1HAPPY BIRTHDAY CSFP! · COUNTRY PROFILE – CANADA · NEWS ROUND-UP

SCHOLARS' NEWS · ALUMNI IN ACTION · NETWORKS AND EVENTS

NEWSIssue 10

September 2009Promoting learning, development and co-operation

Flying the flag for justice in the Commonwealth

2 Commonwealth Scholarships News2 Commonwealth Scholarships News

Commonwealth Scholarships News

Editorial Team:Dr John Kirkland, Jocelyn Law, Anna O’Flynn and Natasha Lokhun

Design and Print: dsi colourworks

Commonwealth Scholarships News is published threetimes a year by the Commonwealth ScholarshipCommission in the United Kingdom.

Commonwealth Scholarship Commissionc/o The Association of Commonwealth UniversitiesWoburn House, 20–24 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HF, UK

comments@cscuk.org.ukwww.cscuk.org.uk

Commonwealth Scholarships News is published for information purposes only and no liability is accepted for its contents by the CSC

or by any contributor to it. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the information contained therein was correct at

the time of compilation, it should not be regarded as definitive and no responsibility is accepted for the inclusion or omission of any

particular item. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the CSC.

This magazine is printed using vegetable-based inks on Ecoplex paper, made from 100% post-consumer waste fibre to Blue Angel

standard RAL UZ-14. It is chlorine free, uses no optical brighteners and has one of the lowest energy requirements and smallest carbon

footprints of any coated paper.

Cover Carol Holness, CommonwealthScholar from South Africa – see page 4.

2 Editorial

3 News round-upThe latest from the CommonwealthScholarships community.

4 Scholars’ newsHow our Scholars are contributing tostrong and sustainable legal systems.

6 Happy Birthday CSFP!A report on Commonwealth Scholarshipsat the Conference of CommonwealthEducation Ministers.

8 Alumni in actionAn update on the activities of ouralumni.

9 Alumni profile Focusing on two alumni working in thelegal sphere.

10 Networks and eventsReports from Network conferences andother CSC events.

11 Country profile – CanadaA closer look at the CommonwealthScholarship and Fellowship Plan inoperation internationally.

Due to the commonality of their shared legalsystems, the countries of the Commonwealth havebeen plugged into a legal ‘network’ long before

networking became a buzzword. In much of theCommonwealth, the upper tiers of the legal profession arefilled with lawyers trained in England. I myself was therecipient of a Commonwealth Scholarship to study at theUniversity of Cambridge.

The value of this legal heritage should not beunderestimated. Though each country may be unique inculture, history and political ethos, many of the problemsthat face us are common: transnational crime, corruption,terrorism, to name but a few. The existence of sharedprinciples of law helps tremendously in cooperating totackle these scourges. It is no coincidence that the threecountries of the 10-member Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN) that work most closely together inlegal matters are Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia andSingapore – Commonwealth countries which all share thelegacy of English law.

The new CSC Legal Network will be an enormous boon to all of us. The common law is no longer fedonly from the English courts. Where matters of law, morality and justice are concerned, it is no longeraccepted that English norms are automatically to be applied throughout the independent Commonwealth.A network of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows sharing the legal precedents and experiences of theirown countries will inform and enrich us all.

We all grapple with similar legal and societal issues: the balance between rights and responsibilities, therelationship between the state and the individual, the definition of human rights in multi-ethnic, multi-religious, culturally heterogeneous societies, the boundary beyond which the law cannot constrainfreedom. The new Legal Network will provide an ideal forum for the discussion of these and other suchissues by Scholars from all over the Commonwealth. It is an exciting prospect.

Professor Walter WoonAttorney-General of SingaporeCommonwealth Scholar, LLM Law, University of Cambridge, 1982-1983

EDITORIALTHIS ISSUE

Professor Walter WoonAttorney-General of Singapore

September 2009 33

NEWS ROUND-UPEVALUATION REPORT PUBLISHEDFollowing the publication of initial findings inNovember 2008, Evaluating CommonwealthScholarships in the United Kingdom: Assessingimpact in key priority areas is now available atwww.cscuk.org.uk/cscevaluationandmonitoringprogramme.asp

Based on the findingsof the 2008evaluation survey,which had more than2,200 CSC alumnirespondents, thereport looks at thespecific impact ofawards oni n d i v i d u a l s ,institutions and widersociety. Together with

the Directory of Commonwealth Scholars andFellows (www.cscuk.org.uk/alumni.asp), itprovides an invaluable insight into the impact ofCommonwealth Scholarships.

PROFILE: DR HILARY PERRATON

Dr Hilary Perraton became a CommonwealthScholarship Commissioner in 2002, serving asDeputy Chair of the Commission from June 2004until the end of his tenure in May 2009. He alsoserved on the Finance and Distance LearningCommittees of the Commission.

Currently a Research Associate at the Von HügelInstitute, St Edmund’s College, Cambridge, he beganhis career at London County Council, before movinginto education. He worked at the National ExtensionCollege and then the International Extension Collegefor 15 years (two of which were spent in Botswanaworking on international education and distancelearning). During this time, he also studied part-timefor a doctorate at the Institute of Education.

Hilary worked for ten years in the educationdirectorate of the Commonwealth Secretariat, and

then spent a year and a half at the University of theWest Indies. On his return, he set up the InternationalResearch Foundation for Open Learning. He movedback into research to write Learning Abroad: AHistory of the Commonwealth Scholarship andFellowship Plan (see below). He received anhonorary fellowship of the Commonwealth ofLearning in 2002, and an honorary doctorate fromthe Open University in 2005.

HISTORY OF THE CSFP PUBLISHEDLearning Abroad:A History of theCommonwealthScholarship andFellowship Plan,written by DrHilary Perraton tocommemora t ethe 50thanniversary of thePlan, waspublished in June2009. The booksets out the narrative of the CSFP from itsconception at a Commonwealth ministers’conference. It examines who was selected for

Scholarships, how, and why; and explores thepolicies of countries offering Scholarships and thosereceiving them. The experience of Scholars as theystudied abroad sheds light both on changing societyand the impact of the awards on individuals andcountries. Published by Cambridge ScholarsPublishing, the book is priced at £39.99.

NEW WEB RESOURCES FOR ALUMNIThe CSC website now has a new alumni section atwww.cscuk.org.uk/alumni.asp

The alumni section is divided into three distinctareas: membership benefits and information, theDirectory, and resources. You can also keep in touchwith the Alumni Office through Facebook atwww.facebook.com/jocelyn.law1

Starting this year, alumni registration is availableonline, and Scholars and Fellows coming to the endof their award have recently received an email withdetails of how to do this. If you haven’t yet registeredonline, or have a specific alumni registration query,please email alumni@cscuk.org.uk

Dr Hilary Perraton,former Deputy Chair of

the CSC BUCKINGHAM PALACE RECEPTION TOMARK 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THECOMMONWEALTHOn 28 April 2009, 20 Commonwealth Scholarsattended a reception at Buckingham Palace tomark the 60th anniversary of the modernCommonwealth. The event included aperformance of a Commonwealth cantata and achampagne reception, as well as a chance to viewexamples of art from the Commonwealth and tospeak with HM The Queen, members of the RoyalFamily, High Commissioners and representativesfrom Commonwealthorganisations and bodies.

Ben Irving, CommonwealthScholar from South Africa,recalls that ‘BuckinghamPalace was quite anexperience. We weren’t sureif we would get a chance tomeet the Queen but, as wewent to listen to the cantata,w e w e r e f o r m a l l yintroduced. The Queen thenmoved through the groupsand made an effort to talk toeveryone – quite a feat. She is

a very impressive person and seemed genuinelyinterested in what each of the students had to say– even checking that I would have a chance to gohome for a holiday during my three years studyingin the UK’.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh talking to Commonwealth Scholarsat the Buckingham Palace reception

4 Commonwealth Scholarships News

NEW FORMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY FORENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

Australian Commonwealth Scholar Frances Foster-Thorpe (DPhil Legal Research, University of Oxford) isundertaking research into accountability andenvironmental regulation. ‘Environmental regulation isoften understood as a collaborative exercise betweengovernments, business and civil society. However,business and civil society actors taking on importantroles in implementing, and sometimes making,environmental policy doesn’t neatly fit with ourconventional government-centred accountabilitymechanisms. It has therefore been suggested that weneed new forms of market and social accountabilityto complement traditional forms of political and legalaccountability. My research focuses on understandingthe relationship between conventional and thesenewly recognised forms of accountability.’

Frances feels that studying in the UK has beeninvaluable. ‘I ultimately intend to return to Australiaand contribute to the development of governmentpolicy on accountability and environmental issues.However, studying outside of my own country hasexposed me to many new ideas and newapproaches. Australia inherited many of its governinginstitutions from the UK and on the surface ourpolitical landscape can appear very similar. I havefound, however, that stepping outside my ownpolitical culture has been the best way to begin tounderstand its peculiarities. Each country tends toframe its policy debates in specific ways, andexamining how other nations approach similar issuescan reveal possibilities that are not obvious frominside those debates.’

GUARANTEEING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN BANGLADESHMohammad Nazmuzzaman Bhuian,Commonwealth Scholar from Bangladesh (PhD Law,School of Oriental and African Studies), is examiningfreedom of the press in his home country. ‘Freedom

o f t h e p r e s s i s a spe l t -ou tfundamental rightin the Bangladeshiconstitution yet, in

practice, the media today are faced with legalobstacles which restrict their role in democracy. Myresearch investigates whether these laws andregulations have limited or guaranteed pressfreedom in Bangladesh, and to what extent the legallimitations are justified in a democracy. The findingsare expected to play a persuasive role in encouraginggenuine and comprehensive reform of the legalsystem of Bangladesh.’

Mohammad feels that his Scholarship has not onlyallowed him to pursue his research at a respectedinstitution, but has also opened his eyes to differentinternational perspectives. ‘As the press in England ismuch more free and vibrant, my Scholarship hasgiven me insight into press freedom from acomparative perspective. As an assistant professor inthe Department of Law at the University of Dhaka, Ishall be in an appropriate position on my return todisseminate my knowledge among the students andacademic community in my country. I plan to publisha book on my thesis once my research is complete,which will be a valuable addition to the existing legalliterature of Bangladesh.’

SOCIAL WELFARE RIGHTS IN SOUTH AFRICASouth African Commonwealth Scholar Carol Holness(MSc Human Rights, London School of Economicsand Political Science) is studying social security rightsin South Africa. ‘My interest in human rights lawarose during my undergraduate studies at RhodesUniversity, an institution situated in one of thepoorest provinces in South Africa. During this time, Iwitnessed the immense poverty facing a largenumber of South Africans and realised how vitalsocial welfare grants are for many households.’

Carol describes her year as a Commonwealth Scholaras ‘an amazing experience’, both personally and

academically. ‘Some of the highlights includemeeting the Queen during a CSC conference atCumberland Lodge, attending the CommonwealthDay Observance at Westminster Abbey, andchatting with Desmond Tutu after a lecture hostedby the British Council. Another key moment wasbeing elected to represent Commonwealth Scholarsand Fellows at the Commonwealth People’s Forum,to be held in Trinidad and Tobago in November2009 – an incredible opportunity for me. Once Ihave completed my Master’s, I intend to return toSouth Africa to complete my articles of clerkship as acandidate attorney and, in the long term, I hope tobecome more practically involved in human rightswork in South Africa.’

TRANSPARENCY, REPRESENTATION ANDLEGITIMACY OF THE WTO

As part of her LLM in International Law at theUniversity of Nottingham, Ugandan CommonwealthScholar Aishah Namukasa is looking at ‘the ways inwhich the World Trade Organization (WTO) couldbe made more transparent and accountable,including the possibility of closer monitoring andsupervision of its activities through NGO and civilsociety participation. I also consider issues ofrepresentation within the WTO, and problems of itslegitimacy’.

Aishah describes her Scholarship as a ‘worthwhileexperience that I would not trade for anything in theworld. Nottingham has a huge student communitythat kept me going through the taxing times ofessay writing and exam revision. I have had accessto one of the best libraries in the world and haveappreciated the advice from the careers centre. Ihave observed at first-hand the grooming of lawyersthat begins right from the first year of Britishuniversity study, and look forward to seeing the

4 Commonwealth Scholarships News

Frances Foster-Thorpe,Commonwealth

Scholar from Australia,

at the Directory

launch reception

in April 2009

SCHOLARS’ NEWSStrong and sustainable legal systems are fundamental to all democratic societies and can impact oneconomic and social development. Commonwealth Scholars are playing their part through studies in diverseareas such as human rights, international criminal, environmental and constitutional law.

MohammadBhuian,Commonwealth

Scholar from

Bangladesh, at

the 2008

Welcome Day

AishahNamukasa,Commonwealth

Scholar from

Uganda

September 2009 55

same implemented in my own setting, through theinitiation of different career events. One of myfondest memories so far is receiving a Model UnitedNations Award for Diplomacy under the NGOprogramme. I am honoured to be aCommonwealth Scholar and I am happy to knowthat I will be able to contribute to the developmentof young lawyers when I resume my teaching dutiesin Uganda.’

HUMAN RIGHTS IN AUSTRALIA – LESSONSFROM THE UK

The National Human Rights Consultation currentlyunderway in Australia provided an opportunity fortwo Australian Commonwealth Scholars to draw ontheir experiences in the UK to assist in advancing theprotection of human rights in Australia.Commonwealth Scholar Jason Pobjoy, an executivecommittee member of Oxford Pro Bono Publico(OPBP), brought together a group of 12postgraduate law students and faculty membersfrom the University of Oxford to compose aresponse to the consultation’s question: how couldAustralia better protect and promote human rights?Julia Powles, also a current Commonwealth Scholar,formed part of the research team.

The team was supervised by Professor SandraFredman, from the University of Oxford, andProfessor Cheryl Saunders, from the University ofMelbourne. The team was also fortunate to receiveassistance from Lord Bingham, former Senior LawLord, and Professor David Feldman, the first legaladviser to the Joint Committee on Human Rights.Jason and Julia hope that the submission will be apositive contribution to the debate currently takingplace in Australia, and that it will ultimately assist inadvancing protection of the most vulnerable. A copy of the submiss ion i s ava i lab le a twww.law.ox.ac.uk/opbp

In 1989, when Trinidad and Tobago reintroducedthe idea of a permanent International CriminalCourt (ICC) at the United Nations General

Assembly, few gave theinitiative, much less theinstitution, a chance ofbecoming a reality.However, with stateand NGO support sincethen, the ICC hasinitiated investigationsand trials are ongoing.To date, 32C o m m o n w e a l t hnations are statesparties to the RomeStatute of the ICC,granting the court‘ c o m p l e m e n t a r y ’jurisdiction over crimesof genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity,and crimes of aggression. In addition, oneCommonwealth state has referred a ‘situation’ tothe court for investigation and prosecution. But isthe global court supported by individuals, notablythose in conflict societies, in whose interest theinstitution operates?

Research on the ICChas tended to be legaltreatises; however,very little is knownabout the attitudes o f b e n e f a c t o rpopulations. Myresearch focuses on acomparative analysisof the attitudes ofSudanese and Ugandans towards the ICC.Essentially, this project is an attempt to gaugeconfidence in the ICC and trial justice to endimpunity, deter criminals and prevent the mostserious crimes of international concern or,alternatively, to determine whether there is need fora more inclusive and diverse recognition of justice.

Without being in either country to conduct a survey,I have had to utilise internet mediated research(IMR) to recruit participants, administer aquestionnaire and collect responses. The researchhas benefited from access to the CSC-news mailinglist and the Commonwealth Scholars’ Facebookgroup, as well as the generous support of fellowCommonwealth Scholars, to snowball the

questionnaire. While this methodology has itsweaknesses, gaining access to participants in bothcountries has been invaluable, given the

impecunious means ofgraduate research.

R e s e a r c h i n ginternational criminaljustice highlightsalternative approachesto managing crime andjustice domestically. Atpresent, I am on leavefrom the Trinidad andTobago Police Service(TTPS) which is in themidst of atransformation, alongwith other criminaljustice institutions in

the country. At the University of Leeds, I have hadthe opportunity to review the delivery andoutcomes of criminal justice policies trans-nationally and supra-nationally, to critically analysetheories and explanations of crime, and to engagein criminological research. On my return home,

the knowledge gainedwill allow me to make am e a n i n g f u lcontribution to policing,the criminal justicesystem, and the rule oflaw in Trinidad andTobago and, if calledupon, other Caribbeancountries.

Being in the UK hasbroadened my horizons in ways that I am sure arenot fully manifest in the present, but will be in theyears to come. Beyond the didactic environmentcreated by professors who are acknowledgedexperts in their field, I have benefited fromstimulating interaction with other students withmyriad cultures and experiences. But this rich,once in a lifetime opportunity has been madepossible not only through the support ofsupervisors and subordinates at the TTPS, adedicated team at the CSC, and the selflesssupport of my wife and son. Unfortunately, thesuffering of millions of victims of crimes rangingfrom assault to genocide has allowed me tocritically engage and profit from the study ofcriminal justice internationally.

Jason Francis, Commonwealth Scholar from

Trinidad and Tobago

IN YOUR OWN WORDSJason Francis (Commonwealth Scholar, MA International andComparative Criminal Justice, University of Leeds) explains theimportance of his dissertation topic – ‘The International CriminalCourt: an investigation of the attitudes of Sudanese and Ugandans’.

The knowledge gained will allow me to make a meaningful

contribution to policing, thecriminal justice system, and the

rule of law.

Jason Pobjoy,Commonwealth

Scholar from

Australia

6 Commonwealth Scholarships News6 Commonwealth Scholarships News

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CSFP!Dr John Kirkland reports on Commonwealth Scholarships at the recent CCEM.

It’s official – Commonwealth Scholarships are 50years old! The anniversary formally got under waywhen education ministers from across the

Commonwealth gathered in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia, for the 17th Conference of CommonwealthEducation Ministers (CCEM) from 16-18 June 2009.It was at the first Commonwealth educationconference, held in Oxford, UK, in July 1959, that theCommonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan(CSFP) had been instigated.

Fittingly, the CSFP maintained a high profile from thefirst to the last sessions of the week. In his openingwelcome, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Ransford Smith referred to the success ofthe CSFP – ‘50 glorious years and 25,000 alumnilater’ – and urged governments to contribute to theanniversary endowment fund, which ‘represents thewisest investment in our future, in our values, and inour networks’. Following this, Najib Tun Razak, PrimeMinister of Malaysia, presented a £500,000 chequeto Commonwealth Secretary-General KamaleshSharma, to launch the endowment fund. On thesecond day of the CCEM, the CSFP was mentionedin debates on vocational education and social equity,while the accompanying Vice Chancellors’ Forum

highlighted the importance of the scheme in itsstatement to ministers. The final day saw ministersdiscussing a report on the progress of the CSFP overthe past three years, and strong support for the Planin the final communiqué.

The launch of the anniversary endowment fund,which aims to broaden the base of the CSFP byencouraging more Commonwealth Scholarships inlow and middle income countries, was spectacular,with the high-profile announcement by Malaysiafollowed within two days by announcements ofsupport from Kenya (£315,000) and the UnitedKingdom (£500,000). A contribution announced inthe final session from the Maldives, together withother commitments made in advance of theconference, has now taken the amount raised so farto over £1.6 million.

Introducing the endowment fund, Dr John Kirkland(Executive Secretary of the CSC and DeputySecretary General of the Association ofCommonwealth Universities) said that it could bethe single biggest development for the CSFP since itsformation. The theme of the appeal – ‘Once in alifetime’ – reflects its importance, as well as the

critical role that scholarships can play in the lives oftheir recipients. As Deputy Secretary-General Smithsaid in his opening speech, the fund ‘is indeed aonce in a lifetime opportunity to change not just ayoung person’s life, but the life of a community towhich that person returns’.

In announcing his country’s contribution, Dr KilemiMwiria, Kenyan Assistant Minister of Education,Science and Technology, said that the endowmentfund would open new opportunities for studentsfrom developed countries to study in thedeveloping world, as well as providing a newchannel for south-to-south collaboration. It wouldalso provide an opportunity for countries such asKenya to demonstrate its areas of excellence ineducation to an international audience.

Other countries announced increased support fortheir own CSFP awards. Sri Lanka, which awardedits last Commonwealth Scholarship in 1986,announced that it would once again host twoScholarships. Botswana confirmed that it will hostfour, while South Africa has also started offeringawards since the last CCEM in 2006. Canada hadrevised its awards over the past three years, and

The opening ceremony of the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers

September 2009 77

sees scholarships as an element in widerpartnership building. The report presented to theconference showed that the total number of awardholders in 2007-2008 was 1,837 – the highest ever.

There was evidence, too, that the CSFP is making awider impact, well beyond individuals. Presentingthe results of the recent UK evaluation survey, CSCChair Professor Tim Unwin noted the significantproportion of award holders who have influencedgovernment thinking, been involved in NGOactivity, and held public office. It is also notable that88% of the survey respondents are still working intheir home country.

Commonwealth Scholars themselves were alsoprominent at the CCEM. The keynote paper,presented on the first day of the conference, waswritten by Professor Gajaraj Dhanarajan(Commonwealth Scholar, PhD Entomology, AstonUniversity, 1971-1974), former Director of theCommonwealth of Learning, currently Vice-Chancellor of Wawasan Open University in hishome country of Malaysia. The paper cited theCSFP as having ‘spawned a range of activitiesupon which were built the basic structures of

higher education in a large number of memberstates’. Tongan Minister of Education, Dr TevitaPalefau (Commonwealth Scholar to Canada,2000) championed the cause of access to highereducation in the developed world for studentsfrom small island states throughout theconference. The Commonwealth Secretariat’swork plan for the next three years was presentedby Dr Henry Kaluba, (Commonwealth Scholarfrom Zambia, PhD Education, Institute ofEducation, 1986-1990), while Bangladesh’ssupport for the scheme was announced byProfessor Nazrul Islam, Chair of the UniversityGrants Commission and former CommonwealthScholar (Medical training in cardiology, Universityof Edinburgh, 1978-1979).

Alumni also played a significant role in theaccompanying Vice Chancellors’ Forum – a newinnovation at the 17th CCEM, reflecting theincreased attention now given to higher educationin development circles. The forum, organisedjointly by the government of Malaysia and theAssociation of Commonwealth Universities,attracted almost 200 hundred senior personnel. Itscommuniqué called for education ministers to

agree that higher education, through teaching andlearning, research and knowledge transfer, willmake a critical contribution to recovery from theeconomic recession. The communiqué coveredfive other themes: commitment to the MillenniumDevelopment Goals and to education for all;gender equality of access; the contribution of ICTand open/distance learning (ODL); the role ofpartnerships; and respect and understanding.

And even when the conference ended,scholarships continued to be a focal point, with areception hosted by the British HighCommissioner for alumni of the Commonwealthand Chevening Scholarship schemes (see page10). Amongst those attending were two DeputyVice-Chancellors of the University of Malaya – aninstitution whose former Vice-Chancellor was aCommonwealth Fellow!

When delegates did eventually leave, they canhave been in little doubt about the huge impactthat Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows havemade – both at the conference and throughout thepast 50 years. The enthusiasm for the next halfcentury looks stronger than ever.

Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, shakes Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma’s hand, as he presents a cheque for the CSFP

endowment fund

8 Commonwealth Scholarships News8 Commonwealth Scholarships News

ALUMNI IN ACTIONAlumni NewsALUMNUS APPOINTED CENTRAL BANKGOVERNOR

Dr Atiur Rahman(CommonwealthS cho l a r , PhDEconomics, Schoolof African andOriental Studies,1978-1983) wasa p p o i n t e dGovernor ofBangladesh Bankon 1 May 2009.Previously, he wasa professor in theDepartment of

Development Studies at the University of Dhaka inBangladesh, and has held a variety of officesspanning his interests in economics, finance andcultural learning.

GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL AWARD

Dr Joyce Addo-Atuah (Commonwealth Scholar, MScHospital Pharmacy, University of Manchester, 1989-1992) has been awarded a New Investigators inGlobal Health Award 2009 by the Global HealthCouncil. This prize is awarded to new researchinvestigators on issues of global health importance.Joyce’s research examines the factors surroundingaccess to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people livingwith HIV/AIDS in Ghana.

After completing her Commonwealth Scholarship,Joyce returned to her home country of Ghana,where she played a key role in developing clinicalpharmacy practice in her hospital. She believes thather Commonwealth Scholarship was a catalyst for ‘afulfilling career which has benefited patients,pharmacy students and practicing pharmacists inGhana and anglophone West Africa’.

Following work for the World Health Organization inGhana and a PhD at the University of Tennessee,USA, Joyce is currently an assistant professor ofpharmacy and health outcomes at the Touro Collegeof Pharmacy, USA.

POETRY ANTHOLOGY PUBLISHEDAili McConnon (Commonwealth Scholar, MPhilAmerican Literature, University of Cambridge,2003-2004) has co-edited a poetry anthology.Blooming Through the Ashes features writingabout violence and its aftermath, and includespieces by Seamus Heaney, Toni Morrison and WoleSoyinka, amongst others.

Alumni eventsEXECUTIVE SECRETARY MEETS ALUMNIAROUND THE COMMONWEALTHDr John Kirkland, Executive Secretary of the CSC, hascombined recent overseas meetings with alumnievents in a range of countries. While attending theAssociation of African Universities’ generalconference in Abuja, Nigeria, he met with a group ofalumni over dinner on 6 May 2009, including somewho had held CSFP awards in other countries.During a short visit to Botswana, he met with alumniin Gaborone on 25 May. Following theCommonwealth and Chevening alumni receptionafter the CCEM in Malaysia (see page 10), Dr Kirkland travelled to Singapore, where he metalumni on 19 June. As well as providing enjoyablesocial occasions, these events also allowed Dr Kirkland to hear news from alumni and discussfuture CSFP developments.

Alumni chaptersFIRST CANADIAN CHAPTER MEETINGThe nascent Canadian CSC alumni chapter had itsinaugural social gathering on 9 May 2009 inMontreal. Although the turnout was small, it enabledthose who did attend to get to know each other well.In the coming months, Mike Hunter and Ross Kang(chapter co-ordinators) hope to facilitate furtheralumni socials in cities across the country and hopethat as many alumni as possible will attend. Toregister for the Canadian alumni chapter and receiveemails about upcoming events, visitwww.cs.mcgill.ca/~rossk/commonwealth. If youare interested in spearheading an alumni event inyour city, email alumni@cscuk.org.uk

NEW AUSTRALIAN CHAPTEREfforts are underway to establish a CSC alumnichapter in Australia, starting in Melbourne, withpotential to expand to other cities. In the firstinstance, the chapter would provide a means foralumni to meet on a regular basis, with scope toorganise a wide range of social and professionalnetworking events, depending on the level ofinterest.

The first meeting is likely to be held in Melbourne. If you would like to be involved in organising chapterevents, or would like to be added to a mailing list tohear about future events, please email AntaraMascarenhas at antara_p_m@hotmail.com

In briefAWARDS AND CAREER ANNOUNCEMENTSDr Sanjay K Agarwal (Commonwealth Fellow,Manchester Royal Infirmary, 1995-1996) has beenappointed Head of the Department of Nephrologyat the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Dr D P Biradar (Commonwealth Fellow,Rothamsted Research (BBSRC), 2004-2005) hasbeen elected a Fellow of the National Academy ofBiological Sciences, India, and has also received theDr A P J Abdul Kalam National Award.

Dr Steven Galbraith (Commonwealth Scholar,DPhil Mathematics, University of Oxford, 1992-1995)has been appointed as a senior lecturer in puremathematics at the University of Auckland, NewZealand.

Dr S M Mohamed Ismail (Commonwealth Fellow,University of Bradford, 2005-2006) has beenappointed Vice-Chancellor of the South EasternUniversity of Sri Lanka.

Vidyaratha Kissoon (Commonwealth Scholar, BScComputer Science, University of Birmingham, 1990-1993) has been appointed to the first Rights of theChild Commission in Guyana.

Dr Puseletso Letete (Commonwealth Scholar, PhDLaw, University of Edinburgh, 2002-2007) has beenappointed as a senior lecturer in mercantile law atthe University of South Africa.

Professor Gurumayum Sharma (CommonwealthFellow, Brunel University, 1989-1990) has beenappointed Dean of the School of Sciences atManipur University, India.

Dr Thelma Kgakgamatso Tlhaselo-Majela(Commonwealth Scholar, PhD Counselling,University of Surrey, 2001-2005) has beenappointed Director of Programmes of the Guidance,Counselling, and Youth Development Centre forAfrica, based in Malawi.

Professor Mahinda Wijeratne (CommonwealthFellow, University of Reading, 1994-1995) receivedthe Most Outstanding Scholar 2008 award from theUniversity of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, where he is a seniorprofessor in the Department of AgriculturalEconomics.

Dr Atiur Rahman,Commonwealth Scholar and

Governor of Bangladesh Bank

Dr Joyce Addo-Atuah,Commonwealth Scholar

from Ghana

September 2009 9

Dr Peter Maynard studied for an LLB at theUniversity of Cambridge from 1977-1979 on hisCommonwealth Scholarship, having alreadystudied public international law and economics.Peter was an economist at the United Nationsprior to his award and, while he enjoyed theinternational dimension of his work, hisCommonwealth Scholarship helped him embarkon his legal career. ‘I wanted to be an activeparticipant in the independence and growth of acountry rich with promise. My CommonwealthScholarship allowed me to fulfil a dream ofbecoming an attorney in the Bahamas, with abroad international practice.’

He continued his interest in public service after hisaward, when he worked as a legal advisor at theMinistry of Foreign Affairs in the Bahamas. Therole was varied and he advised on all domesticand international legal issues arising in the courseof the Ministry’s work.

Currently, Peter works as an attorney in theBahamas. Being an attorney in a small island statehas allowed him to cover many areas of the law. Healso served as an acting Judge of the SupremeCourt from January-October 2007. Fulfilling thesetwo legal roles has also given him an insight intothe different ways that the law operates. ‘As anattorney, you represent the best interest of yourclient but, as a judge, you represent the rule of law.A judge has to evaluate both sides of the argumentand apply the law when making a decision that islegally correct, fair and not influenced by personalviews or bias.’

As well as legal duties, Peter has taught atuniversity-level, and presently teaches at theUniversity of the West Indies campus in theBahamas. He feels strongly that he can make animportant contribution to the community throughthis work. ‘Teaching, practicing law and being ajudge give one a wealth of experience andknowledge, each role complementing the other.’

Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine was aCommonwealth Scholar at the University of Oxford,where she studied DPhil Law from 1993-1997. She isnow Professor of Labour Law and Offshore FinancialLaw and Deputy Dean of Outreach andDevelopment at the University of West Indies (UWI)at Cave Hill, Barbados.

From an early age, Rose-Marie recalls that friendsand family alike suggested a career in law. She had akeen interest in causes, ‘fighting for the underdogand speaking out about issues, not to mention lovinga good argument’. Her family, who she thinks of as‘quite progressive and intellectual’, encourageddebate on social justice.

Consequently, during her undergraduate law studies,Rose-Marie pursued interests in areas such as labourlaw, administrative law, international law and humanrights law, which continued when she studied for anLLM at the University of Cambridge. HerCommonwealth Scholarship came at a pivotal pointin her life. She was considering returning to theCaribbean, and had several interesting job offers.However, the opportunity to study for a doctoratewas ‘a lifelong dream’, and she took up the award,specialising in legal issues in offshore finance.

In addition to her post at UWI, Rose-Marie is anattorney-at-law, working and consulting on aninternational basis. She finds that the two rolescomplement each other. A recent historic case beforethe regional Caribbean Court of Justice enabled herto utilise her research expertise, which practisinglawyers do not usually have time to develop. In turn,she is able to engage with more practical aspectsthrough her legal work, which gives her academicresearch greater breadth.

Rose-Marie has experience of juggling several rolesat once. Her husband, Dr Kenny Anthony (also aCommonwealth Scholar), was Prime Minister of StLucia from 1997-2006 and, at the same time asfulfilling the duties of a First Lady, she authoredseveral books, won prestigious awards for research,and engaged actively in university administration.Rose-Marie relishes the opportunity provided byleadership roles to continue with the community andsocial work that have been important since heryouth. And, while the first to admit that she can bean unorthodox leader, she feels that ‘seniorcolleagues have a duty to the institution to helpdevelop it and younger colleagues’.

The international dimension of the CommonwealthScholarship and Fellowship Plan is very important toRose-Marie. She appreciates the chance it gives topeople from small countries to work with otherscholars at leading international universities. She alsofeels that interaction with people from differentcountries can help to dispel myths about the abilitiesof citizens from a given region. ‘I have sought to beglobal in my approach and my books do have aninternational audience. Perhaps I would not havehad the confidence to speak to the world had I notentered the Commonwealth Scholarship family.’

9

ALUMNI PROFILEIn this issue, we look at two alumni from the Caribbean region who are using their expertise in the law tocontribute more widely – Rose-Marie Belle Antoine in Barbados, and Peter Maynard in the Bahamas.

Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, former

Commonwealth Scholar from Trinidad and Tobago

Peter Maynard, former Commonwealth Scholar

from the Bahamas

CSC LEGAL NETWORK LAUNCHOn the weekend of 13-14 June 2009, 30 currentCommonwealth Scholars gathered in London for aconference hosted by the CSC in partnership with theCommonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) to markthe launch of the CSC’s Legal Network.

The conference, titled ‘The limits and possibilities ofthe law in a rapidly changing world’, was organisedaround four thematic panels: human rights, rule oflaw, corporate governance and access to justice. Italso gave participants an opportunity to exchangeideas based on their own research and experiences.

The conference opened with a discussion of theimplications of globalisation for law as a discipline.This was followed by the human rights panel, withpresentations on indigenous rights and internationallaw, and the challenges of a proliferation of laws in adiverse world.

The next panel discussed the rule of law and itsimplications on the ground. Talks focused on thechallenges of access to justice in post-conflictsocieties, the role of the International Criminal CourtLegal Tools Project in enhancing access to justice, andproblematising the concept of the rule of law.

The second day opened with the theme of corporategovernance, examining the complex relationshipbetween this and human rights law. The conferenceconcluded with the access to justice panel. Thisincluded presentations on legal reform of collectiveredress in England and Europe using lessons fromthe Commonwealth, sentencing and publicperceptions of justice, and the work of theCommonwealth Secretariat in this area. After thepanel, a short excerpt from the award-winningdocumentary ‘Sisters in Law’ was screened.

COMMONWEALTHAND CHEVENINGALUMNI RECEPTIONIN MALAYSIAOn 18 June 2009, morethan 50 Malaysia-basedCommonwealth Scholarsand Chevening Scholarsgathered at the IslamicArts Museum in KualaLumpur for a combinedalumni event, hosted bythe British HighCommission and theBritish Council. They werejoined by around 100guests, including vice-chancellors andrepresentatives from the

CSC and the Commonwealth Foundation.

HE Boyd McCleary, British High Commissioner toMalaysia, extended a warm welcome to all present andsaid that the event was timed to coincide with theConference of Commonwealth Education Ministerswhich had ended earlier on the same day. It was anoccasion for a triple celebration – 25 years of theChevening Scholarship programme, 50 years of theCommonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, and75 years of the British Council.

COMMONWEALTHSUMMER YOUTHCONFERENCEThe CPSU, in collaboration with the CommonwealthSecretariat and the CSC, held the CommonwealthSummer Youth Conference a t the In s t i t u te o fCommonwealth Studies on 29June-1 July 2009. The sixthevent of its kind, theconference theme was ‘Howcan we change the world?’ Tencurrent CommonwealthScholars and Fellows alsoattended the event, sponsoredby the CSC.

The first day began with anintroduction to ‘Today’sCommonwealth’, followed bya prolific discussion oninternational solutions to globalchallenges such as climatechange, the financial crisis andgender inequality. It came to an

end with a parliamentary reception held in theCommonwealth Parliamentary Association UK roomin Westminster Hall, where Ransford Smith,Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General,addressed the participants. He emphasised the roleof the Commonwealth in changing the world andalso the need for young talented citizens to berepresented and to influence relevant policies for abetter future.

The second day of the conference looked at‘Campaigning for a better world’, initially focusing onthe role of the media. Breakout groups thendiscussed how to make leaders listen tocampaigners. The following session criticallyexamined the role of the G20 and also the impact ofinternational diplomacy on small states, spotlightingthe special case of St Lucia. The evening sessionenergised participants by providing relevantinformation and suggestions on how to get a job atan international NGO.

The last day's focus was ‘Individual action matters’,beginning with a dialogue on climate change. Thediscussion then continued in a highly interactivesession on poverty and development. Participantswere delighted to have such a unique opportunity tocontribute to debates on burning issues and also todevelop friendships and networks, which are crucialto global citizens’ efforts to change the world.

10 Commonwealth Scholarships News10 Commonwealth Scholarships News

NETWORKS AND EVENTSFor full reports on recent events, visit www.cscuk.org.uk/news/eventreports.asp

Dr John Kirkland (far left) and Professor Tim Unwin (second left)

chat to guests at the Commonwealth and Chevening alumni reception

Commonwealth Scholar Samuel du Rand hits a shot at the 7th annual

Commonwealth vs Rhodes Scholars cricket match, held on 18 July 2009

at the University of Oxford. Despite a fierce effort from the Commonwealth side

in the field, they never recovered from the loss of some early wickets against

some menacing opening bowling by Rhodes. Rhodes won with 5 wickets to

spare, taking the lead in the overall head-to-head standings: four wins to the

Commonwealth’s three. After the match, both teams celebrated together

with visitors from Oxford and around the country at the Commonwealth

Scholarship Commission-hosted barbecue. The full match report is available

at www.cscuk.org.uk/news/2009CommonwealthvsRhodescricketmatch.asp

September 2009 1111

AWARDS OFFEREDC o m m o n w e a l t hScholarships in Canada arefunded by the Departmentof Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade (DFAIT),and administered by theCanadian Bureau forInternational Education(CBIE).

From 1960 to 2006,C o m m o n w e a l t hScholarships were grantedwith a view to obtaining afull degree. Changes in 1995made Scholarships availablefor one postgraduate degreeonly. A new one-yearresearch Scholarship wasalso introduced.

In 2007, the Canadiangovernment reconfigured itsdifferent scholarshipprogrammes to address foreign policy priorities andto increase access. Canada now offers short-termawards, providing award holders with access toresources and the opportunity to form networks, andalso fostering institutional links to promote greatercollaboration in academia and research, whichcontributes to longer-term relationship building.

Awards currently available include:• Post-Doctoral Research Fel lowships:

12 months’ duration; for New Zealand and UKcitizens.

• Graduate Student Exchanges: six months’research; for citizens of countries in Asia, Africa andthe Pacific.*

• Canada-CARICOM Leadership Scholarships:four months’ study at undergraduate level, or 5-6 months’ research at postgraduate level; forcitizens of Caribbean countries.*

• Canada-CARICOM Split Site Scholarships(pilot): 18-month awards to promote interregionalcollaboration and provide students with aninternational education experience; for citizens ofCaribbean countries.*

• Canada- CAR ICOM Vir tual Univers i tyScholarships (pilot): Six selected certificateprogrammes delivered entirely by distancelearning; for citizens of Caribbean countries.*

SELECTION PROCESSAn independent selection committee comprised ofuniversity professors reviews, shortlists and selectscandidates.

Selection criteria are:• academic achievement• study plan: includes the academic programme

that the candidate wishes to pursue; the rationalefor the country, institution and supervisorproposed; major work that the candidate wishesto pursue; and how the proposed programmerelates to the candidate’s future career

• suppo r t p rov ided by t h ree l e t t e r s o frecommendation

• initiative, community involvement, leadershipqualities and/or potential

For selection of Post-Doctoral Research Fellows, thefollowing guidelines also apply:• proposed research: evaluation based on quality and

methodology of proposed research; relevance ofdoing research in Canada; and how the researchwill enhance the candidate’s future career

• candidate’s aptitude• interpersonal and leadership abilities

ALUMNI PROFILESCSFP alumni who have studied in Canada include:• Nandasiri Jasentuliyana, President of the

International Institute of Space Law• Dr Akbar Ali Khan, former Finance Secretary of

Bangladesh and Alternative Executive Director ofthe World Bank

• Dame Calliopa Pearlette Louisy, Governor-General of St Lucia

• Clyde Mascoll, former Senator and Minister ofFinance of Barbados

• Dr Mohammed Munavvar, former AttorneyGeneral of the Maldives

• Dr Tevita Palefau, Minister of Education of Tonga

Canadians have held Commonwealth Scholarshipsin Australia, Fiji, Ghana, India, New Zealand, SriLanka and the UK. Alumni who have studied in theUK include:• Asheesh Advani, President and CEO of Virgin

Money USA• Peter Boehm, Canadian Ambassador to Germany• Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada• Edward Greenspon, former Editor-in-Chief of

The Globe and Mail, Canada• Kevin Lynch, former Clerk of the Privy Council

and Secretary to the Cabinet, Canada

Sir George Bain, former Vice-Chancellor ofQueen’s University, Belfast and Principal of theLondon Business School, says ‘MyCommonwealth Scholarship changed the wholecourse of my career and my life. When I arrived inOxford, I intended to do a degree in laboureconomics and then return to Canada to becomea labour lawyer and a politician. Instead, I took adoctorate in industrial relations, remained in theUK, and pursued a career as an academic,university president, and chairman of variousgovernment inquiries and commissions. None ofthis would have happened without myScholarship, which opened my eyes to newopportunities and gave me the intellectualresources to pursue them’.

COUNTRY PROFILE – CANADA

Canada is one of the most long-standing contributors to the CSFP. In fact, the veryidea of a Commonwealth scholarship programme came from a Canadian citizen –Sidney Smith, Secretary of State for External Affairs – in 1958.

Niagara Falls

* Full list of eligible countries at www.scholarships.gc.ca

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UnitedKingdom (CSC) is responsible for managing Britain’scontribution to the Commonwealth Scholarship andFellowship Plan (CSFP).

The CSC supports around 750 awards annually. Awards arefunded by the Department for International Development (for developing Commonwealth countries) and the Foreign andCommonwealth Office and the Department for Business, Innovationand Skills in partnership with UK universities (for developedCommonwealth countries). The CSC also nominates UK citizens forscholarships to study in other Commonwealth countries under the CSFP.

The CSC makes available seven types of award:· Scholarships for PhD research· Scholarships for Master’s study· Shared Scholarships with UK universities in support of Master’s programmes· Academic Fellowships for staff serving in developing country universities· Split-site Scholarships for PhD students to spend up to one year in the UK· Professional Fellowships for mid-career professionals in developing countries· Distance Learning Scholarships for developing country students to study UK

Master’s degree courses while living in their own countries

The CSC is a non-departmental public body in its own right, and members areappointed in line with the Code of Practice of the Office of the Commissioner forPublic Appointments. The Commission’s secretariat is provided by the Associationof Commonwealth Universities; financial management and welfare support forscholars is provided by the British Council.

The CSFP is an international programme under which member governments offerscholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. The Planwas established at the first Commonwealth education conference in 1959 and isreviewed by ministers at their triennial meetings – the only scholarship scheme inthe world to receive such high-level recognition.

www.cscuk.org.uk