UK university alumni vie for awards

THE British Council Malaysia recently announced the finalists for Malaysia’s Study UK Alumni Awards 2017. here will be 14 award ceremonies this year, taking place in Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, the United States and Malaysia.
OVERWHELMING RESPONSE
According to the British Council, finalists were selected from over 1,200 applicants. Applications were received from alumni from more than 125 universities in UK across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Each application was reviewed by a judging panel from the applicant’s country of entry, as well as their respective university.
In Malaysia, the names of 15 finalists were recently announced. They will vie for the prestigious award of which only three will receive.
Announcement of the three award recipients will be made at a ceremony on March 16, 2017. The three awards under the Study UK Alumni Awards 2017 banner are the Entrepreneurial Award, Professional Achievement Award and Social Impact Award. Each category will be represented by five nominees.
RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE
The Study UK Alumni Awards was established by the British Council in partnership with UK higher education institutions. It is aimed at recognising outstanding students who have studied at UK higher education institutions within the last 15 years - successful alumni who display entrepreneurial prowess, exhibit professional achievement and made an impact where social issues are concerned.
Legendary shoe designer Datuk Jimmy Choo is a global ambassador of the Alumni Awards. Others included this year as ambassadors include Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Datuk Seri Idris Jala and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.
SIGNIFICANT AWARDS
British Council Malaysia director Sarah Deverall shared her excitement on the awards launched this year in Malaysia.
“The award is all about honouring the success of individuals whose achievements here in Malaysia have been, in some measure, influenced by their experience of studying at a UK university. We celebrate with them and congratulate them not only on their impressive professional successes but in their capacity as ‘ambassadors’ for UK higher education,” Deverall said.
For more information, visit the British Council website (https://www.britishcouncil.my/study-uk/uk-alumni) or its Facebook page.
Names of finalists
Entrepreneurial Award
► Ashwin Jeyapalasingam, Imperial College London
► Christopher Tock, Imperial College London
► Irene Cheng Ai Ling, University of Sheffield and University of Lincoln
► Mary-Ann Suan Kim Ooi, University of Sheffield and City University London
► Raja Hamzah Abidin Raja Nong Chik, University of Warwick
Professional Achievement Award
► Dr Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam, University of Cambridge
► Dr Joanne Yeoh, Heriot-Watt University, University of Leeds and Middlesex University
► Junior Gunnar Putera Eldstal, Hartpury University Centre, University of West England
► Kishva Ambigapathy, Durham University
► Dr Louisa Shobini Ponnampalam, Univesity Marine Biological Station Millport (University of London) now Millport Field Centre
Social Impact Award
► Dr Aizan Sofia Amin, University of Glasgow
► Dzameer Dzulkifli, Imperial College London
► Ian Yee, Liverpool John Moores University
► Karthik Karunanithy, University of Gloucestershire
► Sasibai Kimis, University of Cambridge