Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the University of Essex entered into an agreement to establish a new Chevening scholarship pathway for potential Pakistani scholars. According to a statement by the British High Commission, starting August 8, 2023, individuals interested in pursuing a one-year master’s degree in the area of Climate Change/Sustainability or Heritage/Museum studies in the UK will have the opportunity to apply through a specialized program with the University of Essex, using the Chevening website.
The statement highlighted the significance of these fields for Pakistan, particularly in light of the devastating floods experienced last year, which were attributed to climate change and affected a significant portion of the country, displacing 33 million people and causing damage to cultural heritage sites such as Mohenjo Daro, the Amri site museum, and the Sehwan folk and craft museum. Acknowledging the UK’s support for Pakistan’s flood restoration efforts, this new scholarship pathway aims to provide long-term capacity-building assistance.
During the signing ceremony, Jo Moir, the Development Director at the British High Commission Islamabad, conveyed her wishes to the Chevening Scholarships program and the University of Essex for establishing this Memorandum of Understanding. She emphasized that this collaboration presents a unique opportunity for mid-career professionals working in the fields of climate change and sustainability, as well as heritage and museum studies, to continue their master’s degrees at Essex University. Moir highlighted the transformative experience of the Chevening program under the UK-Pakistan partnership. She stated that this program is not only useful for the individuals themselves but also for Pakistan as the scholars return and utilize their UK experience to make a positive impact in their respective fields.
Further, Professor David O’Mahony, the Dean for Partnerships at the University of Essex, mentioned the university’s long-standing tradition of welcoming talented students from Pakistan, offering them opportunities to study, conduct research, and thrive within the university’s vibrant international community. He said, “The University of Essex has a long history of welcoming talented students from Pakistan to study, research, and grow within the vibrant international community at our university.”
