Jamia Millia Researcher Wins Prestigious Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship: Check Programme Offers, Eligibility Details
JMI researcher Nitesh Dogne has been awarded the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year. Dogne, a PhD scholar working jointly under the Department of Planning and the Department of Architecture, will spend one year at the University of Bath, UK, as part of the fully funded programme.
His study "Indigenous Knowledge System of Tribal Circularity" is mainly about how the Bhil tribe uses water, energy, biomass, and waste from nature in a community-driven circular system. The supervisors of the faculty have mentioned that such ecological practices offer a lot of insight, which is in line with the global sustainable development goals, especially those related to clean water, clean energy, and climate action. In addition, the research is aimed at saving the indigenous ways that are vanishing as a result of the influx of modern cities.
Moreover, Dogne's research proposal was noticed and considered by several prestigious UK universities - University College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, and Newcastle University - thus, reflecting the high academic value of his work.
About the Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarship
The Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship, awarded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), UK, supports PhD candidates registered in Commonwealth nations who need to conduct a portion of their doctoral research at a UK institution. The programme aims to strengthen international academic partnerships while supporting research that contributes to sustainable development. The scheme is highly selective. CSC data shows that in 2024, only 57 scholars from 40 countries were chosen across all disciplines, underscoring the prestige associated with the award.
Scholarship Overview
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
According to CSC guidelines, applicants must already be registered as PhD students in their home institutions and demonstrate that the UK research component is essential for their doctoral work. A key emphasis is placed on the development impact of the proposed research upon returning to the home country. The selection is based on:
- Academic merit
- Quality and feasibility of the research proposal
- Potential contribution to development outcomes
- Strength of the proposed collaboration between the UK and home supervisors
Eligibility & Benefits Overview
A Significant Academic Milestone for JMI
Jamia Millia Islamia has welcomed the news as a proud moment for the university. Faculty members pointed out that Dogne's research is a perfect example of how different, valuable and very often overlooked indigenous practices can be used to shape modern climate and sustainability policies. The Bhil tribe’s traditional circular systems - covering water management, energy consumption, and the recycling of biomass - provide the community-led ecological resilience models that can be used by other communities.
The scholarship will enable Dogne to work with experts in the UK and have access to state-of-the-art research facilities. His study is designed to broaden the worldwide awareness of indigenous ecological knowledge, and at the same time, be a source of India’s sustainability, heritage preservation, and regional development initiatives.
It is a requirement that after finishing the research component in the UK, the scholars return to their home institutions, where they will be involved in capacity-building activities and thus, contribute to the academic and developmental impact which will last for a long time. With this achievement, JMI continues to strengthen its research presence globally, especially in areas tied to sustainability, community knowledge systems, and interdisciplinary environmental studies.
