Friday 25 October 2019

The three global winners of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2019 celebrated their awards with British Council’s CEO, Sir Ciarán Devane, at a lunch held at the British Council’s headquarters in London.

The three winners, from Bangladesh, South Africa and Egypt are visiting the UK to build their professional networks and expertise with respect to their individual interests in transitional justice, social development and social entrepreneurialism.

Sir Ciarán Devane said:  

“These awards are a brilliant way to highlight the excellence of UK education, and how it makes a global difference.

“The winners honoured today are exceptional and their work shows the power of the UK’s universities, and their alumni, to connect across international borders;  to make a real difference in our global society.  

Global winner of the Professional Achievement category 2019 is Noha Aboueldahab, a transitional justice specialist, author and a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Center, conducting research on human rights, politics and international law in the Middle East and North Africa. Noha obtained an MA in International & Comparative Legal Studies from SOAS, University of London and a PhD in Law from Durham Law School, Durham University.

Noha Aboueldahab, said:

“I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to have won the global UK Alumni Award for Professional Achievement. This award is very important to me, as it not only serves as recognition of the impact of years of hard work, but it also recognises the centrality of an issue that is close to my heart: justice. Moreover, this award serves as a reminder that while at times we may feel isolated in the work that we do, it is meaningful to others around the world as well. I believe this award will draw more attention to the importance of critical research for informed policymaking on transitional justice, especially in contexts of war and authoritarian rule.”

 Mamunur Rahman was awarded for Entrepreneurialism for his invention of a low-cost sanitary towel made from leftover clothing materials. 'Ella Pad' supports more than 50,000 women in Bangladesh with improved health, hygiene and employment opportunities, since the pads are made by women for women. Mamunur graduated with an MA in Gender and Development from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, and is a Chevening alumnus.

 Mamunur Rahman, said: 

“It’s a great recognition of our work which is still a taboo subject. Bringing awareness to this issue will help us to have an even greater impact in Bangladesh and across the region.’'

The Social Impact award was awarded to Réjane Woodroffe, director and co-founder of the award-winning Bulungula Incubator, an NGO addressing rural poverty. Réjane leads a team that has reduced child mortality through interventions in education, health and sustainable livelihoods. Réjane obtained an MSc in Development Economics from the University of Sussex.

Réjane Woodroffe, said:

"I feel enormously privileged to do the work of the Bulungula Incubator. For this work to be  celebrated on a global platform is just overwhelming. A platform with the reach of the Study UK Alumni Awards catapults us onto a global stage. This can provide the essential leverage needed to access a wider range of organisations, thereby broadening the potential impact for our communities.”

The winners’ UK visit coincides with the Study UK Alumni Awards 2020 – open to recent international alumni of UK universities living in any country outside the UK. Applications from international alumni are invited until Monday 28 October 2019.

The Study UK Alumni Awards celebrate and showcase the impact and value of a UK higher education and raise the international profile of UK alumni, their former universities, and the whole of UK education. Award winners and finalists are leaders in their fields who have used their experience of studying at a UK university to make a positive contribution to their communities, industries and countries.

Follow our global Alumni Awards on Study UK Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 80 million people directly and 791 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. www.britishcouncil.org