Social media and messaging policy - alumni

Chevening has a range of central social media platforms for alumni to interact with. You can find us on:

You will also find country or regional specific Chevening related digital spaces operated by staff at UK embassies and high commissions.

We very much look forward to receiving your comments and participation in discussions, and we encourage open, lively debate. However, we do ask that our alumni adhere to certain good practices and conventions of polite and constructive discourse.

The spirit

As a Chevening Awardee, you belong to a unique group of leaders from around the world who have been personally selected by the UK government to study in the UK. The spirit of Chevening is about developing bonds, intercultural understanding, and intellectual curiosity through the respectful exchange of ideas, opportunities, knowledge, and experiences.

Chevening Awardees come from all walks of life, so please be mindful of statements, comments, articles, or even jokes which may have the potential cause offence to others. Please conduct yourself online as you would in person – if you think something would be offensive face-to-face, it is likely that it will still be offensive online.

These terms of use form part of our expectations for you as alumni, as outlined in the Alumni Charter.

The terms of use

1. You should not publish content that:

1.1. May be seen as abusive, obscene, indecent, or offensive. This includes:

1.1.1. Publishing offensive or derogatory content relating to sex, gender, race, nationality, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, religion/beliefs, age, or any other such trait

1.1.2. Publishing content that is derogatory, hateful, defamatory, threatening, discriminatory, or pornographic

1.1.3. Behaving in a bullying, intimidating, or harassing manner towards other users, organisations, or page administrators

1.2. Contains, or alludes to, unlawful material

1.3. Encourages current award holder(s) to act in contravention of the terms of their award

1.4. Constitutes spam or promotes or advertises products that have little relevance to the spirit and purpose of the group/page, when participating in a Chevening group or on a Chevening page

1.5. Associates the Chevening Secretariat, the FCDO or its embassies/high commissions, or UK universities with personal views or comments

2. The Chevening Secretariat, as administrators of Chevening online groups and pages, will determine whether content on them contravenes any of the above terms. For Chevening online groups or pages managed by a UK embassy, high commission or consulate, the appropriate personnel in that entity will determine what contravenes this guidance
3. Content that contravenes any of the above terms will be removed by the Chevening Secretariat from spaces that the Secretariat administers.
4. We will not edit any of your comments. If you post content that contravenes these guidelines, and we have to remove it, we will contact you to explain why. Transgressors may face action, which could range from an official warning to exclusion from the official Chevening community.
5. You should always be aware of maintaining security and take the necessary precautions when using social media and messaging platforms. Be mindful that any content which is posted on such platforms – even within closed spaces – may make it into the public domain.
6. The Chevening Secretariat may from time to time wish to use content posted in private groups or on public pages managed by us for marketing or promotional purposes. We will always attempt to contact the original poster to seek permission prior to using content from closed private groups.
7. Whilst you are encouraged to add Chevening to your online bios and profiles, you are not permitted to create a Chevening group, page, profile, or website on any online platform. This extends to the use of the word ‘Chevening’ or its derivatives in the name of any group, page, profile, domain, etc., and use of the logo. If you wish to use the Chevening name or branding, please contact the alumni team first for permission.
8. Where we find a group/page etc that has been created with Chevening branding without permission, we will ask for it to be closed.
9. If you take it upon yourself to administer an unofficial online group containing members of the Chevening community, you also assume responsibility for ensuring that the spirit of the Chevening programme is upheld in those spaces.
10. We may at any time make changes to this policy and we will notify you of any changes via appropriate channels.