What's New provides a quick and effective way to keep up-to-date with the CSFP community, which encompasses current award holders, alumni, the national agencies that support them, and their host organisations. This section will be updated on a monthly basis - and often more regularly.

We welcome items for possible inclusion. These can be success stories, opinions, events, or any other announcements that might be of interest to the community. The entries should be concise - no more than 100 words. We will, of course, be happy to direct readers to further sources of information.

Given the size of the CSFP community, it may not be possible to include every item that is submitted. The site managers, therefore, reserve the right to edit or reject material at their discretion. Please note that promotional material will not normally be accepted unless it contains information that is likely to be of particular benefit to readers.

To submit information for inclusion on What's New, please email alumni@cscuk.org.uk

2007

PLANS FOR THE CSC/CSFP 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2009

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2009. The CSFP was set up in 1959 at the first Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM), establishing the key principles under which CSFP still operates today, and the first award holders arrived the following year. The Commission is currently making plans for the Anniversary celebrations and further details will be available shortly on our website and in the next edition of Commonwealth Scholarship News.

July 2007

CSFP GET-TOGETHER IN NEW ZEALAND

Dr Norman Geddes (Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner) hosted a Commonwealth Scholarships function at Victoria University, New Zealand, on 11 July 2007. Among the guests were alumni and Scholars from the UK, Sierra Leone and Mauritius as well as from New Zealand, representing the whole Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan. George Fergusson (British High Commissioner to New Zealand), Paula Middleton (Director, British Council), Professor Pat Walsh (Vice-Chancellor, Victoria University), and Lindsay Taiaroa, Dr Charles Tustin and Kiri Manuera from the New Zealand Vice-Chancellor's Committee also attended. The miserable weather conditions outside were hardly noticed as the guests enjoyed good food, wine and conversation.
Dr. Geddes hinted at the possibility of a larger function to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the schme in 2009.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK has recently been asked by its partner body in Canada to nominate 12 candidates from the UK to undertake post-doctoral research in Canada during the academic year 2007-08. As you will see from the attached details, the awards are fully funded by the Canadian government. Whilst the Canadian authorities will make the final decisions on who should have an award, they have told us informally that they have funding to support 7-8 candidates from the UK.

Nominations have to be in Ottawa by 15 May, and in order to arrange selection procedures in the UK the deadline for candidates to apply to us is 15 April 2007. Applications should be on the official application form, together with a short covering letter (maximum 500 words) stating the candidate's reasons for applying, and describing any previous experience of collaboration with Canada.

Applicants must also have a letter of invitation from their prospective hosts by the time of application.

Application form and associated documents can be downloaded below:

Completed applications should be sent to:

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CCFP)
c/o ACU, Woburn House
20-24 Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9HF
Email enquiries:csfpout@acu.ac.uk

We are pleased to learn that, following further discussion by the Canadian authorities (see below), funding for support for Commonwealth Scholarships in Canada has been restored for the next five years. It is not yet clear whether this will lead to any scholarships being available to UK nationals in 2008.

In the meantime, any UK citizen interested in applying for a scholarship in Canada from 2007-08 should register their name and contact details with us, so that they can be contacted immediately should any opportunity arise. Details should be registered by e-mailing Info@acu.ac.uk with the title "Canada Outward Scholarship".

Further information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.