Awards success for Edinburgh Global

With the awards season in full swing, Edinburgh Global has plenty to celebrate. Our staff have won three different University awards, and many more have been recognised with numerous nominations.

Mastercard foundation team members

Principal's Medal

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program team will be awarded a Principal's Medal for "the Team's dedication to the creation and delivery of an innovative academic, social and transformative programme for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars". 

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program offers postgraduate scholarships to talented students from Africa to study programmes exclusively linked to making an impact on the climate crisis. The team recruit exceptional young people with great academic and leadership experience who have overcome barriers to their education.

The team will receive their medal on 28 November 2024, alongside Mastercard Foundation Scholars' graduating with their degree. 

Winners - Mastercard Foundation Scholar's Team

The team:

Charlie Bevan, Program Director 

Sharon Boateng, Program Manager 

Pete Kingsley, Student Development Coordinator 

Inga Ackermann, Online Learning and Leadership Coordinator 

Karen Pinto-Csaszar, Administrator 

Faithy Ngaira, International Recruitment Coordinator 

Megan Douglas, WESAF Programme Coordinator Hammed Kayode Alabi, Transitions Coordinator 

We know our team builds on the work of many who came before us, but also of the community across Edinburgh Global and beyond that has supported our programme and Scholars over the past 8 years. I hope Edinburgh Global feels our gratitude, and that this is an award for us all in Edinburgh Global!

Charlie Bevan Program Director, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

USG Recognition Awards

The USG Recognition Awards 2024 winners were announced on 14 November 2024 at a ceremony in Playfair Library.

Sarah Hoey, Deputy Head of the Global Community Team at Edinburgh Global won the Collaborating for Success award.

Graham Ayres, Solicitor, Legal Services – the judge for the Collaborating for Success Award category commented: 

"What stood out was Sarah’s ability to implement a sector-leading initiative scholarship programme called Education Beyond Borders, which provides a package of support to students and academics who have been forcibly displaced from their home country due to conflict, violence or persecution.   This required collaboration within USG, and the wider University, and the ability to gain support for a new programme despite our challenging financial circumstances. Not only did Sarah collaborate to implement change within the University, she collaborated to create life-changing opportunities for others in the wider world. It is that success which makes Sarah a truly worthy winner."

Winner - Sarah Hoey

Sarah won the Collaborating for Success Award at the USG Recognition Awards 2024.

 

Photo of Sarah Hoey

I’m very surprised but delighted to win this award. While it’s been a big lift to get Education Beyond Borders off the ground, it’s very much been a team effort - not only within Edinburgh Global, but across multiple Units in USG and the wider University too. Without everyone getting behind this challenging but incredibly worthwhile programme, we certainly wouldn’t be where we are now.

Sarah Hoey

2024 People of CAHSS Award - Community Impact Award

Sarah Hoey achieved double honours in 2024, being recently recognised as a winner at the CAHSS Annual Awards Ceremony held in McEwan Hall. The People of CAHSS Awards 2024 is a peer recognition scheme open to all staff working within and across the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS).

With short-form nominations across nine categories, the scheme provides an opportunity for staff to publicly and proudly celebrate colleagues who have “made a valuable contribution to their community.”

In 2024, the scheme received a record-breaking 1,830 nominations of exceptional quality, submitted by colleagues from academic, professional services, and technical roles spanning various career stages.

Sarah was honoured with the Community Impact Award, nominated by the central legal team for her “contribution to developing a more inclusive University community and her tireless efforts in supporting colleagues with their immigration-related concerns.”

USG Recognition Awards - our nominees and shortlisted staff

Edinburgh Global was exceptionally well-represented at the USG Recognition Awards 2024, with 20 department members and two teams nominated across all award categories. Notably, five of the six award categories featured Edinburgh Global nominees on the shortlist.

In addition to Sarah's success in winning the Collaborating for Success award, the following staff were also shortlisted and celebrated:

Outstanding Student Experience Award

  • Cara McKeown, Impact Coordinator for the Scholars Network, Edinburgh Global and Development & Alumni

USG Role Model Award

  • Sharon Boateng, Programme Manager for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme, Edinburgh Global

Change Maker Award

  • Faithy Ngaira, Recruitment Coordinator, Edinburgh Global

Outstanding Team Performance Award

  • Edinburgh Global Business Unit

Grateful to be nominated alongside wonderful colleagues! And anything anybody might see as worth emulating is just a reflection the inspiration and support I receive from my colleagues, scholars, friends, family and faith!

Sharon Boateng Shortlisted: USG Role Model Award

Being nominated is reaffirming and motivating. My role as a Recruitment Coordinator for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program allows me to contribute significantly to our University's international diversification goals. By managing a robust recruitment process that attracts 7000+ applicants annually, including targeted efforts for women, refugees, and individuals with disabilities, we are fostering a globally diverse and inclusive academic community. 

“This nomination recognizes our collective efforts in providing a recruitment strategy that meets the needs of a diverse applicant pool and ensures smooth access to programmes focused on climate justice, both on-campus and online. It is an acknowledgement of our continued work and a motivation for future plans. I am honoured and inspired to continue advocating for and supporting our scholarship applicants.

Faithy Ngaira Shortlisted: USG Change Makers Award

Reading the official wording of the award gives us a sense of belonging and achievement and allows us all the opportunity to appreciate how we are viewed by those who nominated us…….they think we are exceptional; impressive; that we set a standard; that we contribute positively and that our team dynamic is effective….WOW!

We feel lucky to be part of our team, where we genuinely look out for each other and we are there to give support at every turn, in any way we can.

Edinburgh Global Business Unit Shortlisted: USG Outstanding Team Performance Award

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