Applications for UK Study Alumni Awards are open until 29 October 2021
The British Embassy and the British Council have announced the winners of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2020-2021 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
At an award ceremony hosted by the British ambassador in Riyadh, Neil Crompton, on Wednesday.
UK graduates from Jeddah, Riyadh, Dhahran, Qassim and Thuwal were honored for their outstanding achievements
As business professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders, and for their important contributions to strengthening collaborative relationships between the UK and Saudi Arabia.
The awards were then developed by the British Council and UK Universities, and are open to graduates residing in any country outside the UK who have studied in the UK,
At an officially recognized provider of university-level study in the UK for at least a semester or semester, or hold a full UK-level (or higher) qualification from a UK university in the past 15 years
Speaking at the awards ceremony, the British envoy said: “I am delighted to personally host the 7th UK Alumni Study Award Ceremony,
And I have the opportunity to meet many of the outstanding Saudi women and men who are driving economic success and social impact through their work in their jobs and in their communities to achieve the vision set by their leadership.”
He also added, "This prestigious international award celebrates higher education in the United Kingdom and the achievements of distinguished Saudis who studied in the United Kingdom."
And they use their education to make a positive impact. It reflects the broader partnership between our two countries. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners.
I encourage the many Saudis who have studied in the UK to apply for the awards so that more of these amazing stories can be shared, not only to celebrate their success but also to inspire others.”
Ilidh Kennedy MacLean, Country Director of the British Council, said: “All the special individuals we celebrated today at the Awards Ceremony have taken their education in the UK.
As a springboard to excel in their chosen professions and shape the world around them. This year's awards ceremony is not only a testimony
not only on the diversity of UK graduates and their endeavours, but also on the transformative impact of UK education. With more than 100,000 alumni in UK education, there is a lot to celebrate.”
The award has received around 1,300 applications from international UK alumni in over 100 countries,
They represent over 120 UK higher education institutions across the UK. After interviews with the jury, recipients were selected for the three award categories: professional achievement, entrepreneurship, and social impact.
The Professional Achievement Award, which is given to graduates who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in their professional field, was presented to Dr. Roaa El Sobky, alumna of University College London.
Roaa is the Vice Dean of the Deanship of Skills and Development at King Saud University, the first woman to hold this position.
The Social Impact Award, which honors alumni who have made an exceptional contribution to creating positive social change, was introduced,
Dr. Bandar Al-Osaimi for founding COVIDAT, a website that provides scientific information on COVID-19 in Arabic.
He saw the need to translate developments in medical research to the daily Arab reader to avoid misinformation and misconceptions about the coronavirus.
Al-Osaimi graduated from the University of Manchester and the University of Salford, where he obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees, and is an assistant professor of virology at the College of Medicine, head of the virology research team and head of research laboratories at King Fahd Medical School. city.
The Entrepreneurship Award was presented to Dr. Wael Mousa, a graduate of the University of Leeds.
Mousa is the founding dean of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Professor of Electrical Engineering at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.
He was the first Saudi to be sponsored by Dhahran Techno Valley to obtain a Ph.D. in electronics and electrical engineering from the University of Leeds.
Sir Steve Smith, the UK Prime Minister's Special Representative for Education, attended the award ceremony and told Arab News: "I am here for a strategic partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia in the education sector.
The role was appointed following a meeting between the two governments in 2018 and the goal is to build on more than 60 years of cooperation between our two countries.”
"Since my appointment a year ago, we've started a lot of initiatives, some really exciting announcements in the areas of special educational needs and skills in colleges and universities," he added.
On the progress made in the Saudi-British educational partnership, Smith said that the partnership is developing well.
“The key is to have a deep relationship. We are trying to make sure that we have momentum for activities, and get partners in the UK and Saudi Arabia to see that they can benefit each other.”
The Saudi Minister of Education, Dr. Hamad bin Muhammad Al-Sheikh and Smith discussed ways to enhance educational, academic and research cooperation and exchange best practices and experiences between the two countries.
The meeting dealt with the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom in the field of education and areas of cooperation in public education.
Curriculum development and course system program for secondary education, in addition to teaching talented and students with disabilities.
The talks also dealt with cooperation in university education, scientific research, accreditation of academic qualifications,
As well as academic and research partnerships between the universities of the two countries, and the promotion of cooperation in integrated and distance education.
He said the universities of the two countries are getting closer to working together. He added that the University of Birmingham signed, on Tuesday, an agreement with King Saud University.