Sanjay Wadvani, British Ambassador to Turkmenistan recently hosted a dinner to welcome home 2013/2014 scholar Maral Orazniyazova and farewell the 2014/2015 scholars Meylis Garryyev and Lale Matiyeva.

Members of Turkmenistan’s Chevening community, as well as a Chevening colleague from China who is currently working in Ashgabat, were also invited to the dinner to share their experiences with and give advice to this year’s scholars.

Welcoming the guests at the dinner, the Ambassador recalled his previous experience of the programme and, in particular, the importance of Chevening in shaping the future of young leaders from around the world. He encouraged each of the outgoing scholars to gain maximum benefit from the programme both in terms of studying and getting to know the UK. He then presented Meylis and Lale with specially prepared certificates. Both welcomed the chance to learn about the experience of previous winners.

Meylis will be heading to Scotland to undertake a one-year postgraduate course on Oil & Gas Engineering at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. Lale will head to the University of East London to tackle a Master’s degree in International Accounting & Finance.

Maral, who obtained a Master’s degree from Queen Mary College, University of London, completed her course and returned from London only last week. The Ambassador was pleased to welcome her as the newest member of the Chevening community in Turkmenistan. The total number of Turkmen participants in the Chevening programme to date has reached nearly 60, and this figure will continue to grow in the years ahead.

The British Embassy in Ashgabat is currently advertising the Chevening scholarship for the 2015/2016 academic year and a number of Chevening presentations have been scheduled for later in September.

To apply for a Chevening Scholarship in Turkmenistan please visit our apply page.