Since 1983, doors have been open for exceptional professionals from around the world through Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships. This prestigious programme allows you to study in some of the best universities that the UK has to offer and be a part of its alumni network as well. "I was at the University of Bradford as part of the three-month Chevening Fellowship. It was both an excellent and rare opportunity for me," says Senior IPS officer Anuradha AR, Director General of AP State Disaster Response and Fire Services. As a part of her research in the UK, she enquired about the response time of the police, how they measure it and more. "Violent riots had taken place in Bradford in the past and I understood how they investigated, how they caught the accused and so on. After that, there were no riots of that magnitude again," says the Chevening Fellow who was part of the programme in the year 2003-2004. To understand more about this programme, we got in touch with Deputy High Commissioner to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Andrew Fleming. And here's what he had to say. Excerpts:
Post the fellowship and scholarship, how does the Indian Chevening Alumni Network ensure that the scholars and fellows don't just remain connected, but also enrich themselves as and when needed?
Finishing the Chevening award is not the end of the road but just a pause before the scholars and fellows continue down a meaningful new path. The British High Commission is extremely engaged with the alumni and frequently organises a diversity of thematic events such as conferences, round tables and panel discussions for Chevening alumni. The intention is to create networking platforms for professional networking, exchange of ideas and knowledge and positive local actions between alumni and industry experts, policymakers representing the government, academia and civil society. The Chevening Alumni Programme Fund (CAPF) is funding provided by the FCO to support our alumni on some of their innovative projects that will bring alumni together locally, regionally or globally. Alumni share their expertise, talent and time with new Chevening awardees by offering advice, guidance and mentorship. The alumni are invited to receptions and discussions during ministerial and VVIP visits. They are invited as guest speakers at the UK in India events including Young Thinkers Conferences and India-UK Future Tech festivals. Many also participate in outreach programmes to schools providing career guidance and talks on themes such as gender equality, unconscious bias and online safety for children.
Since 1983, what has been the mission behind starting the Chevening scholarship and fellowship programmes? Has that mission evolved since to include more goals to ensure that it is more in line with today's times?
The UK has welcomed Chevening scholars and fellows to our shores since 1983. Chevening is aimed at developing global leaders and is an opportunity that transforms careers and perspectives. The brightest minds from around the world are brought together to study, develop their ideas, passions and plans for the future and experience all that the UK has to offer. The network of alumni around the world is well-connected and working together to make the world a better and safer place. There are 50,000 alumni across the globe and India — with over 3,000 — has the largest network of Chevening alumni.
In 1983, a total of 100 Chevening awards were offered in 41 countries including India. Today, the UK offers up to 110 fully-funded awards in India alone, the most opportunities Chevening offers globally.
The fellowships offered to mid and senior-level professionals in India have undergone changes, keeping with the time and need. Currently, we offer fellowships in cybersecurity, good governance, financial services, science and innovation and in leadership and excellence. Many of the fellows are leaders and decision-makers in their fields and have gone on to achieve amazing things. In India, Chevening has reached 65-70 journalists (many amongst them influential senior journalists and editors of leading publications and channels), more than 30 cybersecurity experts (CBI, defence officers, IPS, lawyers, academics, members of the wider industry), 250–300 leading science and innovation personnel, 25-30 senior financial leaders, over 60 parliamentarians from across parties and regions (many of whom are ministers), numerous CEOs in the private sector, many senior government officials, IPS officers, senior bureaucrats and numerous others working in the fields of urban planning, entrepreneurship, public policy, health, education, development, law, foreign policy and International relations.
So, what are the criteria for application?
- Those applying for the scholarship should have two years of work experience and a strong academic background
- Those applying for the fellowship should have 7 to 10 years of experience
For more on them, click on chevening.org
