Six Chevening scholars return home with UK master's degrees

Economy

Six Solomon Islands Chevening Scholars have returned after completing one-year master's degrees at UK universities, the British High Commission in Honiara said on 15 October.

British High Commissioner Paul Turner with Chevening scholars and alumni.

Source: British High Commission Honiara

Six Solomon Islands Chevening Scholars have returned home after completing master's degrees at UK universities, the British High Commission in Honiara said on 15 October.

The high commission said the scholars bring back expertise in tropical medicine, environmental law, international human rights, commerce and telecommunications, after one-year master's degrees funded by the UK government's international scholarship programme.

The cohort is Dr Alan Hilly, Charlton Metopa, Dalcy Belapitu, Georgina Oroi, Freliz Fakarii and Richard Martin.

They studied at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the University of Aberdeen, SOAS University of London, the University of Sussex, De Montfort University and University College London.

British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Paul Turner spoke at a welcome home event for the group.

"The six scholars have achieved outstanding success in their studies in the UK. They are uniquely positioned to contribute not only to their professional fields but also in the wider development of Solomon Islands," Turner said.

All six now join the Chevening global alumni network, which the high commission said includes Peter Kenilorea Jnr, the first Chevening scholar from Solomon Islands.

Chevening was set up in 1983 and has supported more than 60,000 professionals worldwide, according to the high commission. It said the programme accounts for the highest number of national leaders among international scholarship schemes, as well as leaders in law and science.