With the start of the new academic year, over 3,000 students from the UAE have set off for the United Kingdom for further and higher education. Among them this year is Khudooma Said Al Na’imi, one of three scholars sponsored by the British Government through the Embassy’s Chevening-Thesiger Scholarship Programme, who will be taking a Masters degree in Forensic Anthropology at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.

Born in Al Ain, Khudooma, 32, graduated in biological sciences from the UAE University before joining Abu Dhabi Police as a forensic evidence technician in October 2000. Throughout his career in forensics, he has attended international conferences and seminars to improve his knowledge and contacts. Following one such conference in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik, he worked as a volunteer in the international commission on missing persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina, alongside other professionals from the UK, USA, South America, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. Closer to home, Khudooma has put his skills to good use volunteering to help archaeologists in excavations at the Hili tombs near Al Ain.

Accepting his scholarship from Ambassador Edward Oakden at an award ceremony at the Embassy, Khudooma said, “I am honoured to be selected for the Chevening Scholarship offered by the British Government, in order to study for my Masters degree in the UK, which will help in my work after I graduate.”

“Forensic anthropology is the science of studying human skeletal remains in the context of crime scenes and legal and forensic objectives. Human bone can reveal a lot about the dead person’s identity, such Termsas age, stature and sex. In addition to forensics, my specialty will enable me to join archaeological teams when excavating human graves, participating and exchanging knowledge. Forensic anthropology helps also in any national, regional or international disasters such as airplane crashes, mass graves and human rights investigations.”

“During my studies at the University of Central Lancashire, I will cover subjects such as research methods, statistics, development anatomy, forensic anthropology, forensic taphonomy, crime scene investigation, ‘expert witness’ and the legal process,” says Khudooma.

Chevening-Thesiger Scholarships are prestigious awards for UAE nationals funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Officeandco-sponsoredby HSBC Bank. They are named, in part, after the British explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger, who travelled extensively in the Emirates around 50 years ago.

Full scholarships cover academic fees, a stipend for one year’s postgraduate study and other expenses. The British Council administers the scheme on behalf of the Embassy.