Commonwealth Students’ Association (CSA)

Address:

Marlborough House Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5HX UK

Email:

info@commonwealthstudents.info

Website:

www.commonwealthstudents.info

Year established: 2012

Number of staff: 1

Number of subscribing members:

5 institutions

Officers (2015):

Chairperson: George Stanley Njoroge (Kenya)

Regional Representatives –

Africa: Emmanuel Wabwire (Uganda) and Lorato Palesa Modongo (Botswana)

Asia: Ayswarrya Ganapathiraman (India) and Malhardeen Mohammed (Sri Lanka)

Caribbean and Canada:

Tricia Teekah (Guyana) and Kemoy Lindsay (Jamaica)

Pacific: Jamal Silahua Talagi (Niue) and Ifereimi Kuribola (Fiji)

CSA Co-ordinator: Harriet Swanston (UK)

Aims and objectives:

• Promote, protect and defend student rights • Promote democracy and the values of the Commonwealth

• Create an environment for student bodies and student movements to build their respective and collective capacities to freely express and advocate • Promote student voice; student participation in policy and decision making; equality and equity; access to and opportunity to succeed in education; and high-quality learning environments around the Commonwealth

• Foster the development of students by promoting inter-Commonwealth state, institutional, cultural exchange programmes and extra-curricular activities

Main activities:

The CSA’s main activities include constitution making, recruitment of members and advocating student perspectives in the post-2015 education agenda. It is currently working to develop a 2013–16 Strategic Plan.

In the past, the CSA has participated in consultations exploring the feasibility of a UNESCO Global Convention on the Recognition of Studies Diplomas and Degrees, and taken part in various education- and student-related campaigns.

Recent publications:

Status of Student Governance in the Commonwealth (2015, upcoming)

Commonwealth Student Governance Toolkit (2015, upcoming)