UK Government marks 30 years of International scholarships

On 9th July over 500 past and present Chevening Scholars representing 118 countries gathered at Chevening House to mark 30 years of the UK’s most prestigious scholarship programme and to invite the brightest graduates around the world to apply.

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Prof. Elisante Ole Gabriel was chosen among the Chevening alumni to represent Tanzania in an historical event celebration.

“I have been lucky to be selected among the six (6) Chevening candidates in 1998 out of 9,000 applicants. The recruitment process of Chevening Scholarships is clean and professional. I benefited a lot from my experience, exposure and knowledge gained for the time I spent in the UK under Chevening scholarship. Therefore, I can boldly say, I am what I am today because of Chevening scholarship” said Prof. Elisante Ole Gabriel.

The event was hosted by Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hugo Swire. The Chevening Scholarships Programme finances graduates from around the world with potential to be influential leaders and decision makers to study postgraduate courses at British universities.

The Alumni attending the 30th anniversary event included some of the most prominent people from the programme’s history including Mr Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, Prime Minster of Iceland and Dr Hania el Sholkamy, Professor - Social Research Center, the American University, Cairo, highlighting the strength of the global network the UK Government has built up through the Scholarships.

Minister of State Hugo Swire said: “This event shows how successful the Chevening Scholarships programme has been in building relationships for the UK with decision makers in businesses and Governments all around the world.

“Following the tripling of scholarships set out by the Chancellor in his Budget, I hope this event will encourage the brightest graduates around the world to apply to study in the UK so we can continue to build mutually beneficial and long-lasting relationships.”

Chevening Alumni Nart Dohjka from Jordan said: “Being a Chevening Scholar marks a graduate out as someone with drive and ability, and also as someone who wants to contribute to the development of their country. It offers students like me a unique opportunity to gain academic experience and at the same time to broaden our global and social outlooks.

Above all, it empowers us with a sense of pride and responsibility. I believe that the role of Chevening scholars is very important in building bridges between their home countries and UK universities. In short, a Chevening Scholar learns how to be an ambassador for knowledge and for leadership.”

The event included an exhibition of the GREAT campaign to promote Britain as one of the best countries in the world to visit, study and do business with to influential decision makers from around the world.