STUDY IN UK. British Embassy to the Philippines political counselor Iain Cox speaks to Baguio-based journalists in a late afternoon press conference on Thursday (Feb. 29, 2024) to discuss the United Kingdom’s Chevening scholarship, a post-graduate scholarship and fellowship program for future leaders in their field. He also disclosed a possible collaboration with the local governments of Baguio and the Mountain Province on tourism, climate-resilient infrastructures, and education links. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
BAGUIO CITY – Up to 40 slots are available for Filipinos under the United Kingdom’s Chevening scholarship, which produces outstanding leaders from all over the world.
In a briefing late Thursday afternoon in this city, Iain Cox, political counselor of the British Embassy in the Philippines, said processing of the scholarship will be from August until November and is open for workers in the government, private sector, civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and journalists, among others.
He said the UK government “strongly accepts” applicants in the fields of agriculture, climate change, disaster resilience, infrastructure, urban planning, human rights, and good governance.
“We are open to applications to people working on those sectors but we really are more looking for people with leadership applications in their field, who have a vision of what they would like to do to contribute to the development of the communities when they return to the Philippines,” he said.
“We would be delighted to have applications from the Indigenous Peoples from across Cordillera,” he said.
Cox said that while the scholarship program has no age limit, they prefer applicants who are at their age in their careers where they believe they have a vision for how they can play a leading role in their community and their particular field, and have a clear sense of how studying in the UK might contribute to help them to achieve their goals and aspirations.
At least 700 Filipinos are on the list of alumni of the Chevening program to date, he said.
Possible collaboration
Aside from Baguio City, Cox said he will also visit the Mountain Province for possible collaborations with local governments regarding tourism, climate-resilient infrastructures, and education links.
He said he had met with Baguio City officials but declined to give specifics of the meeting aside from the fact that they discussed the possibility of funding projects on water infrastructure, modernization of the sewerage system, transportation, and climate-related programs.
“A team will be visiting Baguio in the next few weeks for possible investments,” he said.
Cox said he will also visit Bontoc, Mountain Province to also look for collaborations.
“Cordillera is such a unique part of the Philippines and I am personally very interested to learn more about the history of the region and particularly about the fascinating culture and history of the Cordillera peoples. I think the Philippines is an extraordinary tourist destination and I am very lucky to experience many provinces across the country. I have been in Baguio and Ifugao and I have not been to Mountain Province so I can help promote to British people to come here too,” he added. (PNA)
