Jamia Millia Scholar Nitesh Dogne Wins Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship for Tribal Circularity Research

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) research scholar Nitesh Dogne has been selected for the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship for the academic year 2025-26. Dogne is pursuing his PhD on “Indigenous Knowledge System of Tribal Circularity” under the Department of Planning and the Department of Architecture at JMI.

As part of this award, Dogne will spend one year at the University of Bath, contributing to his doctoral research while engaging with international experts in sustainability and community-driven systems. His scholarship proposal was also considered and accepted by several leading UK institutions, including University College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, and Newcastle University.

Focus of Dogne’s Research

Dogne’s study explores the Bhil tribe’s traditional management of water, energy, biomass, and waste within circular, community-based systems. These practices, long embedded in local knowledge, offer insights into sustainable resource use, clean energy solutions, and climate action.

Faculty supervisors at JMI highlighted the importance of the work in addressing modern development goals, particularly:

• Clean water management through traditional irrigation and water storage methods
• Renewable and efficient energy use at the community level
• Biomass and waste recycling for ecological balance
• Circularity principles in everyday tribal life that can inform sustainable urban and rural planning

Additionally, Dogne’s research aims to document practices declining due to urban expansion, ensuring that the knowledge of traditional communities contributes to broader initiatives under the Indian Knowledge System framework.

About the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship

The Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship is administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), United Kingdom. The programme is designed to support PhD scholars registered at universities in Commonwealth countries, enabling them to conduct part of their doctoral research at a UK institution while maintaining their home university affiliation.

This fully-funded scholarship is offered to a select number of scholars each year. In 2024, only 57 scholars from 40 countries were selected across all disciplines, demonstrating the competitiveness and prestige of the programme.

The scholarship covers:

• Airfare to and from the UK
• Tuition fees at the UK host institution
• Monthly living stipend for the duration of the research stay
• Additional research or travel grants, subject to CSC approval
• Support for study-related costs and access needs, where applicable

These benefits are structured to ensure that scholars can focus entirely on their research without financial constraints, facilitating meaningful contributions to global knowledge and local development initiatives.

Eligibility Criteria and Selection Process

The Split-site Scholarship is open to PhD students who have already initiated their research in their home universities. Applicants must demonstrate that their work:

• Is relevant to development priorities in their home country
• Will benefit from joint supervision between the UK and home institutions
• Has the potential for long-term impact on knowledge, policy, or sustainable development outcomes

Selection is based on:

• Academic merit
• Quality and originality of research
• Potential development impact of the proposed work

This rigorous selection ensures that only scholars with high-calibre research proposals and significant relevance to societal or developmental challenges are awarded.

Benefits of the Scholarship for Scholars

The Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, enabling scholars to pursue world-class research without worrying about expenses. Key benefits include:

• Full tuition fees at the UK host institution
• Monthly stipend for living costs
• Airfare for travel between the home country and the UK
• Additional research grants for study-related expenses
• Access to UK research facilities, resources, and institutional support

By covering these critical needs, the scholarship allows scholars like Dogne to dedicate their time and energy to innovative research that can have meaningful academic and social outcomes.

Promoting Long-term Research Partnerships

One of the core objectives of the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship is to build long-term partnerships between institutions in Commonwealth countries and the UK. Scholars are encouraged to:

• Develop international research collaborations
• Contribute to capacity-building in their home institutions upon completion of their UK research stay
• Engage in community-focused, sustainable development, and policy-oriented research

The programme is particularly relevant to areas such as public policy, sustainable development, heritage studies, and science, making it an ideal platform for scholars whose work has societal and ecological impact.

Impact on Tribal Circularity Research and Sustainability

Dogne’s research under this scholarship is significant for multiple reasons:

1. Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge: Urbanization and modernization are leading to the erosion of traditional practices. His research seeks to preserve Bhil tribal knowledge on circularity, ensuring that these insights inform contemporary environmental planning.
2. Contribution to Sustainability Goals: By analyzing how tribal communities manage water, energy, biomass, and waste, the study contributes directly to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly clean water, affordable clean energy, and climate action.
3. Policy Relevance: The insights from the study can inform government policies and community-based solutions aimed at promoting sustainable development, resource efficiency, and climate resilience.
4. Educational and Institutional Impact: Through collaboration with UK institutions, the research strengthens global academic exchange while enhancing the capabilities of JMI faculty and students involved in related studies.

Conclusion: A Prestigious Achievement and Global Opportunity

Being awarded the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship is a remarkable achievement for Nitesh Dogne and Jamia Millia Islamia. The scholarship not only recognizes academic excellence but also provides a platform for cutting-edge research in sustainable development and community knowledge systems.

Dogne’s year-long research stay at the University of Bath, combined with engagement with other top UK universities, is expected to:

• Enhance the global visibility of Indian knowledge systems
• Promote sustainable, community-driven practices
• Strengthen research networks and capacity-building efforts across institutions

By enabling scholars to conduct internationally significant research while remaining connected to their home institutions, the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship exemplifies the power of global academic collaboration in addressing pressing societal and environmental challenges.