those involved in the protests.

My scholarship research investigates how contextual factors, including political, economic, cultural, regional, and ethno-religious influences, affected the media’s portrayal of the #EndSARS protests, and how these factors can inhibit the integrity of a free press. Interrogating these forces of media capture is important in emerging democracies like Nigeria because the media’s role as a watchdog, representing the diverse views within society, can so easily be compromised.

By examining how social and political domination are reproduced in text and speech, my research exposes the issue of media capture in Nigeria. Through this I will highlight the need for an independent media sector that complements democracy, protects citizens’ rights, and holds public figures accountable. Whether media coverage aligns with the government of the day, as in #EndSARS, or sides with citizen protesters, as in the earlier #BringBackOurGirls movement following the abduction of schoolgirls by Boko Haram, contextual factors clearly influence how pressing issues are covered by the media.

After my scholarship, I will share my findings in reputable journals and forums, such as the upcoming International Communication Association in Africa Conference (ICA-Africa), to highlight the importance of independent journalism to a functioning democracy. This research will also enrich my teaching at Taraba State University, enabling me to support the next generation of journalism students to critique the relations of power within society and strengthen journalism education within Nigeria.

Strengthening resilience and response to crises

The world today faces unprecedented challenges that threaten lives and wellbeing, increasing the risk of natural disasters, pandemics, conflict, and humanitarian crises. These challenges, such as climate change, have the greatest impact on the most vulnerable and atrisk groups in society. Our Commonwealth Scholars make a huge contribution to building a more resilient world, through development of innovative solutions and interventions, and enhancing preparedness and responses to global challenges and crises. Their research is helping to meet the SDGs and ensure a more secure and equitable future for all.

Professor Liz Baggs, CSC Commissioner

Connecting communities across the Commonwealth

Ajara Sompo Ceesay
2013 Commonwealth Master’s Scholar
The Gambia
MSc in Transport with Sustainable Development
Imperial College London

Across the globe, inadequate transport systems deprive people of opportunities and exacerbate safety risks. According to the World Bank, one billion people do not have easy access to an all-weather road while one in 6 women avoid job seeking out of fear of harassment in transit. However, sustainable transport has the power to foster inclusive growth by connecting communities, providing economic opportunities, and combating climate change.

As a Transport Specialist with the World Bank Group, I provide technical support for transport projects focused on increasing road connectivity and improving the resilience of transport infrastructure to cope with a changing climate.

Having previously worked on large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Trans-Gambia Bridge, after my scholarship I established the Urban Roads Development in The Gambia. This initiative aimed to map informal roadways and alternative routes that could be improved to ease traffic on metropolitan trunk roads. Since its inception, Urban Roads Development has strengthened the metropolitan transport network and led to increased connectivity for economic and other essential activities.

Understanding the impact of climate on transport infrastructure is vital for developing adaptation solutions that are durable and long-lasting. I was part of a team working to improve pavement and road surfaces in Tonga in response to rising temperatures and flood risks. By adapting the materials used in road construction and implementing new drainage structures, I helped to reduce the effects of climate damage, ensuring that roads could withstand and still be used in different weather conditions.

I also contributed to a pioneering programme that supported commercial driver licensing for women in the Pacific. As women in the region are often excluded from the commercial driving sector, this programme gave women access to driver training to facilitate employment opportunities which in turn contributed to national economic development activities.

Through all my work I aim to provide safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems. By improving road safety and expanding the possibilities for public transport, especially for those in vulnerable situations, I will continue to build inclusive, connected communities across the Commonwealth.

Protecting forests and promoting their value in Zambia

Arthur Mpazi Yambayamba
2021 Commonwealth PhD Scholar
Zambia
PhD in Biological Sciences (Forest Ecology)
University of Bristol

Across the world, forest environments play a vital role in people’s livelihoods and mitigating climate change. In Zambia, where more than 50% of land is forested, these environments are an important carbon sink, removing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to reduce the greenhouse effect that contributes to global warming. However, deforestation and land degradation pose serious threats to the future of forest ecosystems and the people who rely on them locally and globally.

My research investigates how climate and human disturbances are shaping forest ecosystems to provide evidence for modelling forest productivity in a changing environment. Focusing on the Miombo woodlands of southern Africa, I am conducting a detailed analysis of tree structure and growth considering variables such as height, diameter, and crown dimensions to produce data on growth trajectories (diameter increment) and structural relationships. Through this I will contribute to greater understanding of the forest’s structure, productivity, and functioning as well as providing a blueprint of its future ecological dynamics.

This study will greatly improve the existing forestry modelling in Zambia, which currently overlooks structural variables such as height and crown dimensions and offers only limited accuracy for estimating tree growth. Increasing the reliability of forest structure and growth models will directly support the Forestry Department of Zambia in conducting efficient, low-cost, and wide-ranging forest inventories to determine the tree volume of growing stock, above ground biomass, and carbon stocks in the country.

Additionally, this will contribute to more accurate carbon stock accounting at a national level, a crucial aspect of Zambia’s commitment under the UN’s REDD+ framework (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in developing countries) and essential for the formulation of higher order models used to estimate global carbon stocks and dynamics.

By developing accurate models for estimating forest structure and growth, I will also support research in vegetation modelling that seeks to understand forest productivity under changing environmental conditions. This in turn will increase scientific evidence on the long-term impacts of climate on forests to support conservation efforts and create an early-warning system for climate mitigation steps.

Access, inclusion and opportunity

Wherever in the world we live today, unfortunately we don’t have to look far to witness inequalities and barriers to access and inclusion. Commonwealth Scholars play a key role in understandings of inequality through their research, which interrogates the barriers to opportunity at a local and global level. Their research helps bridge the gap between research and policy, by integrating academic evidence into policy making processes. Moreover, Commonwealth Scholars explore barriers to policy implementation, and widen our understanding of the challenges still widely faced by many due to gender, age, origin, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, class, and religion.

Aisling Conboy, CSC Commissioner

Empowering the future: Street Child’s mission in Afghanistan

Vijay Siddharth Pillai
2018 Commonwealth Shared Scholar
India
MPhil in Education
University of Cambridge

Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, the education crisis in Afghanistan has become critical with UNESCO estimating that 1.1 million girls and young women have no access to formal education and 2.5 million school-aged Afghan girls and young women are out of school. The wider picture for young people is similarly dire with around 8 million children and adolescents believed to be out of school according to the charity Street Child.

As an education programme advisor for Street Child, I champion the charity’s mission to bring one million more children into educational settings by 2024. My current work in Afghanistan involves managing projects across 4 Afghan provinces and navigating the restrictions on girls’ education imposed by Taliban authorities to deliver education programmes.

Under the Taliban, girls can no longer access education above grade 6 (secondary school level), but education at lower grades is permitted and is not age restricted, meaning that is it open to adolescent girls. Working with local communities and Taliban authorities, I supported the establishment of Accelerated Learning Classes, which enable adolescent girls to complete 2 grades per year and reach grade 6 within 3 years.

Building on my scholarship at the University of Cambridge, I have also implemented a structured pedagogy programme to advance foundational learning and transferable skill acquisition among young people as well as supporting teacher development in Afghanistan. By designing learning and teaching materials, introducing tablet-equipped teacher coaches, and establishing a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, I have been instrumental in the programme’s delivery to an estimated 60,000 students across Afghanistan. In one of the provinces where the programme was introduced, 75% of children have a reading fluency which is average or above average according to nationally set benchmarks.

Operating in Afghanistan is not without challenges, and I need to work closely with local NGOs and Taliban authorities to deliver effective educational change programmes. Currently, I am negotiating about a homebased learning trial for girls above grade 7, having secured permission to pilot a similar intervention for boys, and I remain hopeful about expanding access to girls’ education in the country.

I am excited about contributing to global efforts to improve foundational literacy through the USAID’s Global Reading Network Steering Group. As one of 9 members of the steering group, I will have a unique opportunity to influence development in this space and support future generations.

Supporting people with disabilities into work

Beenish Naik Chaudhry
2021 Commonwealth PhD Scholar
Pakistan
PhD in Management
University of Essex

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) provides a landmark framework on inclusion and equal opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly in relation to work. Though many countries, including Pakistan, have adopted the CRPD, there is a significant shortfall in implementing policies that support people with disabilities (PWDs) into employment.

My scholarship research brings to light the experiences of PWDs to understand the barriers and enablers to employment, and explore what more can be done to increase their participation in the workforce.

Using qualitative data gained through interviews with people with physical disabilities, I discovered several barriers to workforce participation. These include social stigma about disability, the availability of quality education, and inaccessible public infrastructure and buildings. Among these multi-layered issues, the experience of isolation which PWDs face within Pakistan’s education system was a major inhibiting factor for future employment. As PWDs are channelled into so-called ‘special schools’ which follow a simplified curriculum, the quality of education they receive is compromised, meaning they often struggle to compete for jobs after their education. This segregation of PWDs from mainstream schooling further entrenches social stigma, contributing to a lack of understanding about disability within Pakistani society.

Working with policymakers and local organisations that support PWDs in Pakistan, my research will contribute to practical steps that improve prospects for PWDs. By making my research accessible to a non-academic audience I will amplify the voices of PWDs, advocating for stronger policy implementation that enables PWDs to achieve meaningful employment. I will also work with civil society organisations to challenge harmful social attitudes about disability.

Engaging in this research as a Commonwealth Scholar has given me special access to platforms such as the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum, as well as academics and organisations working in the disability sphere. Leveraging connections with disability researchers and Commonwealth platforms, I will also contribute evidence to support international action on achieving rights and opportunities for all people with disabilities.

Clean energy, air and oceans 2022 to 2023

In response to the UK government’s call to action at the 2021 COP26 in Glasgow, the CSC delivered a special programme in 2022 to 2023 focused on Clean Energy, Air and Oceans.

In this section, you can read about the Professional Fellowship programme that ran under the theme of Clean Energy, Air and Oceans, and hear from one of the host organisations involved in the programme. You can also find out about the experiences of 3 Fellows and what they hope to achieve now that they have returned home.

Professional Fellowship on Clean Energy, Air and Oceans

Between February and May 2023, 19 Professional Fellows took part in a programme of professional development in the UK focused on Clean Energy, Air and Oceans. Selected from a range of professional backgrounds, roles, and fields, what unified this group was a shared passion for developing the skills, networks, and knowledge they need to expand their impact in tackling climate change and preserving the environment in their home countries.

To help the Fellows build up their knowledge, skills, and networks in this area, 5 host organisations were chosen across England and Wales: University of Edinburgh Earth Initiative, Knowledge for Change, Lifegate Outreach Centre, University of Salford Energy House 2.0, and University of Strathclyde.

Each organisation offered the Fellows an opportunity to step away from their day-to-day work and to explore some of the key challenges in delivering Clean Energy, Air and Oceans in their own countries and globally. On page 42, 3 of the 2023 Fellows share how the programme has helped them work towards solutions to preserving marine ecosystems, increasing the use of renewable energy, and improving air quality across the Commonwealth.

The Fellows’ welcome event, held at the Edinburgh Earth Initiative, began a series of host organisation events that enabled this year’s Fellows to build lasting connections and share knowledge with a view to supporting future collaboration in their respective fields.

Host in focus: Edinburgh Earth Initiative

The Edinburgh Earth Initiative was launched in 2021 to drive a step change in the University of Edinburgh’s engagements with global climate and sustainability challenges. The Edinburgh Earth Initiative works to accelerate interdisciplinary research, partnerships, teaching, and innovation for the climate and environmental emergency across the university.

The Edinburgh Earth Initiative drives resources towards core research on ecosystems, energy futures, and health; it creates opportunities to train future leaders through scholarships and fellowships; it helps to foster innovations that deliver real-world impacts on climate mitigation and adaptation; it helps ensure that climate and environment are central to its international partnerships; it works to make academic knowledge available to decision makers in business, industry, policymaking institutions, regulatory authorities, and civil society organisations; and it puts climate justice at the centre of its institutional commitments.

In 2023, 3 Professional Fellows joined the Edinburgh Earth Initiative for a programme of interdisciplinary training and professional development focused on the intersections between climate, health, and air pollution in India. The Fellows took part in a range of research and networking based activities allowing them to engage with the wide range of issues spanning clean air, science and technology, innovation, public policy, and gender. At the end of their fellowship the Fellows developed a working paper examining the co-benefits of investments in green hydrogen for reducing air pollution in Indian cities.

Fellow profiles

Suparna Karmakar
2022 Professional Fellow, Edinburgh Earth Initiative
India
Economic policy consultant

Collaboration and cooperation and joint efforts are key to addressing the common negative externalities that a global cataclysmic event like climate change-related air pollution has thrown up. The Fellowship made it easier to connect with like-minded professionals…and I hope to continue with academic and other professional collaborations to help improve policymaking and its implementation in the realm of clean air policies.

Dr Ali Nawaz
2022 Professional Fellow
University of Strathclyde
Pakistan
Assistant Professor of Microbiology
GC University Lahore, Pakistan

During the Fellowship, along with participating in the different CSC host events, we participated in different community engagement, networking, policy, and skills development events and academic conferences. The ideas on community engagement which I gained by participating in ‘Utility Week 2023’ at Birmingham and ‘What’s good for the planet will be good for your pocket’ at Telford, will practically help me start similar community engagement activities in Pakistan, by involving my students as volunteers and by transferring the ideas to the NGOs to work on mitigation of climate change challenges.

Ronald Owachgiu
2022 Professional Fellow, Knowledge for Change
Uganda
Role/employer: Co-Founder, Skylight Solar Power (U) Ltd

‘[I learned how to] design a roof top solar system that can power appliances like the slow cooker and the solar refrigerator for both domestic and hospital usage. This approach will help improve service delivery in health care services as well eliminate bad cooking practices like cooking on 3 stone fire and charcoal.

Alumni Community Engagement Fund Clean Energy, Air and Oceans activities

In support of the Clean Energy, Air and Oceans programme, Commonwealth Alumni were invited to utilise this annual fund to design and deliver a Clean Energy, Air and Oceans themed community-focused engagement activity this year. Read our featured report about one of the activities delivered under this theme on the next page.

Promoting blue economy opportunities over the airwaves in Kenya

Dr Patience Kiyuka
2013 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar
Kenya
MSc in Infectious Diseases
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

On 27 October 2022, Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Patience Kiyuka delivered a radio talk show on the ‘Blue economy and its opportunity for communities in Kilifi, Kenya’ to promote awareness of the ocean’s vital role and the importance of preserving marine life.

In Kenya, the blue economy remains largely untapped despite the country’s reliance on fisheries for domestic and export markets. According to the UNDP, fisheries account for around 0.5% of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product and generate employment for over 2 million Kenyans, many of whom live in coastal counties such as Kilifi. Kilifi county is also home to 2 of Kenya’s Marine Protected Areas, Malindi and Watamu.

The increasing pressure on marine resources in Kilifi country has led to environmental damage from pollution, habitat degradation, and overexploitation (illicit harvesting of sand and illegal fishing). Meanwhile, climate change threats such as sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events place the socio-economic wellbeing of these communities at significant risk. With this in mind, advancing the blue economy and utilising the ocean’s resources in a sustainable way is a priority for the coastal communities in Kilifi.

As radio remains the most trusted and reliable source of information for rural communities in Kenya, it was the ideal way to reach local people and engage them in the thinking about the blue economy.

Dr Kiyuka’s radio show promoted the opportunities offered by Kenya’s blue economy and inspired dialogue over practical solutions to restore the sea and coastal communities. By broadcasting in the local language, Kiswahili, and working with local radio station, Baraka FM, to incorporate the show into a regular in-studio programme, Dr Kiyuka was able to connect with a broad audience in Kilifi. The show was also live streamed on Facebook Live to reach online listeners and enable people to listen to the show again.

The show began with a public service announcement about how the blue economy cultivates the sustainable use of ocean resources for livelihoods, jobs, and economic growth while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. This was followed by a live discussion with marine conservation experts on the importance of environmental stewardship for preserving the health of ocean ecosystems and how communities could benefit from the blue economy. During this section of the show, listeners were invited to join the discussion and engage with the speakers via calls and text messages.

The radio show and its recording received significant interest among local people in Kilifi and created a platform for future engagement on how to preserve and promote the blue economy in Kilifi.

Radio guest speaker Charles Janji Nyale, Chairman of Kilifi Beach Management Unit:

Indeed, as a community we benefit a lot from the ocean…the ocean gives us food, the ocean gets us out of poverty, it allows us to teach our kids. We have witnessed how important the oceans is to us as the community.

LGBT+ rights 2023 to 2024

Human rights in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity are a pressing issue across the Commonwealth. Owing to the colonial legacy of homophobia, anti-LGBT+ legislation and discrimination against the LGBT+ community are a significant challenge among this group of nations; 63% of Commonwealth countries criminalise homosexual activity compared to 35% globally. The UK government has acknowledged the legacy of these laws and expressed regret for their persistence today. It has also expressed a commitment to doing all it can to improve the situation for the future.

The CSC believes that no one should be criminalised or persecuted because of who they are, or who they love. We believe that securing equal rights and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) people is essential to achieving the sustainable development goals and the ‘leave no one behind’ agenda. All LGBT+ people are welcome in the CSC community, and we are committed to ensuring all our Scholars reach their full potential. We seek to improve the experience for LGBT+ Scholars and build an open, tolerant, and understanding community of Scholars.

In 2023 to 2024, the CSC will deliver a year-long programme of activities focused on LGBT+ Rights which support work in this area.

To support individuals working in the field of gender and sexuality, the CSC will be funding up to 15 Professional Fellows to spend 3 months at one of up to 3 UK host organisations. This fellowship will enable participants to gain practical experience in a variety of fields related to gender and sexuality as well as providing opportunities to pool knowledge, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships that will advance progress on LGBT+ rights in their home countries.

Over the next year, 5 Commonwealth Alumni will receive funding as part of the annual Alumni Community Engagement Fund to deliver activities under the theme of gender and sexuality. Their activities will seek to support and promote the rights, freedoms, dignity, and inclusion of communities who are discriminated against because of gender identity or sexuality.

The CSC will also appoint an international LGBT+ organisation to nominate for our Master’s and PhD Scholarships to offer a specific route for applicants who are LGBT+ themselves or who are studying in an LGBT+ related field.

Promoting LGBT+ allyship will be a core pillar of the CSC’s programme. There will be workshops and activities throughout the year to highlight the experiences of those involved in LGBT+ rights and encourage a deeper understanding about the history and context of LGBT+ rights across the Commonwealth.

Read our featured case study about the work of alumnus Tebeio Tamton in championing LGBT+ rights in Kiribati.

Standing up for LGBT+ rights in Kiribati

Tebeio Tamton
2015 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar
Kiribati
MSc Sustainable Aquaculture
University of St Andrews

In Kiribati, legislation prohibiting same-sex relationships between men has existed since 1892. While there has been no recorded enforcement of this law in recent years, its existence still threatens the rights of LGBT+ people and could be seen to validate violence and other forms of discrimination against them.

As the co-founder of the LGBT+ advocacy and activism organisation Boutokaan Inaomataia ao Mauriia Binabinaine Association (BIMBA), I work closely with local communities in Kiribati to increase the visibility and improve the rights of binabinaine (an i-Kiribati word that refers to gay boys/men, bisexual boys/men and transgender girls/women).

Advocacy is an important part of my work with BIMBA and in 2018 I helped initiate its first beauty pageant, providing an opportunity for the transgender community to be seen and heard as well as connecting with audiences about the diverse experiences of LGBT+ people. Supported by the Ministry of Justice and drawing inspiration from Tonga’s Miss Galaxy Queen Pageant, the pageant was livestreamed to increase exposure and offer an accessible experience for audiences.

Engaging local communities on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression requires significant resources, and I have been instrumental in applying for small grants to support campaigns, monitoring and reporting on the impact of activities, and energising BIMBA’s member network to deliver multi-stakeholder sensitisation workshops. I have also developed educational materials and increased BIMBA’s reach on broadcast and social media to raise awareness about the lived experiences of binabinaine and grow BIMBA’s network.

In 2023, I attended the The Commonwealth Equality Network (TCEN) Pacific Regional Convening to showcase BIMBA’s advocacy work and strengthen links with other LGBT+ rights organisations in the region. By sharing success stories and identifying opportunities for collaboration, I have supported regional advocacy strategies which in the run-up to the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa will provide a vital platform for advancing LGBT+ rights and spotlighting how Pacific cultures have responded to the challenges of discrimination.

Growing up in Kiribati as a binabinaine (an i-Kiribati word that refers to gay boys/men, bisexual boys/men and transgender girls/women) in the 1990s was challenging because of the verbal and physical bullying, discrimination and stigmatisation I faced at home, school and in local villages.

Our partners

Commonwealth Scholarships were founded on the principle of mutual cooperation.

The following pages list the nominating agencies, academic advisers, UK universities, UK fellowship host organisations, and overseas organisations that help make the work of the CSC possible: by helping to select outstanding Scholars and Fellows from across the Commonwealth with the potential to enact national and international development priorities and by supporting them throughout their time in the UK. It also lists the members of the Alumni Advisory Panel who help support the development of CSC programmes and activities by sharing personal insight and expertise.

Nominating agencies

The CSC works with governments and trusted partners across the Commonwealth to recruit and shortlist candidates for Master’s and PhD study, and also to ensure that national priorities are reflected in our awards.

• Asian University for Women, Bangladesh
• Secondary and Higher Education Division, Ministry of Education, Bangladesh
• University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, Bangladesh
• Ministry of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform and Religious Affairs, Belize
• Department of Tertiary Education Financing, Botswana
• Ministry of Higher Education, Cameroon
• Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, Dominica
• Ministry of Public Service, Department of HR Development, Eswatini
• Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service, Fiji
• Agence Nationale Des Bourses Du Gabon (National Scholarship Agency of Gabon), Gabon
• Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, Ghana
• Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture, Grenada
• Ministry of Public Service, Guyana
• Ministry of Education, India
• Ministry of Finance & the Public Service, Jamaica
• Ministry of Education, Kenya
• Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology, Kenya
• Kenyatta University, Kenya
• Maseno University, Kenya
• Public Service Office, Kiribati
• National Manpower Scholarship Secretariat, Lesotho
• National University of Lesotho, Lesotho
• Department of Human Resource Management and Development, Malawi
• University of Malawi, Malawi
• Mzuzu University, Malawi
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maldives
• Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mauritius
• Government of Montserrat, Montserrat
• Institute of Scholarship, Mozambique
• Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique
• The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund, Namibia
• Department of Education and Training, Nauru
• Federal Scholarship Board, Nigeria
• Abia State University, Nigeria
• Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Nigeria
• Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
• Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
• Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
• Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria
• Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
• Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria
• University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
• University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
• University of Ilorin, Nigeria
• University of Jos, Nigeria
• University of Lagos, Nigeria
• University of Nigeria, Nigeria
• University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
• University of Uyo, Nigeria
• Higher Education Commission, Pakistan
• Fatima Jinnah Women University, Pakistan
• Higher Education Commission, Pakistan
• Lahore College for Women University, Pakistan
• Department of Personnel Management, Papua New Guinea
• Higher Education Council, Rwanda
• Education Skills & Employment Portfolio, Saint Helena
• Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Saint Lucia
• Samoa Public Service Commission, Samoa
• Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Sierra Leone
• Service Commissions Department, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
• Ministry of Education & Human Resource Development, Solomon Islands
• Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa
• Ministry of Higher Education, Sri Lanka
• Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Tanzania
• Open University of Tanzania, Tanzania
• Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
• University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Ministry of Higher Education Research Science and Technology, The Gambia
• Direction des Bourses et Stages/ The Department of Scholarships and Internships, Togo
• Ministry of Education and Training, Tonga
• Human Resources Management Unit, Tuvalu
• Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda
• Makerere University, Uganda
• Mbarara University of Science & Technology, Uganda
• Training and Scholarship Coordination Unit, Ministry of Education and Training, Vanuatu
• Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board, Zambia
• University of Zambia, Zambia

NGOs and charitable bodies

• Canon Collins Trust: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia

• Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (CDPF): Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, The Gambia, Togo, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia

• Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE): Cameroon, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia

• HALI Access Network: Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia

• Wellcome Trust, Kenya, Malawi

• Windle Trust International, Kenya, Uganda

Overall top 10 national development priorities (and the percentage of Agencies that listed each as one of their top 5)

• health and medicine: 48%
• economic development: 39%
• education: 38%
• agriculture, forestry and fisheries: 32%
• science and technology: 29%
• good governance and public service: 23%
• infrastructure and engineering: 23%
• climate change, environment and conservation: 16%
• inclusivity (gender, ethnicity): 16%
• tourism: 10%

Academic advisers

Our selections were guided by a panel of nearly 400 academic advisers during the report year, including internationally renowned experts in all subject areas, who receive no remuneration for reviewing applications. The CSC is enormously grateful to them.

• Dr Qammer H Abbasi
• Dr Purva Abhyankar
• Dr Jehad Abu Dahried
• Professor Jean Adams
• Dr Adefolake Adeyeye
• Professor Arshin Adib Moghaddam
• Dr Toyin Adisa
• Dr Shaila Afroj
• Dr Ahmad Hassan Ahmad
• Dr Supriya Akerkar
• Professor Alfred Akisanya
• Dr Omar Al Tabbaa
• Professor Ashraf Alam
• Dr Fabrizio Alberti
• Dr Sama Aleshaiker
• Professor Tim Allen
• Professor Henrice Altink
• Professor David Anderson
• Professor Ivan Andonovic
• Professor Ruth Andrew
• Professor Simon Andrews
• Professor James Annett
• Dr Nana Kwame Anokye
• Dr Tabbi Wilberforce Awotwe
• Dr Salma Ayis
• Dr Maryam Ba Break
• Dr Juan Baeza
• Dr Hamed Bahmani
• Dr Narasimha Balijepalli
• Dr Susan Barker
• Dr Ali Kashif Bashir
• Dr Kashinath Basu
• Professor Paul Beaumont
• Professor Steve Beeby
• Dr Derrick Bennett
• Dr Jorge Bernardino
• Dr Bibek Bhatta
• Professor Richard Birtles
• Dr Richard Blanchard
• Professor Lapo Bogani
• Dr Christine Bosch
• Dr Marie Luce Bourguet
• Professor Michael Bowe
• Professor Chris Bowen
• Dr Ruth Bowness
• Dr Robert Brook
• Professor Laurence Brooks
• Dr Mark Brown
• Professor David Brown
• Professor John Bryson
• Professor Stephen Busby
• Professor Andrew Bush
• Dr Amanda Callaghan FSB, FRES, SFHEA
• Dr Simon Cameron
• Dr Christine Campbell
• Dr Matthew Campbell
• Dr Wayne Carter
• Dr Mark Carver
• Dr Samit Chakrabarty
• Professor Kirk Chang
• Dr Frederick Changwony
• Professor Tracey Chapman
• Dr Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry
• Professor Nic Cheeseman
• Dr Shushu Chen
• Dr Yunfei Chen
• Professor John Chew
• Dr Ernest Chi Fru
• Dr Rachael Ununuma
• Chidugu Ogborigbo
• Dr Nikola Chmel
• Dr Shelly Coe
• Dr Simeon Coleman
• Professor David Collins
• Dr Ariadne Collins
• Dr Kieran Michael Conroy
• Dr William Coombs
• Dr Andrew Cox
• Dr Mitch Crook
• Dr Alan Cuthbertson
• Dr Martin Dallimer
• Professor Jo Darkwa
• Professor Simon Davies
• Dr Elizabeth Davies
• Professor Simin Davoudi
• Professor Jonathan Dawes
• Professor Susan Dawson
• Dr Micael de Andrade Lima
• Professor Baukje De Roos
• Professor Antonella De Santo
• Dr Nicola Desmond
• Professor Prasanta Kumar Dey
• Professor Mirella Di Lorenzo
• Professor Han Dorussen
• Dr Susie Douglas
• Dr Brett Drury
• Dr Byron Dueck
• Professor Caroline Dyer
• Professor Mark Eisler
• Professor Aniko Ekart
• Professor Sherif El Khamisy FRSC, FRSB
• Professor Robert Elliott
• Dr Mohamed Elsayed
• Dr Charis Enns
• Dr Hannah Ensaff
• Dr Rob Ewing
• Dr Yun Fan
• Dr Alfred Fernandez Castane
• Professor Eric Fevre
• Professor Fragkiskos Filippaios
• Professor Suzanne Filteau
• Professor Clare Finburgh Delijani
• Dr Sophie Foley
• Dr Henry Abanda Fonbeyin
• Dr Johann Fortwengel
• Dr Aldina Franco
• Dr Nunzianda Frascione
• Dr Lucia Garcia Lorenzo
• Dr John Gardiner
• Professor Andy Gardner
• Dr Matthew Garrod
• Dr Darya Gaysina
• Dr Kook Hee Gil
• Dr Emanuele Giorgi
• Professor Richard Giulianotti
• Dr Eun Sun Godwin
• Dr Hugh Gong
• Dr Cristina Gonzalez Longo
• Professor Jonathan Goodhand
• Professor Nandini Gooptu
• Dr Neil Gordon
• Professor Francisco Goycoolea Valencia
• Professor Anne Graham
• Professor Paul Gready
• Professor Nora Groce
• Professor Richard Grose
• Professor Fengshou Gu
• Dr Reinmar Hager
• Professor Gerard Hamill
• Dr Daniel Hammett
• Professor Robert Hampson
• Dr Thomas Obel Hansen
• Professor Yannis Hardalupas
• Professor Jenny Harding
• Dr Michael Harker
• Professor Bernard Harris
• Dr David Hassell
• Professor Naomi Hawkins
• Professor Daniel Haydon
• Dr Andy Hayward
• Dr Wei He
• Dr Jiabao He
• Dr Ana Heitor
• Professor Andrew Hemmings
• Professor William Henley
• Dr Alan Javier Hernandez Alvarez
• Professor Malcolm Higgs
• Professor Michael Holdsworth
• Dr Carwyn Hooper
• Professor David Hopkins
• Dr Mathew Horrocks
• Dr Alton Horsfall
• Dr Mamdud Hossain
• Dr Laden Husamaldin
• Dr Sajjad Hussain
• Professor David Hutchins
• Dr Jaci Huws
• Dr Muhammad Imran
• Professor Munir Iqbal
• Dr Md Mofakkarul Islam
• Dr Venkat Iyer
• Dr Mona Jaber
• Dr Sudhir Jain
• Professor Nick Jenkins
• Dr Michael Jennings
• Dr Catherine Jere
• Professor Animesh Jha
• Dr Derek Johnson
• Professor Ian Jones
• Dr Edward Joy
• Professor Robert Kalin
• Dr Marzana Kamal
• Professor Uma Kambhampati
• Dr Nazmul Karim
• Dr Mohammed Shamsul Karim
• Dr Xuebin Ke
• Professor Kevin Keasey
• Dr Michael Keenan
• Dr Ashok Keerthi
• Dr Jonathan Kennedy
• Dr Tristan Kershaw
• Professor Julian Ketley
• Dr Habib Khan
• Professor Hafiz Khan
• Professor Emma Kidd
• Dr Janine Kirby
• Mr. Luis Kluwe de Aguiar
• Dr Charles W. Knapp
• Dr Geoffery Zain Kohe
• Dr Tassos Koidis
• Professor Jozef Konings
• Professor Panicos Kyriacou
• Professor Ilias Kyriazakis
• Dr Ben Lacey
• Dr Ka Po Lam
• Dr Emma Lane
• Dr Gloria Chepngeno Langat
• Professor Hadi Larijani
• Dr King Hang Aaron Lau
• Dr Susan Levy
• Dr Yuhua Li
• Dr Zhengyu Lin
• Dr Antonio Miguel Loureiro
• Dr Andrew M’manga
• Professor Daniel Mackay
• Dr Sean Mackay
• Dr Alison MacKenzie
• Professor Douglas C MacMillan
• Dr Peter MacPherson
• Professor Gopal Santana Phani Madabhushi
• Dr Annemie Maertens
• Professor Koushik Maharatna
• Professor Wolfgang Maier
• Ms. Karen E. Makuch
• Dr Chirangano Mangwandi
• Professor Ambreena Manji
• Dr Baljinder Mankoo
• Professor Debbi Marais
• Dr Alvaro Martinez Perez
• Dr John Mason
• Dr Gerard McCann
• Professor Peter McEleavy
• Dr Alison McFadden
• Professor Donald McGillivray
• Professor John McGrady
• Dr Christopher McHugh
• Dr Binuraj Menon
• Dr Daniel Merrifield
• Dr Florence Mgawadere
• Professor Anne Marie Minihane
• Professor Artem Mishchenko
• Dr Paula Misiewicz
• Professor James Mitchell
• Dr Rafael Mitchell
• Dr Alex Money
• Dr Roshila Moodley
• Professor Stephen Morris
• Dr Amina Moss
• Dr Theresa Munyombwe
• Dr Joanne Murphy
• Dr Munitta Muthana
• Dr Sadegh Nadimi
• Professor Atulya Nagar
• Dr Vesna Najdanovic
• Professor Arumugam Nallanathan
• Professor Richard Napier
• Professor Anne Isola (Anna) Nekaris
• Dr Behzad Nematollahi
• Dr Vahid Nick Pay
• Professor Helen Noble
• Dr Gareth Norton
• Dr Mathew Nyashanu
• Professor Sarah O’Brien
• Professor Catherine O’Sullivan
• Dr Pedi Obani
• Dr Haruko Okamoto
• Dr Eni Oko
• Dr Tjeerd Olde Scheper
• Dr Bukola Onarinde
• Dr Zinnure Osman
• Dr Isabel Palacios
• Dr George Palattiyil
• Professor Hemant Pandit
• Dr Laxmi Pant
• Dr Dimitrios Paparas
• Dr Donald Maxwell Parkin
• Dr Edoardo Patelli
• Dr Chris Paterson
• Dr Marloes Peeters
• Professor Helen Petrie
• Dr Anh Phan
• Professor Richard Phillips
• Dr Kim Picozzi
• Professor Kypros Pilakoutas
• Dr Frederique Ponchel
• Professor Prasad Potluri
• Professor Martin Powell
• Dr Stefanie Pukallus
• Professor David Pyle
• Dr Aleksandar Radu
• Dr Mahfuzur Rahman
• Professor Vivek Ranade
• Dr Slawomir Raszewski
• Dr J. Arjuna Ratnayaka
• Professor Paul Rea
• Professor Evgeny Rebrov
• Professor Emily Reid
• Dr Malte Ressin
• Dr Michael Reynolds
• Professor Nigel Richards
• Professor Joseph Robson
• Professor Jonne Rodenburg
• Dr Robert Rogerson
• Dr Sheeba Rosewilliam
• Professor Sudipta Roy
• Professor Jonathan Rushton
• Professor Ricardo Sabates Aysa
• Dr Wilber Sabiiti
• Dr Mahdieh Sadabadi
• Dr Hatef Sadeghi
• Dr Monower Sadique
• Dr Juan Sagaseta
• Professor Mark Sandler
• Dr Gurchathen Sanghera
• Professor Gregory Sankaran
• Dr Paulo Santos Monteiro
• Dr Neetesh Saxena
• Dr Sean Semple
• Professor Bhaskar Sengupta
• Dr Paul Shafer
• Professor Lion Shahab
• Dr Graeme Shannon
• Dr Katie Shaw
• Dr Avinash Shenoy
• Dr Jian Shi
• Dr Siddharudha Shivalli
• Professor Javed Siddiqui
• Dr Sajid Siraj
• Dr Tom Sizmur
• Professor Lesley Smith
• Dr Jake Snaddon
• Dr Panos Sousounis
• Dr Tanya Stathers
• Dr Ilya Strashnov
• Dr Hongjian Sun
• Dr Sirin Sung
• Dr Jack Sunter
• Dr Adnan Syed
• Professor Joseph Tah
• Dr Ahmad Taha
• Professor Jared Tanner
• Professor Yee Whye Teh
• Dr Kasim Terzic
• Dr Vijay Kumar Thakur
• Dr Chandra Thapa
• Professor Ian Thompson
• Professor Allen Thurston
• Professor GuiYun Tian
• Professor Iain Todd
• Professor David Toll
• Dr Lochran Traill
• Dr Cristina Trujillo
• Dr Liam Turner
• Dr Saeed Ul Hassan
• Professor Elaine Unterhalter
• Dr Isabelle Uny
• Dr Masood Ur Rehman
• Dr Heini Vaisanen
• Dr Cees Van der Land
• Dr Hans Vandierendonck
• Dr Aleksandar Vasilev
• Dr Emanuele Verrelli
• Dr Kumar Vinod
• Dr David Vitale
• Dr Brigitte Vollmer
• Dr Milene Volpato
• Dr Aleksandra Vuckovic
• Professor Zia Wadud
• Dr Catriona Waitt
• Dr Dawn Marie Walker
• Dr Darren Walter
• Dr Oliver Walton
• Dr He Wang
• Dr LiLiang Wang
• Professor Robert Ward
• Professor Stephen Ward
• Professor Richard Washington
• Professor Andrew Waters
• Dr Emily Webb
• Dr Gayan Wedawatta
• Dr Landis Jared West
• Dr Lu Shin Wong
• Dr Gaston Yalonetzky
• Dr Fred Yamoah
• Dr Junli Yang
• Dr Longzhi Yang
• Dr Junfeng Yang
• Dr Tao Yang
• Dr Kyari Yates
• Dr Juan Ye
• Dr Pamela Yeow
• Dr Gabriela Zapata Lancaster
• Dr Sharif Zein
• Professor David Zhang
• Dr Jinwei Zhang
• Professor Peilin Zhou
• Dr Dina Zoe
• Dr Ahmed Zoha

UK universities

The CSC plays an important role in attracting the best and brightest talent to UK universities. In return, universities support the CSC’s activities through part funding all scholarship awards, providing matching contributions of £5.8 million. In the report year, Commonwealth Scholars studied at 95 UK universities.

• Aberystwyth University
• Aston University
• Bangor University
• Bath Spa University
• Birkbeck, University of London
• Bishop Grosseteste University
• Bournemouth University
• Brunel University
• Cardiff University
• Coventry University
• Cranfield University
• Durham University
• Edinburgh Napier University
• Falmouth University
• Glasgow Caledonian
• University Goldsmith
• University of London
• Harper Adams University
• Heriot-Watt University
• Imperial College London
• Keele University
• King’s College London
• Lancaster University
• Leeds Beckett University
• Liverpool Hope University
• Liverpool John Moores University
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• London South Bank University
• Loughborough University
• Loughborough University, London
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Newcastle University
• Nottingham Trent University
• Oxford Brookes University
• Queen Margaret University
• Queen Mary University of London
• Queen’s University Belfast
• Robert Gordon University
• Royal Agricultural University
• Royal Veterinary College
• School of Advanced Study, University of London
• Sheffield Hallam University
• SOAS, University of London
• St George’s, University of London
• St Mary’s University, Twickenham
• Staffordshire University
• Swansea University
• Teesside University
• The Open University
• Ulster University
• University College London
• University of Aberdeen
• University of Bath
• University of Birmingham
• University of Bradford
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• University of Central Lancashire
• University of Chester
• University of Derby
• University of Dundee
• University of East Anglia
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Essex
• University of Exeter
• University of Glasgow
• University of Greenwich
• University of Huddersfield
• University of Hull
• University of Kent
• University of Leeds
• University of Leicester
• University of Lincoln
• University of Liverpool
• University of Manchester
• University of Nottingham
• University of Oxford
• University of Plymouth
• University of Portsmouth
• University of Reading
• University of Salford
• University of Sheffield
• University of Southampton
• University of St Andrews
• University of Stirling
• University of Strathclyde
• University of Sunderland
• University of Surrey
• University of Sussex
• University of the West of England
• University of Warwick
• University of Westminster
• University of Wolverhampton
• University of York

UK fellowship host organisations

By hosting Professional Fellows, UK organisations support early and mid-career professionals to develop key skills, as well as building relationships and opening up areas for collaboration with colleagues across the Commonwealth. In the report year, Commonwealth Fellows were hosted by 5 UK host organisations.

• Knowledge for Change
• Lifegate Outreach Centre UK
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Salford
• University of Strathclyde

Overseas organisations

Through Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships, overseas organisations benefit from better qualified staff with increased knowledge and skills, as well as access to international collaboration and partnerships. In the report year, 102 overseas organisations either nominated candidates for or partnered with a UK university on Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships.

• Asian University for Women, Bangladesh
• Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh
• Khulna University, Bangladesh
• Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh
• University of Chittagong, Bangladesh
• University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
• University of Buea, Cameroon
• Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Ghana
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
• University of Ghana, Ghana
• University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana
• Banaras Hindu University, India
• Bangalore Hospice Trust, India
• Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, India
• Central University of Kerala, India
• Central University of Rajasthan, India
• Centre For Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, India
• Christ University, India
• CSIR - Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, India
• CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, India
• Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, India
• Guru Nanak Dev University, India
• Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, India
• Indian Institute of Science, India
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India
• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India
• Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India
• Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India
• Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India
• Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India
• Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India
• Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, India
• Institute of Chemical Technology, India
• Jadavpur University, India
• Karnatak University, India
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India
• Panjab University, India
• Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology, India
• Symbiosis Institute of Technology, India
• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India
• Tezpur University, India
• University of Delhi, India
• University of Hyderabad, India
• African Centre for Technology Studies, Kenya
• Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DEKUTs), Kenya
• Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
• Kenyatta University, Kenya
• University of Nairobi, Kenya
• Malawi University of Business and applied Science, Malawi
• University of Malawi, Malawi
• Putra University, Malaysia
• Malaysia Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
• Universiti Teknologi Mara, Malaysia
• University of Mauritius, Mauritius
• Namibia University of Science and Technology, Namibia
• Abia State University, Nigeria
• Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
• Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
• Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
• Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
• Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
• Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
• University of Calabar, Nigeria
• University of Ibadan, Nigeria
• University of Ilorin, Nigeria
• University of Lagos, Nigeria
• University of Nigeria, Nigeria
• University of Uyo, Nigeria
• Aga Khan University, Pakistan
• COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan
• Information Technology University, Pakistan
• Kohat University of Science and Technology, Pakistan
• Lahore College for Women, Pakistan
• National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Pakistan
• National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan
• Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan
• Sindh Agriculture University, Pakistan
• University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
• University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
• University of Karachi, Pakistan
• University of Peshawar, Pakistan
• University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
• University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pakistan
• Papua New Guinea University of Technology, Papua New Guinea
• University of Rwanda College of Medical and Health Sciences, Rwanda
• Rhodes University, South Africa
• University of Cape Town, South Africa
• University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
• University of Pretoria, South Africa
• University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
• University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
• University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
• University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
• University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
• Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, Tanzania
• The College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), Tanzania
• University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Islamic University in Uganda, Uganda
• Kulika Educational Trust Uganda, Uganda
• Makerere University, Uganda
• Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda
• University of Zambia, Zambia

Alumni Advisory Panel

The Alumni Advisory Panel provides a platform for Commonwealth Alumni to support the future of CSC programmes and Scholars by sharing personal insights and expertise. Appointed in September 2021, the 2021 to 2023 panel comprises 97 members, representing 24 Commonwealth countries.

The members listed below have agreed for their names to be published in this year’s Annual Report to Parliament:

• Professor Jacob Agbenorhevi 2007 Commonwealth Shared Scholar from Ghana
• Nemwel Nyakenyanya Aming’a 2015 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar from Kenya
• Dr Raphael Aregu 2014 Commonwealth Professional Fellow from Uganda
• Dr Sakshi Bathla 2019 Commonwealth Split-site Scholar from India
• Kathleen Allison Bennett 2019 Commonwealth Scholar from Antigua and Barbuda
• Professor Simone Ellen Degeling 1995 Commonwealth Scholar from Australia
• Dr Saima Eman 2012 Commonwealth Scholar from Pakistan
• Claudia Hihetah 2017 Commonwealth Shared Scholar from Ghana
• Dr Chee Peng Hor 2011 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar from Malaysia
• Ejiro Ikoko 2019 Commonwealth Scholar from Nigeria; 2021 Commonwealth Scholar
• Dr Haseeb Irfanullah 2001 Commonwealth Scholar from Bangladesh
• Dr Jimmy Johnmark 2016 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar from Nigeria
• Charity Bazaabadire Lankono 2018 Commonwealth Shared Scholar from Ghana
• Dr Dacia Leslie 2011 Commonwealth Scholar from Jamaica
• Dr Muhammad Imran Majid 2006 Commonwealth PhD Scholar from Pakistan; 2017 Commonwealth Academic Fellow
• Mariam Malik 2012 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar from Pakistan
• Irum Maqbool 2019 Commonwealth Scholar from Pakistan
• Esanju Maseka 2018 Commonwealth Scholar from Zambia
• Professor Kizitus Mpoche 2001 Commonwealth Scholar from Cameroon; 2010 Commonwealth Academic Fellow
• Moyo Violet Ndonde 2000 Commonwealth Shared Scholar from Tanzania
• Dr Esther Moraa Nyaboga 2016 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar from Kenya
• Onyegecha Nwawueze Ofurum 2014 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar from Nigeria
• Dr Cynthia Lisa Akoth Ogundo 2019 Commonwealth Shared Scholar from Kenya
• Josephine Anne OlokWambogo 1998 Commonwealth Scholar from Uganda
• Dr Temilola Oluseyi 2007 Commonwealth Scholar from Nigeria; 2013 Commonwealth Academic Fellow
• Dr Rachael Osagie 2015 Commonwealth Academic Fellow from Nigeria
• Toyin Oshaniwa 2013 Commonwealth Professional Fellow from Nigeria`
• Samwel Odongo Ouko 2015 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar from Kenya
• Dr Boniface Oyugi 2013 Commonwealth Scholar from Kenya; 2017 Commonwealth Scholar
• Dr Moses Phiri 2018 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar from Zambia
• Sneha Pillai 2018 Commonwealth Scholar from India
• Associate Professor Roshan T Ramessur 1985 Commonwealth Scholar from Mauritius
• Dr Emmanuel Satia 2009 Commonwealth Split-site Scholar from Kenya
• Muhammad Faisal Sharif 2015 Commonwealth Shared Scholar from Pakistan
• Dr Vishal Sharma 2016 Commonwealth Split-site Scholar from India
• Dr Aminath Shiyama 2016 Commonwealth Scholar from Maldives
• Meenakshi Shukla 2016 Commonwealth Split-site Scholar from India
• Professor Geetanjali Singh 2003 Commonwealth Shared Scholar from India
• Niketa Singh 2019 Commonwealth Shared Scholar from India
• Chikopa Eza Sokotela 2019 Commonwealth Scholar from Zambia
• Odilon Talbot 1966 Commonwealth Scholar from Canada
• John Bosco Tumuhairwe 2015 Commonwealth Shared Scholar from Uganda
• Dr Paula Walter 1997 Commonwealth Scholar from South Africa

Governance

The following pages list the governance statement, the statement of Accounting Officer’s responsibilities and the membership of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK.

Governance statement

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC) was established by Act of Parliament in 1959 in order to manage the UK contribution to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP), launched by Commonwealth Education Ministers in 1958. Its status was subsequently reaffirmed in the International Development Act of 2002 (the Act).

The CSC is a non-departmental public body, for which the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the lead department and main sponsor. Other financial contributions (received during the period of the report) have been from the Department for Education (DfE), for scholarships for candidates from high-income countries. In addition, the CSC receives contributions-in-kind from its UK university partners. The CSC is independent of Government in its decision-making and operations; the Act legislates that the Secretary of State may not give any direction for the selection or rejection of any particular person for an award or as a candidate for an award. The CSC submits an Annual Report on its work each year to the Secretary of State; this forms the basis of a report submitted by the Secretary of State to Parliament, to which (s)he is ultimately responsible for the work of the CSC.

In addition to regulations provided in the 1959 Act (which have been confirmed in subsequent Development Acts) and subsequent Ministerial Directives, detailed governance arrangements for the CSC have been set out in a Framework Document. The Framework Document includes an associated financial memorandum and the CSC’s 3-year corporate and one-year business plans. The FCDO Internal Audit Department (IAD) provides the CSC’s internal audit function. The CSC’s annual income and expenditure are incorporated in the overall accounts of FCDO; the CSC account is held with the Government Banking Service.

The Commission normally comprises up to 15 members, including the Chair, who are appointed in accordance with the principles of the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies. Commissioners are appointed by the Secretary of State for an initial period of 3 years, with the possibility of reappointment for one further 3-year appointment. The Chair and other relevant officers normally meet with relevant Ministers at least annually to discuss the work of the CSC. The Chair of the Commission is the Accounting Officer for the CSC, with responsibility to the Secretary of State for its conduct and performance. A separate statement from the Accounting Officer follows.

Statement of Accounting Officer’s responsibilities

A) Corporate governance report

I. Commissioners’ report

Organisational structure

Professor Robin Mason ORB (Chair and Accounting Officer) Professor Morag McDonald (Deputy Chair).

Pages 67-71 list the membership of the CSC.

Dr Joanna Newman MBE, ACU Chief Executive and Secretary General acted as the CSC’s Executive Secretary up to the 4 September 2023 with Miranda Thomas acting as Senior Responsible Officer from 5 September 2023.

The CSC’s Secretariat is provided by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), whose office at Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HF serve as the CSC’s headquarters.

Some pre-award and post-award services are provided by the British Council under the terms of a separate MOU between the CSC and the British Council.

Register of interests

Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioners are required to complete a declaration of interests twice a year. The Register of Interests is kept by the Secretariat.

Diversity and inclusion

In appointing Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioners, FCDO seeks to be open and inclusive and to recruit and develop a diverse and talented Commission that is representative of society today.

Personal Data Incidents

There were no serious personal data incidents in the period of this report.

II. Statement of Commission’s and Accounting Officer’s responsibilities

Under the International Development Act 2002, the Commission must make to the Secretary of State in each year a report on the discharge of its functions during the period of 12 months to 30th September. The Secretary of State will lay a copy of the report before each House of Parliament. In preparing the statement of income and expenditure included in the report, the Accounting Officer is required to comply with the requirements of the Government Financial Reporting Manual and, in particular, to observe any Accounts Direction issued by the Secretary of State, including the relevant accounting and disclosure requirements, and apply suitable accounting policies on a consistent basis and make judgments and estimates on a reasonable basis.

The CSC has regard to the Framework Document, agreed between the CSC and FCDO, which sets out finance and accounting requirements in meeting these obligations. The Permanent Secretary and Accounting Officer of FCDO designated the Chair as the Accounting Officer of the CSC. The responsibilities of an Accounting Officer, including responsibility for the propriety and regularity of the public finances for which the Accounting Officer is answerable, for keeping proper records and for safeguarding the CSC’s assets, are set out in Managing Public Money published by HM Treasury.

The Accounting Officer confirms that the Annual Report as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable, and that he takes personal responsibility for the Annual Report and statement of income and expenditure and the judgments required for determining that it is fair, balanced and understandable. The CSC’s accounts are inspected and reported upon by professional auditors.

The Accounting Officer has taken all reasonable steps that he ought to have taken to make himself aware of any relevant information and to establish that the staff engaged in this work are aware of that information.

III. Governance statement

The CSC was established under the 1959 Act to administer the Grant-in-Aid, select the persons to receive the Commonwealth Scholarships, place the holders of Commonwealth Scholarships at universities in the UK; and oversee the welfare of the Commonwealth Scholars throughout their awards.

The Commission consists of a Chair and not less than 9 nor more than 14 members appointed by the Secretary of State, of whom not less than 4 shall be appointed as holders of high academic office. Commissioners are volunteers and receive no remuneration, save for an honorarium of £300 for participation in selection meetings. The Chair receives an annual stipend of £12,000.

The Commission and its Committees consider the following matters annually:

• government policy as it applies to the CSC and the Scholarships
• CSC’s governance, membership and policies
• CSC’s audit and risk management
• commission strategy including CSC’s Corporate and Business Plans and CSC’s performance against them
• allocation of budgets to programmes, administration and programme support
• awards policy and process
• the issues of disadvantage, underrepresentation and safeguarding
• selection: the mechanisms for selecting scholars, contents of the application, outreach, the selection process, management of selection committees and financial outcomes
• scholars: policies relating to the Scholars and their activities in the UK, rules and regulations, placements and the general well-being of Scholars
• CSC’s engagement and alumni strategies
• CSC’s programme for the evaluation of impact of awards
• CSC’s relationships and joint-funding agreements with UK universities
• production of an Annual Report
• other policies that may impact the administration of the Scholarships

Governance framework

The full Commission meets 3 times per year, supported by 4 committees: namely the Audit and Risk Management, Awards Policy, Evaluation and Monitoring, and Finance Committees. The Chairs of these Committees, with the CSC Chair and Deputy-Chair, comprise the Executive Group, which normally meets 3 times annually. Separate sub-committees of Commissioners are convened to handle the selection of scholarship recipients.

The CSC may appoint independent members to all committees. Commissioner attendance at full meetings was as follows in the period of this report:

• Professor Robin Mason Chair 66% 2/3
• Professor Madeleine Arnot 100% 3/3 (to September 2023)
• Professor Sarah Hawkes 33% 1/3
• Professor Paul Jackson 33% 1/3
• Ms Emma Judge 33% 1/3

Professor Catherine MacKenzie 66% 2/3

Professor Nuala McGrath 100% 1/1 (to 31 December 2022)

Professor Morag McDonald 100% 3/3

Dr Christine Thuranira-McKeever 33% 1/3

Professor John Wood 50% 1/2 (to May 2023)

Professor Kevin Ibeh 66% 2/3

Professor James Smith 100% 3/3

Professor Parmjit Jat 66% 2/3

• Professor Liz Baggs 100% 1/1 (from September 2023)
• Professor Allan Hill 100% 1/1 (from September 2023)
• Ms Elizabeth Masiyiwa 100% 1/1 (from September 2023)
• Ms Aisling Conboy 100% 1/1 (from September 2023)
• Mr Ryan Shorthouse 100% 1/1 (from October 2023)

The Audit and Risk Management Committee advises the CSC and Accounting Officer on:

• the arrangements by which CSC accounts for its expenditure, including both internal controls and external inspection, and recommends any changes required to conform with best practice
• its oversight of the CSC’s programme of internal Audit by FCDO IAID
• the arrangements in place to prevent conflicts of interest for Commissioners and staff
• the CSC’s Risk Register and risk management procedures, and ensures that appropriate policies are in place to conform with these
• compliance of all contractual arrangements which exist between the Commission, its sponsors and its main service suppliers with best practice in terms of risk management * the CSC’s Counter Aid Diversion Strategy (CADS) with oversight of this and regular monitoring of the CADS Action Plan
• its oversight of Safeguarding, Anti-fraud measures and GDPR

The Awards Policy Committee advises the CSC on:

• allocation of budgets between programmes; policy for all Scholarship and Fellowship programmes including on policy for the recruitment of award holders and liaison with nominating bodies; proposals for new programmes

The Evaluation and Monitoring Committee advises the CSC on:

• evaluation of CSC’s programmes by identifying their impact on individual award holders, on their home countries and on wider international activities, and on systematic data as the evidence base for Commission discussions of policy and processes

The Finance Committee advises the CSC and Accounting Officer on:

• budgets made available to the Commission from Government Departments and policy set by the Commission to ensure that these are appropriately allocated and properly accounted for
• arrangements by which the Commission presents its accounts; and on approval of end-of-year expenditure reported by its service providers
• proposals from service providers for the costs of providing the menu of agreed services in the following financial year, and recommendations to the Commission as appropriate; and on satisfaction with the internal controls in place for the management of expenditure
• the MoU or other contractual arrangements which exist between the Commission, its sponsors and its main service suppliers
• forecast award expenditure and any action taken in the event of significant forecast budgetary under- or over-spend. A budget to meet the Commission’s operating costs and any action taken in the event of significant forecast budgetary under- or over-spend
• a budget to meet the costs for the Commission’s Engagement and Alumni Strategies, and for programmes of Recruitment and Outreach, and Monitoring and Evaluation; and on any action taken in the event of significant forecast budgetary under- or over-spend against these headings
• the formal record of recommendations made to selection committee chairs for the allocation of resources to new awards

Commission performance

The Chair has individual conversations with Commissioners each year. These meetings focus on Commission performance and individual contributions. The Chair had review meetings with each of the Commissioners due for reappointment during the period of this report in order to make recommendations to the Minister. Commissioners also had the opportunity to relay via FCDO any feedback on the performance of the Chair. The Commission has taken forward the recommendations provided by FCDO IAID in its audit of Commission Board Effectiveness and has developed a process for annual review of Commission effectiveness.

All Scholars are surveyed each year on the effectiveness of the Scholarship and its administration as part of the Scholar Engagement Survey and the results of this survey are reviewed by the Evaluation and Monitoring Committee. In 2022 to 2023, 89% of Scholars reported that the support they had received from the CSC had been excellent or good.

Corporate Governance Code

The CSC has considered HM Treasury’s Corporate Governance Code as it applies to a small non-departmental public body, and, where the Code is materially relevant, the CSC and the Accounting Officer consider that the CSC does conform to the Code.

Risk assessment

The following key principles outline the CSC’s approach to risk management and internal control which it seeks to align with FCDO’s processes:

The CSC’s risk policy is that it:

• has responsibility for overseeing risk management within the organisation as a whole
• has an open and receptive approach to solving risk problems
• has a generally low-risk appetite and makes conservative and prudent recognition and disclosure of the financial and non-financial implications of risks

The CSC has a Risk Framework, and a Risk Register which is reviewed 3 times a year by the Audit and Risk Management Committee and by the full Commission once a year. The CSC only faced one risk classified as severe after mitigation in 2022 to 2023 and this risk is being monitored.

The CSC’s Risk Framework and Register incorporate this approach to risk management. The CSC seeks guidance where appropriate from FCDO on risk management issues and are currently undertaking a review of the Risk Framework with advice from FCDO.

FCDO’s Internal Audit and Investigations Department (IAID) undertakes an audit of CSC annually, with the audit in 2022 to 2023 being on the CSC’s selection processes. The outcome of this was positive, with an assurance rating of moderate, a net risk rating of moderate and controls deemed to be adequate.

Scope of responsibility

As Accounting Officer since 1 January 2022, I accept responsibility for maintaining a sound system of internal control that supports the achievement of the CSC’s policies, aims and objectives whilst safeguarding the public funds and assets for which I am personally responsible, in accordance with the responsibilities assigned to me in Managing Public Money.

The purpose of the system of internal control

The system of internal control is designed to manage risk to a reasonable level rather than to eliminate all risk of failure to achieve policies, aims and objectives. The system of internal control is based on an ongoing process designed to identify and prioritise the risks to the achievement of CSC policies, aims and objectives, to evaluate the likelihood of those risks being realised and the impact should they be realised, and to manage them efficiently, effectively and economically. The system of internal control has been in place for the year ended 31 March 2023 and up to the date of approval of the Annual Report and accords with Treasury guidance.

The Secretariat regularly reports to the Commission on expenditure to date, forecast outturn and projections for future years. These projections enable the CSC to assess the potential impact of increased tuition and maintenance fees. The CSC has considered, together with the FCDO representative, the impact of any changes in entry requirements for Scholars.

Relevant administrative staff have obtained accreditation (Level 1) with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).

The CSC works closely with FCDO’s Scholarships Unit, which is represented at meetings of the Commission and its Finance Committee.

Review of effectiveness

Accounting Officer, I have responsibility for reviewing the effectiveness of the CSC, particularly its system of internal control. This review of the effectiveness of the system of internal control is informed by the work of the ACU, which has responsibility for the development and maintenance of the internal control framework that is separately audited, and responds to advice from FCDO, FCDO’s Internal Audit reports, comments made by the firm engaged in the inspection of CSC’s accounts and other reports. I have been advised on the implications of the results of such reviews, on the effectiveness and fitness for purpose of systems of internal control by the ARM Committee.

Data quality

All information presented to the Commission is derived from existing management information systems. The CSC is content with the quality of the data presented to it and considers it sufficient to properly inform decision making.

CSC is assured that ACU has systems in place to ensure that all personal data is handled in compliance with GDPR and has access to professional advice in this area. ACU offers regular training to ensure that its staff are kept up to date on Data Protection and GDPR compliance, and FCDO IAID undertook an audit of GDPR during the 2020/21 financial year with all recommendations from that having been taken forward.

B) Remuneration and staff report

The Commission has continued the arrangement under which its Secretariat and other management functions are provided by the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the British Council. The Commission does not itself have any employees. The effectiveness and value for money of these arrangements are formally reviewed annually by the Finance Committee, which recommends appropriate action to the full Commission.

C) Parliamentary accountability and audit report

CSC monitors the regularity of its expenditure through its expenditure approval process and by scrutinising expenditure against budget. CSC levies no fees or charges. It experienced no losses or special payments. It has no remote contingent liabilities.

Professor Robin Mason

Chair

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK

Consolidated statement of income and expenditure

Consolidated statement of income and expenditure	2022 to 2023 actual spend			2021 to 2022 actual spend
	£000	% of total income/costs		£000	% of total income/costs
FCDO Grant-in-aid programme	27,800	98%		27,797	98%
FCDO Grant-in-aid admin	424	2%		343	1%
DFE Grant-in-aid programme	-	0%		158	1%
Total Grant-in-aid to CSC	28,224			28,359
Scholarships and Fellowships Expenditure (FCDO)
PhD research	7,926	32.0%		8,326	29%
Agency Master’s	3,261	13.0%		3,639	13%
Split-site PhD	1,737	7.0%		2,073	7%
Shared Scholarships	4,290	17.0%		4,222	15%
Distance Learning	3,274	13.0%		3,843	14%
Medical	-	0.0%		14	0%
Total Direct Award Costs	20,488			22,117
Other Scholarship Costs	617	2.0%		2,231	8%
Total Scholarships and Fellowships Expenditure (FCDO)	21,105			24,348
Other Programme Expenditure (FCDO)
Evaluation	299	1.0%		297	1%
Communications	551	2.0%		508	2%
Alumni	551	2.0%		497	2%
Recruitment and Outreach	267	1.0%		294	1%
Time Limited Programme	215	1.0%		366	1%
IT Development	34	0.0%		-	0%
VAT	278	1.0%		248	1%
Total Other Programme Expenditure (FCDO)	2,195			2,210
OGD Programme Expenditure
DFE Grant-in-aid (PhD research)	-			81
BEIS Grant-in-aid (Postdoc research)	-			(1)
Total OGD Programme Expenditure	-	0.0%		80	0%
Total CSC Administrative Expenditure (FCDO)	418	2.0%		330	1%
Total Programme Management Costs	1,372	5.0%		1,353	5%
Total Expenditure	25,090			28,321
CASH SPEND
Scholarships and Fellowships Expenditure (FCDO)	21,105	84%		24,348	85%
Other Programme Expenditure (FCDO)	2,195	9%		2,210	8%
OGD Programme Expenditure	-	0%		80	0%
CSC Administrative Expenditure (FCDO)	418	2%		330	1%
Programme Management Costs	1,372	5%		1,353	5%
Total Expenditure	25,090			28,321
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(233)			1,007
Decrease /(Increase) in Accruals and Trade Payables	3,129			(1,030)
Total Cash Spend	27,986			28,298
Opening bank balance	3,191			2184
Cash received	28,219			28359
Closing Balance	(3,424)			(3,191)
Cash spend	27,986			27,352

Expenditure breakdown

Category	2022 to 2023	2021 to 2022
PhD research	32%	30%
Agency Master’s	13%	13%
Split-site PhD	7%	7%
Shared Scholarships	17%	15%
Distance Learning	13%	14%
Other Scholarship Costs	2%	8%
Evaluation, Engagement, R&O,TLP	8%	7%
Administration, programme management costs and irrecoverable VAT	8%	7%
Fellowships	0%	0%

Notes:

1. These figures were consolidated in FCDO’s audited Annual Report and Accounts 2022 to 2023.

2. The CSC engaged independent auditors to inspect the statement that were submitted to FCDO. No matters were brought to the attention of the Commission.

3. This activity is managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom.

4. The CSC holds no fixed assets.

5. The CSC employs no staff.

6. The contribution of UK Universities to CSC programmes, through maintenance payments and tuition fees, was a further £5.8m. Such partnership contributions increase the number of awards available.

7. Having no VATable outputs, the CSC is not registered for VAT so cannot reclaim VAT on any of its inputs.

Key:

1. TLP: Time Limited Programmes

2. R&O: Recruitment and Outreach

Membership of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK

Professor Robin Mason ORB (from January 2022)

Chair, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK

I am Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Birmingham and I am responsible for all aspects of the University’s global engagement. I am the executive lead for distance learning programmes, and for LGBT+ equality in the University. I have held senior leadership positions in higher education since 2006 and have been a member of the executive board of 2 UK Russell Group universities. As Chair, I am responsible for ensuring the CSC makes good decisions (consistent with UK Government priorities) and for ensuring the Commission develops and implements an effective strategy. I am firmly committed to the mission of the CSC – to provide opportunities for talented and motivated young people who could not otherwise afford them – having myself been educated from the age of 11 thanks entirely to scholarships. My academic research concentrates on the incentives faced by economic agents in situations when they have imperfect information about their environment. I am a decision-making Member of the Competition Appeal Tribunal, and previously of the Competition and Markets Authority, and the Financial Conduct Authority. I have acted as advisor to a number of regulators, in both the UK and internationally; to the Prime Minister of Mauritius on competition policy; and to a number of private-sector companies worldwide.

Professor Morag McDonald (from May 2020)

Deputy Chair, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK and Chair, Finance Committee

Dean of College of Environmental Sciences & Engineering at Bangor University

I am Professor of Ecology and Catchment Management at Bangor University. I have been an active researcher in international environmental issues for over 25 years, with broad research expertise in forest restoration through fallow management. I have field experience in 14 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Professor Madeleine Arnot (until September 2023)

Chair, Awards Policy Committee

Emerita Professor of Sociology of Education, Jesus College, University of Cambridge

As a sociologist, I have had over 40 years’ experience supervising international graduates on social justice and inclusion in education, especially in relation to gender, ethnicity/’race’ and social disadvantage and have advised on gender equality policies and citizenship education. I directed a 5-year DFID funded research project in Kenya, Ghana, India and Pakistan on youth, poverty and citizenship and currently edit a Routledge monograph series on ‘Education, Poverty and International Development’ and have recently co-edited Educational Research Practice in Southern Contexts: Recentring, Reframing and Reimagining Methodological Canons (Routledge 2023 in press). I co-founded the Centre for the Study of Global Human Movement at Cambridge and continue researching the education of displaced youth in the Global North and South. As CSC Chair of the Awards Policy Committee, I have been keen to find ways of strengthening the dissemination of Scholars’ research and promoting strong research-focused partnerships between UK and Commonwealth universities and agencies.

Professor Sarah Hawkes (from May 2020)

Professor of Global Health, University College London

I am Professor of Global Public Health at UCL and co-chair of the Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health. I undertake research on the evidence to-policy process and work with both the multilateral systems and national governments to promote gender-responsive policies to improve health.

Professor Paul Jackson (from October 2018)

Chair, Evaluation and Monitoring Committee and Lead Commissioner Knowledge Hubs

Professor of African Politics and Director of Research, College of Social Science, University of Birmingham

I have a lot of experience of working with Commonwealth Scholars at postgraduate level in Birmingham and internationally. I am Director of Research for the social sciences and a researcher with extensive experience across the Global South, specialising in post-conflict governance. I also sit on several international committees, including the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration, where I am responsible for monitoring SDG16 and am a member of the UK Research Excellence Framework panel for Development and Anthropology.

Emma Judge (from October 2018)

Lead Commissioner Development Impact

Head of East Africa, Deaf Child Worldwide

I have spent more than 25 years living and working in Africa, Asia and Latin America for INGOs and government agencies, helping facilitate sustainable social and economic change for vulnerable and disadvantaged people. I have a special interest in disability, health, education and inclusion, and use an evidence-based approach to strengthen pathways to impact. I am currently working as the Head of East Africa for Deaf Child Worldwide and previously served as the CEO of The Commonwealth Society for the Deaf and as Interim Director of Sense International. I am a published author of a number of books for development professionals with funding from the Department for International Development, as well as ‘To Whom It May Concern’, a book celebrating 10 years of democracy in South Africa with a foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Dr Catherine MacKenzie (from May 2020)

Chair, Audit and Risk Management Committee

Dean of Degrees, Green Templeton College Oxford & Bye-Fellow, Magdalene College Cambridge

As a former Commonwealth Scholar myself (UK to Australia), I have a long term commitment to upholding the values of the Commonwealth and to ensuring that CSC continues to play an important role in the UK’s development aid strategy, helping to build a safer, healthier and more prosperous world. As a barrister, I have a particular commitment to upholding the rule of law and promoting good governance. I have served as Chair of the Board of Scrutiny of Cambridge University and PVC of an Australian university. I am currently a Tribunal Judge, Chairman of the Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal, Governing Master of the Bench of Inner Temple (Inn of Court for barristers), Academic Governor of the Inns of Court College of Advocacy, member of the UK Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, member of the UK Agricultural and Horticultural Board and member of the Architects Registration Board Prescription Committee. Earlier in my career, I worked with the United Nations, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank throughout Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Professor Nuala McGrath (until January 2023)

Lead Commissioner Equity and Access

NIHR Global Health Professor at the University of Southampton

I am a Professor of Epidemiology and Sexual Health at the University of Southampton, and NIHR Global Health Professor. I work primarily on HIV and STIs in sub-Saharan Africa. I have spent more than 25 years strengthening research capacity at research institutions in sub-Saharan Africa and training future global health specialists.

Dr Christine Thuranira-McKeever (from May 2020)

Vice-Principal, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Director of Distance Learning, Royal Veterinary College (RVC), University of London

In my role, I work with post graduate students from around the world and have supported many cohorts of Commonwealth Scholars over the last ten years. As part of this work, I also regularly engage with institutions in the global south to create partnerships to support students and in so doing, help strengthen their institutional capacity. My academic background is in agricultural economics and I spent the early part of my career working in international development.

Professor John Wood CBE, FREng (until May 2023)

I am a materials scientist by background focusing on non-equilibrium processing of materials. I have held academic posts at several UK universities and ended my academic career as Principal of the Faculty of Engineering at Imperial College in London. Before that I was seconded from Nottingham University to the Central UK laboratories as Chief Executive and became heavily involved in international research policy and research infrastructures including as a founder director of the Diamond Light Source. After Imperial College I was appointed Secretary General of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. I remain a consultant to CERN in Geneva. I am a member of Brunel University Council. I hold a number of honorary professorships at UK universities. I chair the advisory board of the Spanish Energy Institute.

Professor Kevin Ibeh (from March 2021)

Lead Commissioner Marketing, Communications and Brand

Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) and Professor of Marketing and International Business at Birkbeck, University of London

I started my academic career in Africa and I have particular interest in advancing internationalisation and international entrepreneurship activities among firms in Africa, the Global South and beyond, as a route to facilitating sustainable economic development. My consulting and advisory work with the World Bank, the OECD, UNCTAD, and others has focused on the above themes, including the emergence of African multinationals. I am Lead Series Editor of the Palgrave Series of Entrepreneurship in Africa and the immediate past chair of the Universities UK sub-Saharan Africa policy network. In addition to senior leadership roles in the UK HE sector, I have served and continue to serve in expert capacities for universities and organisations across Africa, Asia, Australasia, the Caribbean, Europe, and North America.

Professor Parmjit Jat (from March 2021)

Professor of Molecular Cellular Biology in the UCL Institute of Prion Diseases at UCL, MRC Investigator within MRC Prion Unit at UCL and Departmental Graduate Tutor

I am an MRC Investigator and lead the Cell Biology Programme. I am also the Departmental Graduate Tutor responsible for the Unit 4yr PhD programme.

Before joining the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology to work closely with the MRC Prion Unit, my research interests were focussed on disorders of cell growth including cancer with an emphasis on cell immortalisation. I developed the ‘Immortomouse’, a novel H-2Kbtsa58 strain of mice that can be used to derive conditionally immortal cells from a wide variety of tissues.

Since joining the Prion Unit, I have maintained my research interest in cancer but have focused on prion research and led the development of in vitro cell models for propagating human prions in culture and investigating how they cause neurodegeneration.

Professor James Smith (from March 2021)

Vice Principal International and Professor of African and Development Studies at the University of Edinburgh

I am responsible for shaping and implementing the University’s Internationalisation Strategy, activities and collaborations. I am a former director of the University’s Centre of African Studies and Global Development Academy. Prior to joining the university in 2003 – initially as a research fellow – I worked at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and Oxfam Southern Africa.

My research focuses on the role of science, technology and innovation in poverty alleviation. My current work examines research into and control and treatment of African trypanosomiasis in both humans and animals across the tsetse fly belt of Africa.

Professor Liz Baggs (from September 2023)

Professor of Food and Environmental Security at the University of Edinburgh

I am the Deputy Dean of Research for Strategic Change in the University’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, and also Deputy Director of the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems. Prior to this I held the Established Chair of Soil Science at the University of Aberdeen, where I was Head of School of Biological Sciences.

I have a PhD in soil science from the University of Edinburgh, a MSc in agronomy from the University of Nottingham, and a BSc (Hons) in physical geography from the University of Bristol. I have held various strategic leadership and advisory roles for higher education, research funding and agri environment strategies, and have led several large interdisciplinary research projects, including across sub-Saharan Africa. I am a previous President of the British Society of Soil Science.

Professor Allan Hill (from September 2023)

Professor of Population and International Health Emeritus in the School of Economic, Social and Political Sciences at the University of Southampton

I have spent most of my life in higher educational institutions including appointments in Commonwealth countries (University of Ghana), in other countries (University of Kuwait; American University of Beirut; University of Jordan) as well as in the US (Harvard University) and the UK. I also served for 4 years as the Regional Representative of the Population Council for the Middle East and Programme Officer for the Ford Foundation. My career has involved many years of residence in low-income countries (Jordan, Mali, Senegal, The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Egypt). My research and teaching have centred on improving the health and reproductive security of low-income populations in the Middle East and West Africa. My work in schools of Public Health (London School of Hygiene and Harvard School of Public Health) and at the University of Southampton has focused on these issues, particularly on the measurement of health including trends, differentials and inequalities. I have served as a Governing Board Member for the UK Longitudinal study and was deputy-chair of a ESRC Grant Assessment Panel and a reviewer for the NIH, the NIHR and the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission.

Ryan Shorthouse (from October 2023)

Founder and Executive Chair, Bright Blue

I was the Chief Executive of Bright Blue from 2014 to 2023. Under my leadership, Bright Blue grew significantly in size, reputation and impact. Bright Blue’s work has been especially influential on UK educational, environmental, immigration and childcare policy over the past decade.

I am a writer, thinker and entrepreneur. I was named as ‘One to watch’ in 2015 by The Observer. My research focuses on education and social policy. Many of my policy ideas have been adopted by the UK Government over the past decade. I appear regularly in the national press and broadcast media.

I was previously a Research Fellow for the think tank the Social Market Foundation and was part of the team that won Prospect Magazine’s Think Tank of the Year in 2012. At the SMF, I authored ten research papers and designed innovative policies on childcare, welfare, public service reform, higher education and health.

Prior to 2010, I was a researcher to the Shadow Education Secretary, where I authored the Conservative Party’s Childhood Review, and an adviser to the Conservative Party on families and education, formulating party policy and managing media relations.

I am a Senior Visiting Fellow at King’s College London. I am a trustee of the What Works Centre, Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO). I was previously a trustee for the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) (2017 to 2023), Young Women’s Trust (2014 to 2019) and the Daycare Trust (2010 to 2015). I sit on the advisory council of the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research. I am a mentor for the Social Mobility Foundation and was previously a governor of a new secondary school in East London (2017 to 2023).

Aisling Conboy (from September 2023)

Senior Programme Director, Wilton Park

I am a Senior Programme Director at Wilton Park, an executive agency of the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office, where I convene dialogues on trade, diplomacy, and education.

I was the first ever Higher Education Specialist in the UK Department for International Trade (now the Department for Business and Trade) for almost 5 years until 2021, promoting UK higher education exports and strategy, and leading UK government trade missions and participating in trade talks and global and bilateral forums.

Prior to this, I was International Partnerships Director at the University of Greenwich with oversight for transnational education and global mobility, overseeing one of the largest portfolios for transnational education in the UK. I am a founding member of the Education Investor’s Business Women in Education Network.

I have previously led on international partnerships at Strathclyde Business School, worked as an Educational Adviser at the US-UK Fulbright Commission, and managed the fellowship programme at the John Smith Trust with a focus on Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

I am a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), a member of Chevening reading panels, and a Fulbright Summer Institutes panel member.

Elizabeth Tanya Masiyiwa (from September 2023)

President and CEO of Delta Philanthropies, Higherlife Foundation and Akello

I am a social entrepreneur and smartech executive. I am the President and CEO of Delta Philanthropies, Higherlife Foundation and Akello – an African company transforming education with technology based solutions.

I am also Non-Executive Director sitting on the boards of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and EcoCash Holdings Zimbabwe, 2 of the largest listed companies on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.

I am a board member of the Higherlife Foundation and serve on the boards of several charities and foundations, including Harvard University’s Leadership Council for the Centre of Africa Studies. I provide advise to several entrepreneurship and philanthropy networks.