Monday 10 January 2022

British Council and the British Embassy celebrate UK alumni in Azerbaijan.
10 January 2022

The British Council and the British Embassy are delighted to announce the 12 finalists for the Study UK Alumni Awards 2021-22 in Azerbaijan. Our 12 finalists were selected from more than 1,200 applicants from around the world, for their outstanding achievements as professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders, and for their important contribution to strengthening collaborative ties between the UK and Azerbaijan. The five award winners will be announced at a ceremony at Hilton Baku / Sevda Ballroom on 28 January, 19.00. The British Council will also livestream the awards ceremony on our official Facebook page

The prestigious international award celebrates UK higher education and the achievements of UK alumni all over the world. Now in its eighth year, international UK alumni applied from more than 100 countries, representing more than 140 UK higher education institutions across the UK. 

Media representatives are kindly invited to attend this event at 18.30 on 28 January at Hilton Baku, Sevda Ballroom. In Azerbaijan, the Study UK Alumni Awards 2021-22 are brought to you by the British Council in Azerbaijan and the British Embassy in Baku.

The finalists of the Science and Sustainability award, which recognises alumni who have distinguished themselves through their career and achievements in the world of science and sustainability, are:

  • Narmin Babayeva - graduate of the University of Leeds,
  • Rauf Jabarov - graduate of the University of Manchester,
  • Inqilab Shahbazov - graduate of the University of Sheffield.

The finalists of the Culture and Creativity award, which recognises alumni who have carved a career for themselves in arts and culture, individuals who demonstrated their artistic ingenuity, influence and creativity, are:

  • Lala Aliyeva - graduate of Goldsmiths, University of London,
  • Asiya Gasanova - graduate of the University of the Arts, London,
  • Asli Samadova - graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science.

The finalists of the Social Action award, which recognises alumni who have made an exceptional contribution and commitment to creating positive social change and improving the lives of others, are:

  • Turkan Aliyeva - graduate of the University of Leicester,
  • Muzhdat Hasanov - graduate of the University of Bristol,
  • Hamida Zeynalova - graduate of Birmingham City University.

The finalists of the Business and Innovation award, which recognises alumni who are active in initiating and contributing to innovative or creative new ideas, solutions or business opportunities, that have the potential for growth, are:

  • Musa Afandiyev - graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science,
  • Rovshan Alizadeh - graduate of Cardiff University,
  • Rashad Mirzayev - graduate of London City University - CASS Business School.

To read more about this year’s inspirational finalists, please follow this link:
https://www.britishcouncil.az/en/study-uk/alumni-awards

The winners of each award category in Azerbaijan will win a prize of 3,000 GBP (~6,930 AZN) to spend for a professional development opportunity of their choice.

Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. James Sharp:
“This is already the third year that I’ve had the opportunity to select finalists for the Study UK Alumni Awards, and I continue to be hugely impressed by the quality and the dedication of the candidates. It’s wonderful to see all these young people who have developed their knowledge and skills studying in the UK, and have come back to Azerbaijan to apply what they’ve learned in their respective fields. I wish them all great success for the future.”

British Council Director in Azerbaijan, Mr. Francis Gardener-Trejo:
“Educational exchange is a crucially important component of the UK’s strategic relationship with Azerbaijan. The scale of Azerbaijan’s network of UK alumni is extensive, and their contributions across many key sectors have played a significant role in shaping the country’s future. The Study UK Alumni Awards are an opportunity to celebrate truly notable individuals, and to acknowledge the role UK education has had in enabling their achievements.”

Notes to Editor

The Alumni Awards were developed by the British Council and UK universities, and were launched by the British Council in September 2014. They are open to alumni currently residing in any country outside the UK, who have been officially registered as a degree level student or higher, at an officially recognised 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, within the last 15 years.

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, professions and countries. The Alumni Awards celebrate and showcase the impact and value of a UK higher education and raises the profile and reputation of UK alumni, their former universities, and the whole of UK education.

For full details about the Study UK Alumni Awards please refer to:
https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/alumni-awards

For a list of previous Study UK Alumni Award recipients, please refer to:
https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/alumni-awards/winners

For further information, please contact:
Einar Iliyev│Marketing Manager | British Council in South Caucasus 
einar.iliyev@britishcouncil.org | T +994 (0) 12 497 1593

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 80 million people directly and 791 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.

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