The Alumni Charter

Chevening awardees belong to a unique group of future leaders from around the world who have been personally selected by the UK government. As a Chevening Alumnus, you are a brand ambassador for Chevening and as such, we expect your behaviour and actions to reflect and uphold Chevening values of tolerance, equality, diversity, and inclusivity.

All members of the Chevening community – awardees, staff, partners and contacts – have the right and responsibility to live and work beside each other in conditions which permit open dialogue within a framework of respect.

All Chevening Alumni are expected to adhere to the Chevening Alumni Charter.

Definition of Chevening Alumni

All Chevening Scholars and Fellows are automatically enrolled into the global Chevening Alumni community at the end of their award at which point they become Chevening Alumni. The global alumni community includes those who have received an award since the programme began in 1983, whether under the former name of The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Award Scheme, or under the name Chevening.

What we expect from you

• Treat each other, members of the public, and others associated with Chevening with respect, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, race, nationality, ethnic group, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, political beliefs and affiliations, family circumstances, or any other type of distinction.
• Return to your home country following your studies in the UK, as outlined in the Terms and Conditions for Chevening Scholarships.
• Adhere to Chevening’s Social media and messaging policy.
• Not bring the Chevening name or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office into disrepute through your behaviour, whether deliberately or unintentionally.
• Advise applicants/prospective scholars, current awardees, and alumni to the best of your ability. You must not use your Chevening experience to profit from those interested or in the process of applying for Chevening by requesting payment (unless operating within a general educational consultancy or agency covering a broad range of educational opportunities).
• If relevant, liaise with staff at your local UK mission on best ways to promote Chevening Scholarships.
• Notify your Chevening Officer at your local UK mission in advance of organising any event involving the Chevening name.
• Not use the Chevening name or brand in pursuit of any partisan political activity on behalf of a political party.
• For those holding leadership roles in alumni groups, abide by the Chevening Alumni Associations Charter.

What you can expect from us

• We will treat alumni fairly and with respect, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, race, nationality, ethnic group, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, political beliefs and affiliations, family circumstances, or any other type of distinction.
• We will act transparently in managing issues reported to us.
• Where you have opted to receive mailings and provided working contact details, we will keep you updated with news and information about Chevening (locally and globally) and any practical resources, events, or opportunities available.
• We will manage your personal information sensitively and in accordance with UK data protection legislation.

Misconduct

We take all complaints and incidents of misconduct related to the behaviour of Chevening Alumni very seriously.

Misconduct on award

Complaints made about alumni for misconduct whilst on award in the UK will be accepted under the Chevening disciplinary policy within time limits set by the Chevening Secretariat.

Misconduct after Chevening award has concluded

Behaviour that does not adhere to the above expectations by a Chevening Alumnus will be reviewed by Chevening.

Where there has been an instance of misconduct involving a Chevening Alumnus, this should be reported to the Chevening Officer at your local embassy or high commission or contact alumni@chevening.org.

Chevening will not accept reports about alumni that are judged to be frivolous, malicious or vexatious, and may be unable to review cases of misconduct reported more than 12 months after occurring.

All the information provided will be treated with sensitivity and strict confidentiality. Serious incidents should be reported to law enforcement in the country within which you and/or the alumnus resides.

Allegations of misconduct may be considered by senior management at the Secretariat in collaboration with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The Chevening Secretariat has no investigative powers.

Penalties

Where behaviour conflicts with the principles set out in this Charter, we reserve the right to bar that individual temporarily or permanently from the benefits of active involvement in Chevening. This could include excluding individuals from Chevening and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office events and removing them from mailing lists and digital platforms.

Please note, once a Chevening Alumnus has left the UK after their award has ended Chevening is unable to enforce penalties beyond barring individuals from the alumni network.

The Secretariat and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are unable to report alleged harassment or abuse by alumni on your behalf once the individual concerned has left the UK. If you feel you are being harassed, discriminated against or abused by another alumnus, we encourage you to report it to the appropriate authorities in your location.

Complaints

The Chevening Complaints and Anti-fraud policy sets out the response to complaints against actions taken by the Chevening Secretariat, its members of staff, any other organisation contracted to provide specific administrative or other services on Chevening’s behalf, over which it can reasonably be expected to have control, and Chevening Scholars and Fellows in so far as their actions are related to Chevening.

In most cases complaints relating to the behaviours of Chevening Alumni will not be accepted under the Chevening complaints policy, but will be reviewed under this Alumni Charter.