British High Commission Marks 40 Years of Chevening in Seychelles
VICTORIA, Seychelles, The British High Commission held a reception on Saturday afternoon to mark the 40th anniversary of Chevening, celebrating the achievements of Chevening recipients and highlighting the benefits of studying in the United Kingdom. The reception at the residence of the British High Commissioner to Seychelles, Jeffrey Glekin, in the district of Bel Air, saw the participation of around 30 Seychellois Chevening scholars. Also present was the Minister for Education, Dr Justin Valentin.
Chevening scholarships are the UK government global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and partner organisations. The scholarships support one-year taught master degrees at UK universities for individuals with demonstrable potential to become future leaders, decision-makers and opinion formers. Since the inception of Chevening in 1983, the UK government has sponsored over 55,000 scholars globally from 200 countries, including over 80 Seychellois.
In his address for the occasion, High Commissioner Glekin welcomed Minister Valentin and past Chevening scholars, and reflected on the impact of the programme. He said that without imposing, the model embraced by his country in the past 40 years is to share its knowledge and culture by directly investing in some of the brightest and most talented people globally. He noted that the model not only benefits the UK, but it in fact insists that the talented achievers come home and spread that knowledge and create a positive, social, economic, environmental, scientific and cultural change.
He stated that a quarter of the world leaders, including in Seychelles, have studied in the UK. Today we are not only celebrating the scholarship but we are celebrating you and your successes and achievements. We are delighted, as the British High Commission, to be part of that success, said HC Glekin, who encouraged more Seychellois to enrol on the scholarship. He also noted that the network of returning scholars represents a significant national resource that can be tapped for the country development. Given that many Chevening scholars are in important and influential positions in the country and could help in mentoring and supporting would-be Chevening scholars, the high commissioner proposed for the creation of a Chevening alumni association, an initiative by alumni Rebecca Julienne from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In an interview with the media, Ms Julienne, who did her masters in International Political Economy (2021-2022), said that she decided to initiate an alumni association as there is no such platform to share experience and information with future scholars, including among themselves and past international Chevening colleagues. Another past Chevening scholar, Peter Sinon, commended the alumni initiative on the basis that it will allow returning Chevening scholars to acquaint themselves with the seniors. During the reception, Minister Valentin joined HC Glekin for the cake cutting to commemorate the occasion.
