AGM Randeree Scholarship – Developing Leadership Capacity in the British Muslim Community

The AGM Randeree Scholarship offers a unique opportunity for intelligent individuals who are actively engaged in the British Muslim community to develop their leadership capabilities. It has been established to support those with leadership potential to enhance their intellectual reach through study at one of the world’s leading universities, and to nurture their leadership capacity through mentoring and a 4-6 week placement with a respected relevant community or research organisation.

Community Connections

Migrant communities have settled in Britain throughout its history. They have made a huge contribution to the public life of their new country. However, making that contribution needs individuals – community leaders and public intellectuals – who are knowledgeable, articulate and able to build bridges from their communities to the rest of British society. Building these bridges is challenging, pioneering work. Those who do it have to stretch out to understand the majority, but must also stay rooted in their communities to communicate and interpret what they learn.

Become A Bridge Builder

Are you a future community leader, who has the commitment and intelligence to support and represent your community in wider society, but also to study, learn and bring back your experiences, so as to explain, to create mutual understanding, to transform prejudice into trust, and contribute to the creation of a cohesive society?

If this challenge appeals to you, and you are already active in the British Muslim community and have a good first undergraduate degree, you could be supported on a Master’s course at the University of Cambridge, to further equip you to become one of these “bridge builders”.

The DCD Family Trust and St Edmund’s College

The DCD Family Trust and St Edmund’s College, Cambridge, are to offer a scholarship for an outstanding individual that will cover the full costs of tuition and accommodation for a year and enable them to study for a Master’s graduate degree at the University of Cambridge. The range of courses to be supported is wide, and includes: history, philosophy, education, South Asian, Asian, and Middle Eastern studies, public health, international relations and politics, and development studies. Where it does not form part of the Master’s programme chosen, a theological component may also be added to the course to further enrich the scholar’s studies.

The selected scholar will be provided a personal mentor to support and guide them during and after the course. They will further undertake a placement with a community related or research organisation to enable them to test and develop their skills and insights. The selected individual will become an alumnus of St Edmund’s College and the University, with their powerful networks of friendships and contacts, and their professional careers advisory service. These elements combined will ensure an excellent grounding for the leadership and bridge building work expected to follow after the scholarship experience.

Supporting the Future

Cambridge is one of the world’s greatest universities. The graduate courses are tough, but hugely rewarding. If you have the ability and the motivation to be accepted, you can expect exhilarating intellectual satisfaction, being taught by and working with academics who are leaders in their fields. You will also be supported by the University, the College and the Trust to develop your ideas, knowledge and understanding to enable you to play a part in leading your community towards greater integration in wider British society.

Criteria

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

1. An upper second class or equivalent undergraduate degree from a reputable, internationally recognised university, such that an offer from the University for postgraduate study is likely to occur;
2. Active within their local and/or faith community;
3. Demonstration of leadership skills, and commitment to long term community development and good relations work;
4. A desire to develop intellectual skills within a multi-faith/secular environment;
5. Nationality and residency such that the individual is eligible for Home/EU fee status at the University.

Application Process

If you meet the above criteria and would like to apply for this Scholarship:

Step 1 – Choosing a course

Choose the course you wish to study. Some subjects allow a focus on particular areas. For example, Middle Eastern Studies allows for a focus on Islamic Studies or Hebrew Studies (amongst others). This will not be relevant to all the subjects listed below. Please cross refer with graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses.

Step 2 – Application to the College for the Scholarship

Submit:

1. A statement of no more than 1,000 words setting out how you meet the criteria above, addressing also how you hope to use this Scholarship for your future work;
2. A tailored CV detailing your qualifications and work history (no longer than 2 pages);
3. A short covering letter set out which course you are intending to apply for, and if relevant, the focus/specialism of the course;
4. A copy of the University application (referred to at Step 3. It’s possible to download this once completed)

to The Admissions Office, St Edmund’s College, Mount Pleasant, Cambridge CB3 0BN admissions@st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk by Friday 2nd December 2016.

Step 3 – Application to the University for the Course to be Studied

• Complete a University/Department application form online by Friday 2nd December 2016. This will also require a statement, but this statement should address why you should be accepted by your chosen Department. It should not focus on your community activities unless they are directly relevant to the course you are applying for. A passing reference is ok but this may be the space to mention other interests.
• This application must list St. Edmunds College as your first choice of College. The Scholarship is dependent upon you being accepted by the Department in question on the course of your choice. Departments usually decide on whom to admit by 31st March 2017.

Step 4 – Interview

Attend if called, an interview with the Trust and the College. Travel expenses will be reimbursed on production of receipts. Interviews will be held toward the end of March 2017.

Please note that we will only contact you if you have been successful for shortlisting. If you do not hear from us then please assume that in this instance your application has not been successful.

For more information, please visit: www.agmrscholarship.co.uk