Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The British Council and the British Embassy in Saudi Arabia have launched the fourth year of a prestigious award celebrating the outstanding achievements of UK’s international alumni in Saudi Arabia. The Study UK Alumni Awards are global awards and are open to alumni living anywhere outside of the UK, finding and celebrating more success stories of the UK’s alumni.

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. British university alumni can apply themselves or be nominated by someone else. Nominations close Oct. 28 and applications close on Nov. 11. All eligible applicants will be put forward for the global awards.

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. The Study UK Alumni Awards for 2018 saw distinguished and talented alumni Prof. Turki Althubaiti, Dr. Nouf Alnumair and Dr. Abdallah Adlan win the professional achievement award, social impact award and entrepreneurial award, respectively.

A great supporter of the annual Study UK Alumni Awards, Saudi Cultural Attaché to the UK, Dr. Abdulaziz Bin Ali Almagushi, shared, “As the Saudi Cultural Attaché in the United Kingdom, with the support of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, and the Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, we work to provide the best opportunities for Saudi students in the UK. Their studies here enable them to go back home and actively participate in Vision 2030. We encourage all alumni to apply for the Study UK Alumni Awards and use it as a platform to inspire others and showcase the combined strength of Saudi student’s hard work and a UK education.”

British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Simon Collis said: “I look forward to celebrating with and congratulating the alumni award finalists not only on their impressive professional successes but also their role as ambassadors for UK higher education”

The Awards were launched at a reception hosted by the British Consul General Barrie Peach in Jeddah, who said: “I am delighted to announce the launch of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2019. The award is all about honoring the success of individuals whose achievements here in KSA have been, in some measure, influenced by their experience of studying at a UK university.”

Amir Ramzan, country director at the British Council in Saudi Arabia, said: “We know from one of our recent education reports that 90% of GCC students loved their UK study experience and would recommend it to their peers. It’s even more pleasing to know that many of the 9000+ Saudi students who study in the UK annually, will return after their positive experience in the UK, with new skills and knowledge ready to make a huge impact in their respective fields.”

The awards are open to alumni currently residing in any country outside the UK, who have either studied in the UK, at an officially recognized provider of UK university degree level study for a minimum of a term or semester, or who have been awarded a full UK degree level qualification (or higher), by a UK university through a local institution overseas, within the last 15 years.

Finalists for the awards will be announced in January 2019, and winners celebrated in an award ceremony in Riyadh in March 2019. Award winners have the opportunity to raise their international profile, expand their professional networks, and to enhance their careers.