55th Ann ual Re po rt Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Year ending 30 September 2008 Fifty Fifth Annual Report of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission for the year ending 30 September 2008 Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Command of Her Majesty March 2009 CM7581 Fifty Fifth Annual Report: Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Fifty Fifth Annual Report: Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Contents The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission’s report to Her Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Pursuant to Section 2(6) of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Act 1953, we have the honour to submit the report of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission for the year ending 30 September 2008. WELCOME FROM DR FRANCES DOW A true international educational experience can no longer be Welcome from the MACC Chair confined to the college campus but must also include contact This report marks my Dr Frances Dow 5 with the community. Community participation is a major first year as Chair of Meetings and Membership 6 element in the Marshall Programme and is expanding. An the Marshall Aid example of a Marshall Scholar's experience in the Marshall Commemoration Scholars in Britain 2007/2008 7 Scholars Speakers programme is presented in this report. Commission (MACC) and Scholars Graduating 2008 9 a period of reflection on In addition, this year saw the continued growth of the Scholars’ Experiences 9 the achievements and Association of Marshall Scholars (AMS) dedicated to future direction of the strengthening relationships with Britain and to providing Marshall Alumni, Association Marshall Scholarships. a lifelong knowledge network for the scholars both during of Marshall Scholars 13 and especially after their stay in Britain. This year also saw At a time of increased a Marshall Alumnus, Josh West, win a silver medal at the Selection of 2008 Marshall Scholars 16 Dr Frances Dow global interaction and Beijing Olympics, and I am pleased that he has written inter-dependence it is of Selection and Placement Policy 21 about his experiences for this report. critical importance that countries build and maintain strong Marshall Sherfield Fellowships 21 and meaningful international relations on a variety of fronts. As evidence of their continuing and much appreciated The higher education arena has long provided a strong Scholarship Stipends 22 interest in the Marshall Scholarship programme the platform for international collaboration and integration and Scholars were invited to attend events at the British Secretariat 22 this has never been more true or relevant than now. While Embassy in Washington DC and at the Foreign and the political and economic aspects of global relations might Commonwealth Office in London. They were also hosted Access to Information 22 dominate the headlines, intellectual ties and cultural by the Scottish Government in Edinburgh and Glasgow Expenditure 22 understanding, such as that fostered within the higher which has given them a broader perspective on the UK. education sphere, are no less important and create a crucial Membership of the MACC and Committees 23 base for lasting international relationships. The MACC The MACC is enormously grateful for the support of the UK government and their representatives. We are also Degree Results 27 believes that international scholarships are an important tool for demonstrating a commitment to international cooperation indebted to our partnership institutions and private funders Summary Accounts 29 and in stimulating links with new generations of leaders and for their wonderful contribution to our goals of educational opinion formers across the globe. excellence and mutual understanding. We would like to thank the members of the Ambassador’s Advisory Council and the The MACC commissioned a survey of former Marshall Regional Selection Committees in the United States whose Scholars which provided strong evidence of the wide-ranging generous devotion of time and energy enables the MACC to and enduring benefits that can be achieved through an ensure that Marshall Scholarships maintains the very highest international scholarship programme. Since their inception, standards in the selection of outstanding Scholars. the Marshall Scholarships have set out to strengthen relations between the UK and the US by identifying and supporting Finally, the MACC wishes to extend deepest condolences exceptional students in their chosen fields in degree to the families of John Jay Iselin CBE, 1956 Marshall and programmes at top UK universities. The survey highlighted former Chair of the New York Selection Committee and the long-term impact of the Scholarships on the personal and Michael Bhatia 2001 Marshall and social scientist who died career development of recipients and also in cultivating in Afghanistan. Their commitment to public service was in positive perceptions and greater understanding of the UK, the highest tradition of the Marshall programme and will with many former Scholars retaining strong links to the UK. remain as an inspiration to us all. The survey reveals that the Marshall Scholarships have generated a highly influential body of alumni who continue to express profound appreciation for the opportunities provided Dr Frances Dow by their Scholarship. A more detailed analysis of the results Chair of this survey can be found on page 14 of this report. Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission (MACC) 4 5 Fifty Fifth Annual Report: Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Fifty Fifth Annual Report: Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission THE MARSHALL AID COMMEMORATION MEETINGS AND MACC MEMBERSHIP SCHOLARS IN BRITAIN 2007/2008 The Scholars were funded as follows: COMMISSION Regular business meetings of the MACC were held on At the start of the academic year 2007/2008, 96 • 81 fully funded by the MACC The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Act was 8 October 2007, 28 January 2008 and 21 April 2008. Marshall Scholars were in residence at British universities. • Two part funded by partnership Scholarships with Imperial passed by the British Parliament in 1953 in order to The MACC’s Education, Finance and Audit and Risk This number was made up of one 2004 Scholar who was College London and the University of Birmingham express gratitude to the American people for the post-war Management (ARM) Committees met on several occasions completing a deferred third year, ten 2005 Scholars, • Three fully funded by the agreements with British Schools under the respective chairmanship of Dr Frances Dow, who were completing a third year, 41 2006 Scholars and support and assistance conceived by Secretary of State and Universities Fund, National Grid and Walter and George C Marshall, now known as the Marshall Plan. Professor David Eastwood, Mr James Ross and Mr Graham another 44 Scholars who had taken up their awards in 2007. Leanore Annenberg Foundation The Parliamentary act created postgraduate Scholarships Benson. The Advisory Council met in Washington on The total group comprised 56 men and 40 women. Ten of • Three third year extensions fully funded by the MACC in the United Kingdom for American students with the 30 November 2007, under the Chairmanship of HM the Scholars were married (five women and five men), nine potential to excel in their chosen fields of study and future Ambassador and the Chair of the MACC. Professor David of the spouses were in residence in the UK, two Scholars • One third year extension jointly funded under the careers. As alumni of British Universities and members of Eastwood attended as the MACC’s representative. also had children. agreement with the University of Cambridge and the NSF the community during their stay in Britain, Marshall Scholars • Three third year extensions funded under the agreement A full list of MACC members follows and further details can The distribution of the awards was as follows: 35 at Oxford; create lasting bridges between the United States and the with the University of Oxford be found at the end of this Report (page 23) and includes 21 at Cambridge; 20 in London (nine at the London School United Kingdom and become advocates for greater depth • One third year extension funded under the agreement a note of their affiliation with the Education, Finance and of Economics; four each at King’s College London and the and breadth of interaction, co-operation and mutual with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ARM Committees. University College London; two at the London School of understanding between the two countries. They also Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, one at the School of Oriental • One third year extension funded under the agreement participate in activities which make them effective with the LSE Dr Frances Dow (Chair) and African Studies), three each at the University of spokespeople for the best in British society and education Edinburgh and the University of St Andrews and one each • One third year extension funded under the agreement once they have completed their studies. Baroness Tessa Blackstone at Imperial College London, the London International Film with the Scottish Government Professor John Caughie Each year up to 40 Marshall Scholarships are awarded, some School, the Royal College of Music, Queen Margaret Further Scholars were supported entirely by alternative in partnership with outstanding British Universities. This Professor David Eastwood (Deputy Chairman) University Edinburgh and the Universities of Birmingham, funding. In addition to