Malaysians win alumni awards
THE Malaysian winners of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2017 were announced at a gala award ceremony hosted by British High Commissioner to Malaysia Vicki Treadell last Thursday.
They are Junior Gunnar Putera Eldstal, Mary-Ann Suan Kim Ooi and Dzameer Dzulkifli.
Junior Gunnar who is a graduate of Hartpury University Centre, University of the West of England, received the Professional Achievement Award while Suan a graduate of the University of Sheffield and City University London the Entrepreneurial Achievement Award and Dzameer a graduate of Imperial College London received the Social Impact Award.
The awards were organised by the British Council with the support of the British High Commission in Malaysia.
“Education has the power to transform lives.
“These outstanding individuals demonstrate how their lives have been transformed by a UK education, and they, in turn, play a role in transforming the lives of others,” said Treadell.
British Council Malaysia director Sarah Deverall said: “I am delight- ed that this year by bringing our Alumni Awards to Malaysia for the first time, we are able to recognise the achievements of these talented individuals, who have used their UK studies to such outstanding effect in their professional lives and their communities.”
Legendary shoe designer and UK alumnus Prof Jimmy Choo is Global Ambassador of the Alumni Awards was also present.
“Studying in the UK was an experience that changed my life and contributed to my success today.
“It is an honour to be supporting today’s recent outstanding UK university alumni by sharing their success stories and positive impact on the world,” he said.
The Study UK Alumni Awards 2017 in Malaysia received over 60 applications out of which 15 finalists were selected through a competitive process.
Choo presented the award the Professional Achievement Award while AirAsia Bhd CEO Aireen Omar the Entrepreneurial Achievement Award and activist Datuk S. Ambiga Sreenevasan the Social Impact Award.
The Study UK Alumni Awards, created by the British Council in partnership with UK higher education institutions, are intended to recognise outstanding success in Entrepreneurism, Professional Achievement and Social Impact by people who have studied at UK higher education institutions within the last 15 years.
In Malaysia, 15 finalists were selected for the Entrepreneurial, Professional Achievement and Social Impact categories.
Applications were received from alumni from more than 125 UK universities in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They were then reviewed by judging panels in the applicant’s country of entry, and their respective university.
This year the awards are being held in 14 locations - Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.