September is the beginning of school for youngsters in Croatia, but it is also the month that welcomes home Chevening scholars from one academic year and sends off scholars for the coming year. HMA David Blunt hosted Croatia’s Chevening scholars—incoming and outgoing—at the Residence on 10 September 2009. The Chevening Party was an opportunity for the scholars to network and to exchange experiences.

The Embassy invited 12 outgoing and 21 returning scholars from some of the UK’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning, such as Cambridge, Oxford, Sussex and the London School of Economics. Scholars were presented with certificates including details of their respective schools and programmes.

In addressing the scholars and other invited guests, including senior members of the public service, HMA Blunt remarked that the UK was making a ‘significant investment [in the scholars] , but one that we believe is well worth it’. More than £625,000 will have been spent at the end of upcoming academic year on the last two generations.

HMA Blunt also congratulated the newly-formed Chevening Alumni Croatia for coming together. The association has submitted an interesting project bid, which promotes the UK’s Departmental Strategic Objectives, to the Chevening Programme.

Silvije Čipčić-Bragadin, the president of the Chevening Alumni Croatia, also welcomed the scholars to join the association and to help make it stronger and more active.

The Chevening Programme, which is celebrating its 25th year, began in Croatia in 1993: more than 300 Croatian scholars have benefited from the scholarship programme.