His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew graces the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan 50th Anniversary Reception at NUS

Graduate scholarships from NUS to foster closer collaboration with Commonwealth Countries

02 Oct 2009

His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew, Duke of York, KG graced the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) 50th Anniversary Reception held at NUS on 2 October 2009. The reception was held to celebrate the CSFP's long-standing tradition of recognising and promoting the highest level of intellectual development. During the event, NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan announced that two graduate scholarships under the CSFP will be offered by NUS. The scholarships are aimed at attracting outstanding students to pursue PhD studies in integrated research programmes at the NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering.

The reception was also graced by other prominent figures including the British High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Paul Madden; High Commissioner to Sri Lanka His Excellency Mr Chay Wai Chuen; Attorney-General of Singapore Prof Walter Woon, and Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Dr John Kirkland. CSFP alumni and scholars, together with members of the NUS Board of Trustees and NUS Senior Administrators, were also present at the event.

Speaking on the two graduate scholarships offered by NUS, Prof Tan said: "Numerous NUS staff - including myself - have benefitted greatly from the Commonwealth Scholarship Plan, and NUS is indeed happy to give back, by providing opportunities for students from member countries to undertake research studies in NUS. Establishing the CSFP awards in NUS this year is also especially meaningful, as the CSFP celebrates its 50th Anniversary"

Commonwealth Secretary-General Mr Kamalesh Sharma said in a statement to NUS: "The CSFP is an important element in the work of the Commonwealth. Its recipients have made a huge impact over the past 50 years. I am delighted that Singapore, with its high educational standards, will be amongst the list of future hosts, and feel sure that the new scholarships will attract candidates of the highest standard."

NUS is the first institution in Singapore to offer Commonwealth Scholarships which is intended to spur talent development, research collaborations and exchanges between Singapore and the Commonwealth countries. Established in 1959, the CSFP aims to provide a network of study opportunities throughout the Commonwealth. Some 26,000 Commonwealth citizens have benefitted from the CSFP awards over the past 50 years.

According to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, His Royal Highness is on a five-day working visit to Singapore where he had called on President S R Nathan and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. On 1 October, His Royal Highness attended the Global Security Challenge Competition 2009 hosted by the British High Commission in Singapore, in partnership with NUS. One of the finalists in the Asia Regional Finals of the Global Security Challenge Competition was Kai Square Pte Ltd, a company founded by a team of NUS alumni.