49th Annual Report (2007-2008) - Commonwealth Scholarship ...

Capacity development in higher education
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission currently offers two schemes that directly support capacity
development in higher education: Commonwealth Academic Staff Scholarships and Commonwealth
Academic Fellowships. There is a critical need for both mid-career academics and less experienced
members of academic staff in developing Commonwealth universities to enhance their skills, have access
to world-leading research facilities and resources, and build networks, in order for their research and
teaching to be of an international standard. In addition to the range of benefits to the home institution,
both schemes facilitate the creation of collaborations between individual researchers and their institutions
across the Commonwealth on developmentally significant subjects.
Ronelle Burger (left),
Commonwealth Scholar from
South Africa, undertaking a
survey of the Ugandan NGO
sector as part of her PhD
fieldwork
Commonwealth Academic Staff Scholar Ronelle
Burger is currently undertaking a PhD in the
Role of NGOs in Poverty Alleviation at the University
of Nottingham, which she feels has provided her
with skills which will be of huge benefit when she
returns to her home institution, the University of
Stellenbosch in South Africa.
‘I expect to be more valuable to my home
country as a researcher, a mentor and a lecturer
upon my return. I have acquired econometric skills
that are rare in South Africa, practical experience
in conducting large representative surveys, and an
in-depth knowledge and understanding of NGOs
in developing countries. This area is under-res -
earched yet of pivotal importance for ensuring
that aid is used effectively to improve the plight of
the poor in developing countries. The PhD has
honed my research skills, deepened my knowledge
of specific theoretical topics, and enhanced my
understanding of how non-profit organisations
make decisions, which will improve the quality of
both my research and my teaching. I hope that my
proposed research on the effectiveness of nonprofit
organisations and ways to enhance this will
make a contribution to the local policy context. I
am extremely committed to my country and the
continent, and much of the satisfaction I derive
from my work stems from a hope that I am con -
tributing to poverty alleviation and the improve -
ment of wellbeing in this region.’
Lem Atanga completed her PhD at Lancaster
University in 2007 on a Commonwealth Academic
Staff Scholarship, and has returned to continue
teaching at the University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Her research focused on a study of gendered dis -
courses in the Cameroonian parliament.
‘The study investigated the quantitative and
qualitative participation of Cameroonian men and
women in parliament and the gendered discourses
that both draw on within a modern political
context. The results indicate that an increase in
the number of women in parliament will not
necessarily increase the quality of their part ic ip at -
ion. From this study, it was observed that the qual -
itative participation of women in the Cameroonian
parliament is limited compared to that of men, as
women tended to draw on discourses that
concern mostly the domestic or the social sphere.
‘Prior to obtaining my doctoral degree, there
were no qualified staff in the area of critical
discourse analysis or gender and language in my
department or even in the country. Upon my
return, I immediately started work, teaching post -
graduates and supervising Master’s degree
students, as the only specialist in this area. I also
jointly run the Gender and Language in African
Contexts Network, and am currently involved with
other partnerships dev eloped as a result of my
exposure through the Scholarship. I hope to
continue work in the area of gender and critical
discourse analysis and also the teaching and
supervision of young Cameroonians.’
12 Commonwealth Scholarship Commission