British Council recognises University of Nottingham alumnus

British Council Ghana Award winner 
26 Feb 2013 12:59:00.000

PA 56/13

A University of Nottingham graduate from Ghana has won a coveted British Council award for his continued commitment and support for the University’s activities in his home country.

Eric Gyan, who gained a postgraduate degree in cancer immunology and biotechnology, returned to Africa and won the Most Effective Ambassador award in recognition of his work to widen awareness of the study and scholarship opportunities available for Ghanaian students at the University.

Currently working at The University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana as the only faculty member with an academic background in cancer, Eric has been contributing the knowledge gained from his studies at Nottingham by spearheading research into the medicinal properties of a local plant in treating the disease.

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With his enthusiasm for helping local students pursue an international education, Eric has been sharing his own experiences of studying with a full Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, aimed at awarding academically-talented students from developing Commonwealth countries to benefit from postgraduate study at a university in the UK and return home to utilise their knowledge and skills for development purposes. He has also been making current UCC students aware of the other scholarship opportunities on offer at The University of Nottingham.

Eric said: “Without the Commonwealth scholarship I obtained, I wouldn’t have been able to afford a British education, which is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. While being employed at UCC, I realised it was a golden opportunity for me to enlighten students, especially those in their final year, on the various programmes and scholarships available at The University of Nottingham.”

The University of Nottingham has a history of dedication to supporting development in Ghana through capacity building, collaborative support and knowledge transfer. Last year’s launch of its Accra-based West Africa Office has underpinned its commitment and extended links with current partners in Ghana and the region.

The University has invested in establishing mutually beneficial partnerships with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) between the schools of nursing, as well as with local collaborators supporting joint research into global food security, under the ‘Crops for the Future’ initiative.

Now in its second decade, the University of Nottingham’s Developing Solutions Scheme, is one of the UK’s largest scholarship programmes for the developing world. It works in collaboration with external organisations and individuals to support students from developing countries, with the aim of empowering students through learning so they can make a real difference to the development and prosperity of their home country.

As part of the scheme, the Developing Solutions Masters Scholarship supports students on one-year masters courses. Priority subject areas relating to environment, food, health and technology have been selected to offer the best opportunities to students who wish to return home to improve and develop their communities.

Brigitte Rudram, Regional Manager of the West Africa Office, commented: “We are extremely grateful to Eric’s support, as we are to numerous other Ghanaian alumni who have provided significant ongoing support for the University and fellow Ghanaians since graduation.”

The deadline to apply for 2013’s Developing Solutions Masters Scholarship is Friday 26 April. For details about how to apply, visit: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/internationalstudents/scholarshipsfeesfinance/scholarships/scholarshipdetails/dev-sol-masters.aspx

The deadline to apply for 2013’s Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is Wednesday 20 March. For details about how to apply, visit: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/internationalstudents/scholarshipsfeesfinance/scholarships/scholarshipdetails/comm-shared-masters.aspx

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Notes to editors: The University of Nottinghamhas 42,000 students at award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. It was ‘one of the first to embrace a truly international approach to higher education’, according to the Sunday Times University Guide 2013. It is also one of the most popular universities among graduate employers, one of the world’s greenest universities, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 75 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong and the QS World Rankings.

More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University aims to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its research into global food security.

Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest ever fundraising campaign, will deliver the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…

Story credits

More information is available from Ms Brigitte Rudram, Regional Manager of West Africa Office, The University of Nottingham on +233 (0)302216660, brigitte.rudram@nottingham.ac.uk
Tim Utton

Tim Utton - Deputy Director of Communications

Email: tim.utton@nottingham.ac.uk Phone: +44 (0)115 846 8092 Location: University Park

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