Srinagar :J&K Centre for Peace, Research and Sustainable Development in Collaboration with J&K Students Association here on Thursday in Srinagar the summer capital conducted a webinar for those aspiring fellows from Kashmir who are applying for the prestigious Chevening Fellowship Program this year. The event was attended by a large number of students from the region and it provided information on the scholarship and the application process, offering guidance and advice to interested individuals.
The session was comprehensive and covered both the technical and applying aspects of the scholarship. It highlighted the importance of international educational exchange programs in shaping the future leaders of tomorrow. The fellowship, sponsored by the United Kingdom Government is awarded based on leadership potential, covering tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses. The session covered all essential aspects of the Chevening Scholarship application, from the initial steps to crafting a compelling application and preparing for interviews.
The session was addressed by Chevening Scholar Dr Tanzila Mukhtar. Her guidance was invaluable, shedding light on the nuances of the process and helping participants to put their best foot forward. The Webinar was inaugurated for the audience by Jammu and Kashmir Students Association National Spokesperson and JKCPRS Research Associate Aadil Bhat who welcomed the audience with his opening remarks. Dr Tanzila Mukhtar is a recipient of prestigious awards like Goldman Sachs Global Leader 2009. Times News Maker Award- NIE 2005, and Kavyashree and Shubhashree Award 2010. She was awarded the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship (2013-2017) to pursue her PhD at the University of Basel. She completed my PhD in Developmental Neurobiology with summa cum laude in Dec 2018, from the Department of Biomedicine.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Tanzila provided insightful information about the fellowship. She highlighted the fact that the scholarship is a highly respected international educational exchange program that helps prepare individuals to become leaders through education. She emphasized that the Chevening fellowship is a prestigious program that not only provides funding but also helps individuals build leadership qualities that can be used to shape the future. She shared her first-hand experiences with the aspirants of the Chevening Fellowship. She stressed the point that students should try to avoid last-minute rush and give ample time to draft their applications.
Stressing on the role of Recommendation Letters, Dr Tanzila mentioned that students should try to get them preferably from the Professors of their own preceding academic institutions, and such letters should reflect the qualities of a student like honesty, leadership qualities etc. In the concluding session, Dr Tanzila also addressed different queries of students with regard to the fellowship. The expert also shared her personal experiences and success stories, which motivated the attendees to pursue their academic and professional goals.
Speaking on the Occasion, the National Convenor of J&K Students Association & Chairman JKCPRS Nasir Khuehami also addressed the gathering. He emphasized, how such scholarships prepare intellectual leaders for the future and said “We are delighted to have organized this workshop on the Chevening fellowship. We hope that this workshop will inspire and motivate our young students and professionals to pursue their dreams and achieve their full potential. We believe that education is the key to the progress and development of our society, and the Chevening program offers an excellent opportunity for students and professionals to gain knowledge and skills from one of the world’s best academic institutions”. He highlighted the importance of such international educational exchange programs in building intellectual leaders for the future. These programs will help interested individuals understand the scholarship’s application process, provide them with valuable insights, and offer guidance and advice, he added.
The co-founder of JKCPRS, Ummar Jamal, expressed gratitude to Dr Tanzila for her invaluable contribution and underscored the importance of such workshops for Kashmiri students. He said “ Our aim is to provide Kashmiri students with the necessary guidance and support to pursue their academic dreams through scholarships like Chevening. We are committed to organizing more such workshops in the future to empower our students. We aim to provide students with opportunities to achieve their academic aspirations. We want to support and help the educational dreams of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir be realized”.
Research Associate JKCPRS Aadil Bhat said that the webinar was an exceptional platform for individuals to learn more about the Fulbright fellowship, making it an excellent opportunity for those who are considering applying for the scholarship. JKCPRS’s initiative to provide information about the Chevening Scholarship through a webinar was highly appreciated by the participants. They expressed gratitude to the experts from the Chevening program for sharing their knowledge and experiences. The participants who also joined across the Country urged the Centre to organize more such webinars for other prestigious scholarships to help students and scholars from across the country achieve their academic goals.
