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Gyan Basnet

Awarded PhD 2010

Having completed my legal studies at Tribhuvan University in Nepal, I came to Lancaster University Law School in October 2005 to undertake a masters degree course aimed at broadening my knowledge and educational experience. I had received offers from other British universities but chose Lancaster chiefly because its course content more closely matched my personal requirement. I held already a masters degree in Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties and was keen to conduct research into human rights. I therefore chose International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, which I subsequently found to be very fascinating and challenging. The experienced staff, their teaching methods and the seminars in various disciplines were extremely helpful, and I have no ground for complaint of any kind. Writing the final dissertation was a challenging task but an enjoyable one, and I was delighted to be awarded a distinction. Probably the most valuable benefit for me was the confidence that I gained in conducting research, which prompted me then to aim for a PhD in International Human Rights Law also at Lancaster University Law School.

I chose as my thesis title: "The Human Right to Development and Poverty Eradication: Legal and Practical Problems and Critical Perspectives", and, thankfully, I was successful in securing a research grant under the British Government's Overseas Research Student Award Scheme. My research concerned the indivisibility and interdependence of economic, social and cultural, as well as civil and political, rights. Since there had been relatively little exploration of the many dimensions of the Right to Development and its overall orientation, my research explored the tension and congruence between human rights - in particular the Right to Development - and poverty eradication by applying a holistic analysis. I focused on the legal, moral, political and economic dimensions of the Right to Development, the mechanisms by which the right might be enforced, the practical processes involved at national and international levels, and the challenges to be met in achieving the desired goal of eventual poverty eradication.

Because of the Law School's superb research environment with access to online databases, a world-class library and opportunities to attend and present papers at national and international conferences, I enjoyed very much every moment of my PhD research. The lengthy and largely independent knowledge creation process that is essential in gaining a PhD could lead to a sacrifice of social life, mental stress and loneliness, but the School's friendly, social and supportive academic environment guaranteed that at no stage did `I feel any of these. The submission of my thesis was akin to summiting a Himalayan peak, but defending my work at the end of my research (viva-voce) in 2010 was a further most challenging and enjoyable experience. My enthusiasm for research and teaching in the field of human rights remains very great and very sincere, and my aim eventually is to make a significant contribution to the further development of international human rights law.

I highly recommend Lancaster University Law School: its research and taught courses offer a wide range of choices and a world-class syllabus. I have already praised its friendly and supportive environment: its compact modern campus is an excellent place for study, socialising and networking, and it is situated in a very beautiful part of Britain. Its student body is highly cosmopolitan, and the opportunity to exchange views on academic, cultural, political, and social subjects is priceless. Moreover, the University has an excellent reputation for high quality research.

For me Lancaster University has been an extremely good choice: in fact, without its homely environment and its supportive and efficient staff within the Law School, my achievements at masters and doctorate levels would have been impossible.

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