Chandigarh, March 10 (NationPress) The British Deputy High Commission in Chandigarh, in collaboration with Dev Samaj College of Education and Yuvsatta, held an informative session on Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships on Tuesday.

The event aimed to enlighten students and young professionals regarding higher education avenues in the United Kingdom while addressing the increasing concern of visa and immigration fraud in the area.

Key speakers included British Deputy High Commissioner Alba Smeriglio, 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, senior advocate Sukant Gupta, and a Chevening alumnus.

Attendees, comprised of students and faculty members from the college, engaged actively with the speakers.

During her address, Deputy High Commissioner Smeriglio underscored the significance of the Chevening Scholarships program, which is the UK government's premier global scholarship initiative, providing fully funded opportunities for exceptional students and professionals to undertake one-year master’s degrees at prestigious universities in the UK.

She remarked that Chevening seeks individuals with leadership potential who are dedicated to fostering positive changes in their communities and home countries.

The Deputy High Commissioner encouraged students to delve into the wide array of academic and research options available in the UK, emphasizing that the Chevening program has established a robust global network of leaders and professionals.

She also pointed out that India boasts a dynamic community of Chevening alumni who are making significant contributions across various fields including public policy, law, media, business, academia, and civil society.

During the session, Nagarkoti elaborated on the ‘Visa Fraud Se Bache’ awareness campaign launched by the British High Commission in India, particularly targeting Punjab and Haryana, aimed at assisting students and their families in steering clear of immigration and visa fraud.

He detailed the campaign's focus on educating individuals about safe and legal pathways to travel, study, or work in the UK, while urging them to depend solely on verified information and authorized processes.

Nagarkoti highlighted that numerous individuals fall prey to deceitful agents promising guaranteed visas or illegal migration pathways.

He appealed to students to authenticate all information through official channels, refrain from sharing sensitive documents with unauthorized agents, and utilize only legitimate avenues when applying for visas.

He reinforced that awareness and informed choices are crucial in preventing such fraud. The session concluded with an engaging discussion where students posed questions about the Chevening application process, studying in the UK, and strategies to identify and avoid visa fraud.