Chevening Scholars

The Vice-Chancellor met and congratulated three of Durham’s 2012-13 Chevening Scholars on Monday 17 December. Calvin, Sabzina and Isa have all been identified as outstanding individuals with the potential to become future leaders, decision makers and opinion formers and are studying Politics and International Relations, Finance and Investment and International Studies respectively.

Funded by The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Chevening scholarships are the UK government’s prestigious global scholarship scheme and provide the opportunity for scholars from around the world to study postgraduate courses in the UK. All three are enjoying their time at Durham, although the climate is very different from the Solomon Islands for Calvin! For more information about Chevening please see www.chevening.org or contact the international office at international.office@durham.ac.uk.

Isa Khaskhanov, MA International Studies, Russia

Isa studied Arab and Middle Eastern Studies in Saudi Arabia and then IT and Economics in Russia. On returning to Chechnya (his home) Isa worked in post conflict development and civil construction. He was advisor to the Head of the Deputy of Council of Chechnya. He was offered a job as Deputy Minister of Construction in Chechnya at the same time as his Chevening Scholarship.

Calvin Ziru, MA Politics and International Relations (Political Theory), Solomon Islands

On completion of his undergraduate studies Calvin worked for a private law firm before becoming Legal Counsel for the Speaker of the Solomon Islands. He then became the CEO of the Solomon Chamber of Commerce, shifting his focus from law to policy.

Sabzina Oshikova, MSc Finance (Finance and Investment), Tajikistan

Sabzina studied Business administration for her first degree in Kirgizstan before doing an internship in Washing ton DC looking at finance. She then worked for the International Finance Co-operation in Tajikistan looking at government and private sector investment. She then went to Kabul to work on micro finance initiatives with FINCA before returning to Tajikistan for two years.

Mohd Daud Mat Din, MA Islamic Finance, Malaysia

Daud studied Law and practiced law for three years in Malaysia, before specialising in Islamic Finance. He is also a translator and has recently translated Joseph Stiglitz’s Nobel prize winning ‘Freefall’.

Ana Hilda Ramos Chavez, MBA Business Administration, Mexico

Ana was award a Diploma in Political Communications in 2010 and has been working for El Instituto S.A de C.V as a consultant looking at communication and marketing strategies for government and politicians, planning and managing election campaigns and public affairs.