Celebrating our British Council Women in STEM Master Scholars
The latest cohort of British Council Women in STEM Master Scholars was celebrated at a networking event at the School of Science & Technology.
Published
On Wednesday 29 November, the success of the School of Science & Technology's latest cohort of British Council Women in STEM Master Scholars was celebrated at a networking event alongside counterparts from the previous two years of the scholarship programme.
Meet our latest scholars
Besarta Vladi holds a PhD in Innovation Management, an MBA, and a Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations and Communication, from the European University of Tirana, Albania. She further holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Tirana, Albania.
She is currently studying for her MSc in Project Management, Finance and Risk at City.
Nadja Goranovic obtained her Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Belgrade, Serbia.
She is currently studying for her MSc in Project Management, Finance and Risk at City.
Elma Shurdhi obtained her Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance, and then her Master's in Finance from the University of Tirana, Albania.
She is currently studying for her MSc in Financial Technology and Systems at City.
Naile Haliti obtained her Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and her Master's degree in Physical Chemistry from the University of Prishtina, Kosovo.
She is currently studying for her MSc in Project Management, Finance and Risk at City.
Aulone Fazliu received her Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Prishtina, Kosovo.
She is currently studying for her MSc in Project Management, Finance and Risk at City.
Over the last three years, the programme has received £560k from the British Council and has supported 16 women in STEM scholars in the Department of Engineering and the Department of Computer Science with full tuition and bursary fees. Those scholars that graduated last year have already secured positions with world leading companies and startups in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
This year’s scholars hailed from Balkan nations, while the previous two years’ scholars hailed from nations in South Asia.
The celebratory event, at which the new scholars were welcomed and congratulated, was joined by Dr Tatyana Micic, Associate Dean for Postgraduate Education, who set up and has led the scholarship programme since 2020; Professor Rajkumar Roy, Executive Dean of the School; Dr Peter Popov, Associate Dean for International Partnerships; Professor Asa Barber, Head of the Department of Engineering; Dr Veselin Rakocevic, Programme Director, and several MSc Programme Directors and support staff from the School.
Professor Roy spoke to the scholars, beginning by recognising the challenges they face as international students in postgraduate study:
I think this is the most important thing to recognise, that for you it’s an extra challenge. That you’ve come abroad without studying in the UK as undergraduates and that makes a big difference.
Executive Dean, Professor Raj Roy meets this year's scholars
This year's British Council Women in STEM Scholars with Dr Tatyana Micic and Professor Raj Roy
Professor Roy also shared how grateful the University was to the British Council for supporting the scholarship programme which, now in its third year, had allowed the School to further develop the ways in which it can help its scholars, such as with preparation of CVs and for interviews.
Following informal talks with academics, wider networking took place with some of the previous years’ scholars, and School staff, over a buffet lunch.
Networking Lunch
Dr Veselin Rakocevic, (right), alumni and others networking over lunch
Reflecting on her scholarship, Besarta Vladi said:
For me 'STEM' symbolises not only Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, but also the Sacrifice of being distanced from my family and beloved daughter, a Transformative shift in my daily routine, the Empowerment of knowledge, and a wellspring of Motivation for a brighter future. My heartfelt gratitude extends to the British Council and City, University of London for bestowing upon me this extraordinary opportunity. I am convinced that every sacrifice made is inherently worthwhile.
Nadja Goranovic said:
I have to say, from the moment I decided to apply, this scholarship already made a significant impact on my life, and I think this is only the beginning. For these past three months I gained new friends and for me just to take that part is the greatest value of all. The MSc Project Management, Risk and Finance came as an opportunity at the right time, since I finally saw where I would like my career to go. This program is more than I ever hoped it would be, especially regarding the professors and their commitment to transfer their abundance of knowledge to us in the best possible way.
From left to right: Annu Mary Zacharias (2021 cohort scholar); Navdeep Chhabba (2021 cohort scholar); Dr Tatyana Micic; Nadja Goranovic; Dr Asa Barber; Elma Shurdhi; Dr Veselin Rakocevic; Naile Haliti; Mark Heitlin, Head of Global Engagement at City; Aulone Fazliu; Dr Peter Popov; Laura Southerland, Global Engagement Manager at City; Besarti Vladi; Lisa Schwartz, EA to SST Executive Dean.
