British Embassy seeks to boost 2013 Chevening Scholarships Programme

BRITISH Ambassador Stephen Lillie officially launched the Chevening Scholarships Program for 2013 at a reception held at his residence in Makati on Thursday, 25 October.

“Chevening Scholarships are for talented people who have been identified as potential leaders across a wide range of fields, including politics, business, finance, climate change and energy, the media, civil society and academia,” said Lillie.

The British Embassy also announced that it is seeking partnerships with the private sector to maximize the Chevening Program here in the Philippines.

“Last year, seven Filipinos were awarded Chevening Scholarships. In 2012 that number rose to 12. We were able to expand the number of scholarships through a new partnership with Cambridge University. Looking to 2013, I would like us to be able to forge additional partnerships, which will allow us to increase the number of Chevening Scholars whom we are able to fund,” he added.

First established in 1983, the Chevening Scholarships support postgraduate study at universities across the whole of the UK for students with demonstrable potential to become future leaders, decision-makers and opinion formers in their own country. It is the UK Government’s most prestigious global scholarship program and takes its name from Chevening House in Kent, the official residence of the British Foreign Secretary.

The British Embassy has been already in talks with companies such as British pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline for supplementary funding to boost the number of Chevening scholars from the Philippines.

For school year 2013-14, applications are open from 29 October 2012 until 2 January 2013. Aspirants from the Philippines may access the online application forms at www.chevening.org

Lillie underscored the importance of educational links in strengthening Philippine-British relations. “British Alumni are in fact a very visible expression of the friendship between our two countries. They have studied at a diverse range of institutions across a wide range of disciplines. The growing number of excellent young achievers, returning from the UK to the Philippines gives me confidence that the UK-Philippine relationship will continue to go from strength to strength. 2012 has been a great year for our bilateral relations, but I believe the best days in the Philippines and UK relationship lie ahead,” Lillie concluded.

The launching is part of a week-long celebration of Philippine-British Friendship Day, which falls on 20 October. Guests at the launching include representatives from government, the academe, business, and non-governmental organizations, and British alumni, both Chevening and non-Chevening alike.(PR)