Commonwealth clubs and societies in schools, colleges and universities

A number of schools and colleges in Commonwealth countries have formed Commonwealth clubs and societies. Sometimes these are to promote interest in the Commonwealth

through lectures and study groups; in others, the main function may be to provide a base for Commonwealth students away from home to meet with other Commonwealth and host-country students. The functions of such groups generally include study and learning, social gatherings, visits and excursions. Many such organisations affiliate with the Royal Commonwealth Society (see RCS entry), whose outreach programmes include provision of speakers, organisation of debates and student CHOGMs.

In 2005 the then Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit at London University and the Royal Commonwealth Society undertook a project, supported by British government funding, surveying existing activity and exploring the potential for Commonwealth clubs in schools. While overall numbers were found to be modest, the greatest incidence of such institutions appeared to be in West African Commonwealth countries.

At the tertiary level, several institutions have a Commonwealth student society. As far as is known, there has been no comprehensive survey of such institutions but among the active ones are, for example, the University of Douala (Cameroon) Commonwealth Club, the Collegiate Commonwealth Group of India and the Commonwealth Students Welfare Group of India.

One well-documented example, cited [here] for illustrative purposes only, comes from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.