A further 39 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 third 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.

Just under 100 grants have been awarded in total, in a series of rounds. The first 20 successful candidates were announced in July 2013, the second round saw 36 academics awarded the grant in April 2014, and, following intense competition, a further 39 are announced today. They are:

• Dr M.A. Samad Azad, University of Tasmania, Australia – travelling to Finland
• Mr Goutam Roy, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Mrs Uta-Rein Atebeh Lekah, University of Yaoundé, Cameroon – travelling to Australia
• Dr Jessie-Lee McIsaac, Dalhousie, Canada – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Mr Emmanuel Abitty, University of Ghana – travelling to Singapore
• Mr Siaw Appiah-Adu, University of Ghana – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Mr Emmanuel Ofori, University of Ghana – travelling to Canada
• Ms Cecilia Smith, University of Ghana – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Dr Daniel Muasya, University of Nairobi, Kenya – travelling to Canada
• Mr Kazeem Adesola Adepoju, University of Ibadan, Nigeria – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Mr Joseph Ajayi, Federal University of Technology, Nigeria – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Mrs Temitayo Ajayi, University of Ibadan, Nigeria – travelling to India
• Mr Ukpe Ajima, University of Jos, Nigeria – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Miss Bridget Alichie, Nnamdie Azikiwie University, Nigeria – travelling to Canada
• Mrs Ogochukwu Amaeze, University of Lagos, Nigeria – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Miss Abimbola Benson, University of Ibadan, Nigeria – travelling to Canada
• Mr Salem Ejeba, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria – travelling to Botswana
• Dr Essien Essien, University of Uyo, Nigeria – travelling to Hong Kong
• Dr Nzube Ilochonwu, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria – travelling to Canada
• Mrs Morenike Ogunkunle, University of Ibadan, Nigeria – travelling to Germany
• Ms Ogechukwu Okafor, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Mr Chinedu Okonkwo, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Mrs Oluwayemisi Olagunju, Obafemi Owolowo University, Nigeria – travelling to South Africa
• Mr Kunle Olutomilayo, University of Uyo, Nigeria – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Mrs Ann Osuagwu, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Mrs Titilayo Osuagwu, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria – travelling to Singapore
• Mr Shehu-Tijani Shittu, University of Ibadan, Nigeria – travelling to Canada
• Mr Hasan Qayyum Chohan, COMSATS, Pakistan – travelling to Singapore
• Dr Saddam Hussain, COMSATS, Pakistan – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Mr Muhammad Osama Raza, Riphah International University, Pakistan – travelling to South Africa
• Mrs Zelmari Coetzee, University of Pretoria, South Africa – travelling to Canada
• Dr Barbara Heinze, University of Pretoria, South Africa – travelling to the United Kingdom
• Mrs Kgadi Mathabathe, University of Pretoria, South Africa – travelling to Canada
• Mrs Nomhle Ndimande-Khoza, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa – travelling to Canada
• Dr K.O.L. Chathurika Karunanayake, Open University of Sri Lanka – travelling to Australia
• Ms Lasanthika Sajeevanie Thuduwage, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka – travelling to Singapore
• Miss Lydia Bunalema, Makerere University, Uganda – travelling to Botswana
• Ms Claire Holden, University of Oxford, United Kingdom – travelling to Australia
• Dr Jennifer Stock, University of Greenwich, United Kingdom – travelling to Australia

The programme ties in with an ACU focus on assisting member institutions in attracting, retaining and developing their early career academic staff.

‘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,’ Dr John Kirkland, Deputy Secretary General of the ACU, said of the grant programme.

‘We hope that these awards, although small, will have a disproportionate impact on their recipients at this critical stage of their development,' he added.