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[KDIS in the Spotlight] From KDI School to Oxford Univ - A Ph.D. Journey in Development (Ayantola Alayande, 2019 MPP)

  • Date 2024-10-07 10:42
  • CategoryStory
  • Hit706

*This interview was conducted in July but is being published now at the interviewee’s request. As such, certain details may appear to be slightly out of date.

A KDI School graduate, Ayantola Alayande (2019 MPP), has been accepted into a top-tier program and awarded a prestigious Clarendon scholarship at Oxford University. As he embarks on this new chapter, we chit-chatted him to discuss this opportunity and his journey along the path to becoming a Clarendon scholar. Below is the conversation.

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Ayantola Alayande, and I am from Nigeria. I graduated from the KDIS MPP program in 2019. I am currently working as a researcher at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge. At KDIS, I picked up an interest in social and international development issues, particularly international politics and economics, which propelled me to continue down this line. I am a researcher, policy analyst and civic tech innovator. In addition, I work broadly on questions of digital governance and the digital economy and their intersection with public sector productivity. I love to find answers to questions about improving public sector performance, mainly in the UK and African countries, particularly Nigeria.

It's such an attractive profile. Can you tell me about your experience at KDIS and what you enjoyed the most when you were here?

KDIS was awesome. It’s a fertile ground that allows you to germinate whatever seed you put in quite easily. I like this school as a mini-UN; the strength of the school itself is the diversity. At KDI School, I studied with colleagues from over a hundred countries, and the variety of ideas was mind-blowing. The uniqueness of this experience is that I learned about people's cultures and ways of doing things.

So, aside from academics and diversity, I undertook some leadership roles and working roles, such as President of the African Development Forum (ADF) and editor at the Writing Center. I also enjoyed the clubs and societies available at KDIS, such as the TEDx speaking club and the choir. We also had some interesting cultural events, such as the food and sports festivals. These experiences were equally as important as the classroom, and I'm so grateful for them. A complete school experience!

What was your motivation for applying for a PhD?

I want to answer some of the questions in my field uniquely and contribute to the existing research. Also, I want to gather the unique insights and competencies that will enable me to contribute to development practice. Another reason is my passion for research and filling some of the knowledge gaps in my field.

Why did you pick Oxford University?

Oxford was not the only place I applied to. I also applied to Cambridge University and got in, but I chose Oxford because of the funding I got, which is very competitive. I will be studying on a Clarendon scholarship. Also, there is coherence between what I want to do and the Department of International Development in Oxford, which runs a global governance program relevant to my field.

Do you have any tips or advice for students aspiring to follow similar paths?

Get clarity. You should be sure that you want to pursue a PhD, because there will be bumps down the road. You should be clear about your decision to pursue the PhD and the type of projects you want to take on. The second thing is to find a supervisor that aligns with your interests. List out the professors in all the universities that you are interested in and reach out to them. You need to be able to tell that this person has a core interest in the kind of work that you do. The third thing is to reach out to your references and continue to refine your proposal. Give professionals your proposal to review; for me, at least 10 people reviewed my proposal. In summary, start early, put in a strong application and get help from professionals in your field.

What did you learn from KDIS that prepared you for this opportunity?

The rigorous academic environment, in terms of the scope of work I took on, built tenacity in me. The breadth and depth of the things learnt regarding methodological precision and quantitative methods piqued my interest in data analysis and prepared me for this opportunity.

Any final words?

Be intentional about your time at KDIS. Use all the opportunities you have at your disposal, academically, in terms of mentorship and establishing relationships with your professors and the activities you engage in. The experience is one of a lifetime and will help you contribute meaningfully to your future pursuits. Make good use of it!


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ANZAKU, Faith Asheadzi

2024 Spring / MPP / Nigeria

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