UK increases scholarship places for Zambia
Britain has a global reputation for excellence in the field of education and skills
The British High Commissioner to Zambia, James Thornton, has announced that the UK Government has substantially increased the number of places for Zambians who wish to study in the UK under the Chevening Scholarship programme.
The High Commissioner said Zambians who have studied at top UK universities are now using their skills and knowledge to contribute significantly to Zambia’s development.
At a pre-departure briefing event for two Chevening Scholars on 21 August, Mr Thornton said:
“Britain has a global reputation for excellence in the field of education and skills, rooted in our centuries-old yet forward-looking educational system. It’s a tradition of learning that we continue to share with the world, including Zambia. An assessment last year indicated that four of the six best universities in the world were British.
Since 1985, over 150 Zambians have studied in the UK under the Chevening Scheme. I am delighted that next year we expect to be able to offer fourteen Chevening Scholarships to Zambians, compared to the two offered this year”.
Earlier in the day the High Commissioner attended a send-off event for recipients of Commonwealth Scholarships, which are also funded by the British Government. This year twenty have been awarded, up from sixteen in 2013. Other schemes available to Zambians include Rhodes, Beit Trust, Canon Collins and Africa Fellowship Trust scholarships.
Mr Thornton said the Chevening Alumni Association had also been revived. A Commonwealth Alumni Association is expected to be launched later this year. He urged scholars and fellows to join the Associations.
Mr Thornton gave examples of Zambian Chevening Scholars serving in top positions in Zambia and elsewhere. These included Justice Florence Lengalenga, Supreme Court Judge; Stephen Kampyongo, Home Affairs Deputy Minister; and Chibamba Kanyama, former Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Director General and now working at the International Monetary Fund.
Further details
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Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. The programme makes awards to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world to study Postgraduate courses at universities in the UK.
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The four universities in the world’s top six are: Oxford, Cambridge, University College London and Imperial College London. Oxford has educated more world leaders than any other university, and Cambridge graduates have won 65 Nobel Prizes.
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Chevening Scholarships are aimed at future leaders, influencers and decision-makers. The aim is for them to return to their country of origin after their studies.
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Chevening Scholarships are currently offered in approximately 110 countries, in most regions of the world. In the current academic year, there are over 700 Chevening scholars at universities across the UK.
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In Zambia, Chevening Scholarships are administered by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) on behalf of the FCO.
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Applications for Chevening Scholarships for the academic year 2015/16 are now open and must be submitted online between 1 August and 15 November 2014. Applicants should read the online guidance and be able to demonstrate how they meet the Chevening selection criteria before submitting an application.
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Chevening and its predecessor schemes have been operating in Zambia since 1983. Over 150 Zambians have studied in the UK under the Chevening Scheme.
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The African Fellowship Trust (AFT) is a registered UK charity which specialises in agriculture and rural development for the sub-Saharan region. AFT programme offers scholarships for African students to study at the Royal Agricultural University at Cirencester for one-year.
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The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is an international programme that awards scholarships and fellowships for postgraduate study and professional development. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK supports around 800 awards every year
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For further information on Chevening Scholarships please visit our social media platforms. Facebook, Twitter @UKinZambia and website
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2015/16 Scholars:
Chevening
(1) Peter Nawa – MA Globalisation and Development, University of Sussex
(2) Virginia Hamwela – MA Librarianship, University of Sheffield