Chevening Scholarship awardees Iana Seales and Dhanraj Singh pose with acting British High Commissioner Michael Kearney at a simple cocktail ceremony on Thursday
Two Guyanese students have been granted scholarships through the British government to pursue their master’s degrees in the United Kingdom from next month. Iana Seales and Dhanraj Singh, both graduates of the University of Guyana (UG), were shortlisted by acting British High Commissioner Michael Kearney.
Seales, a former reporter attached to Stabroek News, stated that it is her aspiration to be a conflict resolution specialist, and as such, she will be pursing her master’s in international conflict analysis at the University of Kent Canterbury.
“After I graduated from UG in 2009 – I did my first degree in international relations (IR) – I wanted to do my master’s. I have been searching for scholarships for two years, and was unsuccessful for the two years.” The elated 27-year-old Seales said when she was informed of her success at obtaining a Chevening scholarship through the British government, she was relieved.
“I have always been passionate about conflicts and conflict resolution. So I would hope that after my studies I come back to Guyana and I put my training to use.” Her course begins in October.
The other awardee, 26-year-old Dhanraj Singh, an employee of the University of Guyana, told Guyana Times International that he has long yearned to pursue higher learning in economics. “After completing my undergraduate degree at the university, I recognised that the field that I want to get into, the expertise that is in demand in Guyana, is not something that is readily available here or in the region.” Singh said he applied to several universities in the UK, but discovered that the cost was too high, and he could ill afford to pay his own tuition, so he looked for donors.
So, he applied for the Chevening Scholarship via the Commonwealth agencies.
He believes that, while Guyana has come a long way, much more can be done to improve the country’s economy.
With him pursuing his master’s in political economy and development and economics at the London School of Economics, he believes that he would be able to make a significant contribution to Guyana’s overall development on his return.
Singh said he sees the opportunity as “a privilege to serve his country” for the overall benefit of all Guyanese. The young man, who hails from Mara, East Bank Berbice, said his future lies in the field of development economics , but he is willing to serve in any capacity that will see Guyana rising.
Meanwhile, at a simple cocktail ceremony held for the awardees, the acting British high commissioner said the issuing of scholarships by the British government is an annual task that sees students from selected countries throughout the world benefiting from advanced tutoring.
“Basically, we are looking for the brightest and the best of that country. They receive full scholarship for a year to do a master’s programme, usually in topics we are interested in, with the idea that the person goes to the UK, studies all expenses paid, but will return to Guyana bringing those skills with them to help with the development of, in this case, Guyana.” He said areas of interest to the British government are governance, law reform, international development, and climate change.
The duo was selected following interviews with Kearney, who termed all of the applicants as “brilliant young people”. He expressed hope that Seales and Singh would be future influences and leaders of Guyana.
