Number of Chevening scholarships to double |23 October 2014

As from this year the number of Seychellois chosen to study in the UK on Chevening scholarships will be doubled – going up from two to four per year.

It was the British high commissioner to Seychelles Lindsay Skoll who made the announcement at a ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary of the Chevening scholarship programme and to officially launch an association of former graduates of the scheme.

The Chevening Alumni Association was officially launched on Tuesday evening at the British high commissioner’s residence at Bel Air.

The Chevening scheme, now in its 30th year, allows future leaders, influencers and decision makers to pursue post-graduate studies at universities across the United Kingdom.

The reception to launch the association was attended by the founding President of Seychelles Sir James R. Mancham, Minister for Education Macsuzy Mondon, Minister for Natural Resources Peter Sinon and Chevening graduates.

The aim of the association, which brings together the Chevening graduates in an informal network, is twofold: one is to promote the Chevening scholarship programme in Seychelles and help attract the next generation of leaders and decision-makers.

The second objective is to bring together some of the best and brightest people in Seychelles, to share ideas and experience and to deliver real and sustainable benefits to the people of Seychelles.

The British high commission is inviting talented Seychellois wishing to study in the UK to apply for the Chevening scholarships programme for the academic year 2015-2016.

The scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). They operate in over 100 countries worldwide and awards are typically for a one-year Master’s Degree in any subject at any UK university.

Referring to her announcement that the number of Chevening scholarships will be doubled, Mrs Skoll said this is in direct recognition of the caliber of the applicants the programme has been able to attract and the success the scholarship recipients have gone on to achieve.

“I hope that you will be able to be at the forefront of identifying new Chevening talents by encouraging them to apply online by November 15,” Mrs Skoll told the Chevening graduates at the reception.

She described the relationship between the Seychellois and British peoples as one of the closest and most enduring of the Commonwealth.

“We share history. We share values. With so many British-Seychellois dual nationals here and in the UK. We share people,” she said.

Vynah Renaud (born Accouche) and former Minister for Employment and Social Affairs William Herminie are the oldest Chevening alumnis. They left Seychelles thirty years ago to study at the University of East London and University of Westminster.