My Chevening Experience : Glenn Edward McPhee

The following is a guest blog from Bahamian Chevening Scholar Glenn McPhee

As I reflect on the past year as a Chevening Scholar, I am amazed at how quickly the time has passed. It has been a year filled with cherished memories.

My academic pursuit at the University of Buckingham was dominated by intellectually stimulating lectures and tutorials. The MA in Security and Intelligence Studies, offered a unique degree of practitioner-led expertise to relate academic and historical analyses of contemporary security and intelligence environments in Western democracies, with a focus on the United Kingdom.

Not surprisingly, many weekends were monopolised by reading marathons. I now have a better understanding of the security environments that categorize many countries and the corresponding consequences.  I am now more aware of how secret intelligence can better inform policymakers on a wide variety of national security issues.

However, my experience was not all work and no play; I scheduled sufficient time to enjoy myself. A few experiences can be described as follows

1. Traditional – A full-English breakfast
2. Delightful- Lunch at the Royal Yacht Squadron Club on the Isle of Wight
3. Exclusive- An evening at 5 Hertford Street
4. Mesmerising- A visit to Bodleian Libraries
5. Historical- A comprehensive tour of Bletchley Park

To top things off, I had the distinct pleasure and privilege of meeting a British Lord, two Privy Counsellors, notable authors and a host of new friends. I am convinced that the very generous ‘Chevening Scholarship’ awarded by the Government of the United Kingdom via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has added significant value to my personal, professional and academic development and I am grateful. It has enhanced my global perspective and reinforced the notion that success in any endeavour requires tenacity, hard work, optimism and a healthy respect for others.

Because of my Chevening Scholarship, I am more confident and determined to contribute to the national development of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.