The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) selects future leaders from approximately 160 countries each year, via the Chevening Scholarship Programme. In 2016, I was among the future leaders selected from Pakistan to study a fully-funded one year course at a university of my choice in the UK.
I chose the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) to study an LLM in Public International Law (PIL). My reasons for this were manifold. QMUL has the largest number of Chevening scholars in the UK, the largest LLM batch in the Western Hemisphere (744 students/150 nationalities) and a huge dedicated ‘Law Centre’ located in Holborn which The Guardian ranked as the number one law school in London in 2016 (third after Oxford and Cambridge in the UK).In a landslide victory, I was initially elected as the LLM Batch Representative and my efforts were recognized as I went onto win the Engagement Award at the QMUL Education Award Ceremony. The diversity at QMUL was amazing. My interactions with the diverse multi-cultural students present at QMUL taught me tolerance and acceptability for different cultures, values and opinions. This is a lesson I continue to inculcate in my students as a lecturer.
QMUL provides an unparalleled intellectually stimulating learning environment, which helped reshape my perspectives and broaden my vision. As a representative of Pakistan, I vehemently defended controversies surrounding us in every International Law class. As a result,my problem-solving skills and intellectual appetite were enhanced through thought-provoking exchanges with peers. Even-handed and objective discourse was promoted by world-renowned Human Rights stalwarts that include Stephen Bowen and Philip Alston, which led to greater understanding of the ‘complex global human family’ and ideas that divide or converge human thought processes.
The choice of accommodation in the UK is an important one. I selected a wonderful flat in Bays water in the heart of Central London with my wife. This choice singularly enriched my whole experience and transformed me into a ‘Londoner’; my sneakers and my umbrella by my side, jogging in Hyde Park, continuously exploring the beautiful sights of Central London on foot.
London is undoubtedly the greatest city in the world. It grew on me and remains my second home.I also learnt early on in my experience that time is money in the UK.The fast paced lifestyle re-defines one’s way of living and leads to time management and punctuality.The dual impact of QMUL and London helped me grow, acquire knowledge and push myself. Professionally,these were skills that have proved invaluable.
Prince of Wales and former Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, hosted us at the rrientation event in London, we had lunch with the former Ambassador for Pakistan to the UK Syed Ibne Abbas, and Pakistani and Indian Cheveners officially played a cricket series for peace .On my return, the Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field joined us for a dinner hosted by the British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew at his residence
The facilitation and respect Chevening scholars get is riveting.To give a few examples; Charles, Prince of Wales and former Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, hosted us at the rrientation event in London, we had lunch with the former Ambassador for Pakistan to the UK Syed Ibne Abbas, and Pakistani and Indian Cheveners officially played a cricket series for peace (we routed them 2-0). On my return, the Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field joined us for a dinner hosted by the British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew at his residence. The Chevening experience provides a great opportunity to network and these links remain intact through regular events, social media platforms and through the unique Chevening Connect ID whereby all 1,900 scholars from the 2016global batch and 50,000 alumni worldwide till date are connected. As I progress in my career in law, media and politics, the possibilities are really endless.
Remembering the Chevening experience today, I highly recommend eligible scholars to embark upon one of their own. It will be the best decision they make.
The writer has a LLM from Queen Mary University of London as a Chevening scholar. He studied political philosophy at University of Oxford, is a practising attorney, political analyst/activist and lecturer for the University of London (LLB) International Programme. Face book @MajeedLashariOfficial
Published in Daily Times, October 3rd 2018.