14 Malawians off to UK on Commonwealth Scholarship
Fourteen Malawians will this year be going to study in different UK universities for master’s and doctorate degrees in various fields such as health, fisheries, electronics, and education, under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship plan (CSFP).
Speaking during their pre-departure briefing at the British High Commission offices in Lilongwe, British Council Malawi director Reena Johl congratulated the cohort for making it as scholarship recipients. The British Council supports the Commonwealth scholars and fellows before and after their time in the UK.
Johl said she was delighted with the geographical spread of the universities and institutions where the scholars are going such as Scotland, Wales, Midlands of England, as well as London where they will experience the diversity, creativity and innovation of the UK.
“Fourteen awards to Malawi have been made this year. The Commonwealth scholarships and fellowships foster relationships between the people of the world by providing learning opportunities, trust in other communities, opportunity to travel, connect, make friends and do business,” said Johl.
On his part, deputy High Commissioner Martin Scales encouraged the scholars to explore the UK beyond the educational environment.
“We want you to be ambassadors for Malawi and fully utilise the networking opportunities before coming back to make a difference in the socio economic development of Malawi,” said Scales.
One of the scholarship recipients, Tawachi Nyasulu, who will be studying for a PhD in electronics and electronic engineering at the University of Strathclyde said: “I feel excited and grateful to be awarded a second Commonwealth scholarship. I look forward to an enriching research experience that shall contribute to the development of Malawi.”
A Commonwealth scholarship alumnus at the function, Dr Paul Kamlongera, said the Commonwealth alumni community in Malawi is indebted to the UK Government for the scholarships that have transformed many people’s lives.
The scholarships are funded by a number of UK government departments— primarily UK’s Department for International Department (DfID) and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Congratulations folks. Diaspora Malawians welcome you all.
My request is to urge you to find some part time jobs while here. This will help you understand how jobs are supposed to be carried out. So that when you return back there will be a difference in your work patterns.
It is sad that British government has been spending on people’s skills, yet there is nothing for the civil service to show that it is being manned by professionals.
Traditions like hyaenas, nepotism and tribalism would have been confined to the past by now if our civil service was diligent, professional and ethical which I suppose is the main purpose of these British government fundings.