36 more Early Career Academic Grants winners announced

Press release – 08 April 2014

A further 36 emerging academics from across the Commonwealth will get the chance to broaden their horizons and develop their international contacts for the first time, thanks to the second round of a grant programme funded by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

The Early Career Academic Grants, offered to mark the ACU’s Centenary in 2013, provide international learning opportunities to early career academics who have not yet had the opportunity to work, study, or travel outside their own region.

100 grants will be offered in total, in a series of rounds. The first 20 successful candidates were announced in July 2013 and, following intense competition, a further 36 are announced today. They are:

• Mr Md Saidul Azam Chowdhury, World University of Bangladesh
• Dr Lee Suan Chua, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
• Ms Mona Das, University of Delhi, India
• Mrs Adeyimika Desmennu, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
• Dr Laura Gwahalla Edalia, University of Nairobi, Kenya
• Dr Willy Mwangi Edwin, University of Nairobi, Kenya
• Ms Ndidiamaka Ejechi, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
• Dr Jiwon Hong, University of Auckland, New Zealand
• Mr Ashford Kerr, University of West Indies
• Miss Sehrish Khan, COMSATS Institute of Information and Technology, Pakistan
• Dr Chelsea Litchfield, Charles Sturt University, Australia
• Dr Susan McAnelly, Northumbria University, United Kingdom
• Dr Chidozie Mbada, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
• Mrs Melanie Moen, University of Pretoria, South Africa
• Dr Arthur Money, Brunel University, United Kingdom
• Dr Olugbemi Oluseyi Motilewa, University of Uyo, Nigeria
• Dr Gustav Muller, Rhodes University, South Africa
• Miss Eunice Njeri Mwangi, Jomo Kenyatta University, Kenya
• Mr George Nodza, University of Lagos, Nigeria
• Mr Clement Ogunkunle, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
• Mr Olalekan Stephan Ojerinde, University of Jos, Nigeria
• Dr Abiodun Olayiwola, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
• Miss Blessing Onyima, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria
• Mr Oyediran Oyebola, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
• Mr Paul Amaechi Ozor, University of Nigeria
• Dr Ching Kheng Quah, Universiti Sains Malaysia
• Mr Mohammad Mojibur Rahman, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Miss Nadia Qureshi, Riphah International University, Pakistan
• Dr Naomi Rintoul, Canterbury Christ Church University, United Kingdom
• Dr Lisa  Rodgers, University of Leicester, United Kingdom
• Ms Edinam Setsoafia, University of Development Studies, Ghana
• Mrs Temitope Olawunmi Sogbanmu (née Popoola), University of Lagos, Nigeria
• Prof Peta Stapleton, Bond University, Australia
• Mr  Lowanika Victor Tibane, University of Pretoria, South Africa
• Ms Abigail Wamunyu, University of Nairobi, Kenya
• Miss Benedicta Woode, University of Ghana

According to Dr John Kirkland, Deputy Secretary General of the ACU, the grants fit with the ACU’s wider emphasis on supporting early career academics. 'This distinctive programme has attracted a huge response, confirming the number of high quality staff in early stages of their careers who could benefit from the international exposure that they currently lack. We hope that these awards, although small, will have a disproportionate impact on their recipients at this critical stage of their development'.

The Early Career Academic Grants support individuals to attend relevant conferences or academic meetings in other Commonwealth countries. The third round of applications will open later in the year, for eligible staff at all ACU member institutions.

Notes:

1.) The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is the world's first and oldest international university network, established in 1913. A UK-registered charity, the ACU has over 500 member institutions in developed and developing countries across the Commonwealth. For further information, visit www.acu.ac.uk

2.) The Early Career Academic Grants Programme provide resources for applicants from ACU member universities to attend relevant conferences or academic meetings in another Commonwealth country. The programme will offer 100 grants worth £200,000 in total over the ACU’s Centenary period, funded by the ACU's endowment income. For further information, visit www.acu.ac.uk/early-careers-academic-grants

3.) The ACU endowment supports mobility amongst Commonwealth university staff, through the Development Fellowships Fund. To date, the fund has supported fellowships – including the ACU Titular Fellowships – scholarships, and research and mobility grants.

4.) For further information, please contact:

Natasha Lokhun
+44 (0)20 7380 6760
[email protected]