42nd Annual Report - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in ...

CSFP INTERNATIONAL
‘The Commonwealth Scholarship
and Fellowship Plan should be
expanded and diversified so as to
include more flexibility such as
short term and split site
programmes along with traditional
awards and, where appropriate,
those which focus on
developmental and poverty
reduction objectives should be
encouraged’
Education for Our Common Future
Statement from the 14th
Conference of Commonwealth
Education Ministers
November 2000
At the time of its formation, the aspirations of CSFP’s founders went beyond the
establishment of a scholarship scheme. They regarded the Plan as a political statement
– that the Commonwealth comprised a group of independent countries, each able to
contribute distinctive experience and facilities, but collectively stronger through
sharing and joint action. Fundamental to this vision was the idea that scholarships
should be held in both developed and developing countries.
Since that time, over twenty countries have hosted Commonwealth Scholarships. For
British students, the Plan has provided opportunities to study in locations not available
under any other scheme, as well as more conventional destinations such as Australia,
Canada and New Zealand. Equally important, it has the potential to be a major force
for sharing of expertise between developing countries, through south-south
collaboration, and for applying the professional skills of developed countries to
specific problems of the developing world.
Throughout the 1990’s, however, this aspect of the scheme declined, with only seven
countries hosting awards in the three years to 1999. Commonwealth Education
Ministers, at their 2000 conference, pledged to reverse this trend, aiming to double the
number of countries offering awards by the time of their next meeting in 2003. To
encourage this process, the Commission took the initiative in convening a meeting of
host nations – the first for many years.
The meeting, held at Marlborough House in July, attracted representatives from
thirteen countries – all of which made commitments to offer awards in 2002-03. As a
result, scholarships will be available in countries as diverse as Australia, Brunei,
Cameroon, Canada, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Nigeria,
Uganda, the University of the South Pacific and the United Kingdom. Together with
South Africa (for which the first selection has already been made) and the long
standing support of Trinidad and Tobago, these commitments should ensure that the
ambitious target of Ministers will be met.
Discussions at the meeting, however, were not confined purely to generating more
awards. Delegates took the opportunity to propose wider improvements to the entire
management of the scheme, and the final statement called for:
• more contact between host nations – to monitor progress, discuss common problems
and encourage good practice
• more variety in the type of award offered – with greater imagination both in the type
of awards which would benefit developing countries, and which could be offered by
such countries. Examples might include exchange arrangements, awards targeted on
specific countries, short-term fellowships and split-site arrangements
• greater diversity in the funding mechanisms used to support awards – for example
use of non-governmental sources, or joint awards between countries, or with
universities
• renewed efforts to raise awareness of the scheme amongst students – particularly
with respect to study in developing countries
• establishment of a central information point – initially based at the Association of
Commonwealth Universities – through which individual countries can notify new
award offers or other developments
Countries offering awards under CSFP
CSC Annual Report page 12