About the programme
2008 marks the launch of the Prime Minister's Global Fellowship,
a pilot programme for 100 young people from England, designed to
take them through a series of new inter-cultural experiences that
will highlight issues of language, culture, economic growth and
development in one of the three of the world's fastest and most
important emerging economies. All Fellows are 18 or 19 years
old and finishing full-time education or apprenticeships, are drawn
from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and represent a
truly multi-cultural and multi-ethnic England. This
opportunity marks a conscious step in developing the skills and
confidence to turn the challenges of living in an interdependent
world into opportunities and the ability to make the most of
them. No matter where or how they live, it matters that
today's generation of young people grow up understanding first-hand
what globalization means for all people.
Alongside a focus on enterprise and economic development, the
Prime Minister's Global Fellowship Programme aims to deliver a
complete intercultural experience, which reinforces the values of
diversity, respect, sensitivity and understanding.
Fellows compete for a chance to spend six weeks in either Brazil
or China or India and be guided through a tailor-made programme
which is made up of three parts;
- Cultural and linguistic immersion
- Working on a research project in collaboration with their peers
in a local school
- Time as a guest of a global company, investigating how
international business and its social responsibilities impact on
local communities.
The programme will build a network of young English people with
a personal understanding of global citizenship and with a
well-grounded insight into what it will take to contribute to and
compete in our changing world. In addition, a young people's
network will be developed, to include Global Fellows and alumni.
This network will reach out into other international schemes and
networks for young people to share their learning, connecting with
schools, colleges and workplaces.
The programme is not limited to the overseas visit however; an
important part of the commitment every young person makes on
accepting a place on the scheme is to communicate their story on
their return to their school or college as well as to their wider
community. They will also be invited to Downing Street to
share what they have learned with the Prime Minister and
representatives of the corporations who hosted them.
The Global Fellowship will be a signature programme for the new
Talent and Enterprise Task Force that aims to unlock talent in
young people. The programme will communicate to young people the
narrative of global competitiveness, through the Fellows'
experiences of the ambition, energy and hunger for success of the
world's fast-growing economies.
Organisation and funding; The Prime Minister's
Global Fellowship programme is funded by the Department for
Children, Schools and Families. It was devised and developed with
and will be managed, on behalf of the DCSF, by the British Council
in collaboration with the Talent and Enterprise
Taskforce.
Meet the team here!