Chevening scholarships awareness session at Chandigarh's Dev Samaj college; students warned against visa fraud
PTC Web Desk: An awareness session on Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships was organised on Tuesday at Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, Chandigarh. The programme was hosted by the British Deputy High Commission, Chandigarh, in collaboration with the college and youth organisation 'Yuvsatta' to inform students about higher education opportunities in the United Kingdom and to caution them against rising cases of visa and immigration fraud.
The session was attended by Alba Smeriglio, British Deputy High Commissioner in Chandigarh; Dr Richa Sharma, Officiating Principal of Dev Samaj College of Education; Rajinder S Nagarkoti, senior adviser (political, media and migration) at the British High Commission; and Dr Sukant Gupta, senior advocate and Chevening alumnus. A large number of students and faculty members participated in the interactive programme.
Alba Smeriglio
Addressing the gathering, Alba Smeriglio spoke about the Chevening Scholarships programme, the UK government’s prestigious global scholarship initiative that provides fully funded opportunities to outstanding students and professionals to pursue one-year master’s degrees at leading universities in the United Kingdom. She emphasised that the scholarship looks for individuals with strong leadership potential who are committed to making meaningful contributions to their communities and countries.
Alba Smeriglio encouraged students to explore the wide range of academic and research opportunities available in the UK. She also highlighted that India has a strong network of Chevening alumni who are making significant contributions across sectors, including public policy, law, media, business, academia and civil society.
Rajinder S Nagarkoti
During the session, Rajinder S Nagarkoti spoke about the British High Commission’s ‘Visa Fraud Se Bache’ campaign, which is being conducted in several parts of India, particularly Punjab and Haryana, to raise awareness about visa scams and illegal migration routes. The campaign aims to educate students and their families about safe and legitimate ways to travel, study or work in the UK.
Nagarkoti warned that many people fall prey to fraudulent agents who claim to guarantee visas or offer illegal migration pathways. He advised students to always verify information through official sources, avoid sharing sensitive documents with unauthorised agents and follow only authorised procedures while applying for visas.
Sharing his personal journey, Dr Sukant Gupta spoke about his experience as a Chevening scholar in the UK and how the programme helped broaden his professional outlook while connecting him with an international network of leaders and professionals. Drawing on his legal background, he also informed students about the legal options available to victims of visa and immigration fraud and urged them to report such cases through proper legal channels.
Welcoming the speakers, Dr Richa Sharma thanked the British Deputy High Commission for organising the session and said such initiatives help students gain awareness about global education opportunities while also understanding the risks associated with fraudulent migration practices.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion, where students raised questions about the Chevening scholarship application process, studying in the UK and ways to identify and avoid visa fraud.
- PTC NEWS
