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National Education Award
given to Southport's Monira Ahmed
A University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
careers adviser has won a 'British Muslim Award' for her service
to education. Monira Ahmed beat off stiff competition from research
professors and high profile academics from across the United Kingdom to claim
the prestigious prize.
The part time careers and graduate employability adviser, from Southport,
Merseyside, attended the ceremony in Leicester on Wednesday, night, said:-
"I was so honoured and very proud to have made the shortlist of 10 alongside
some very high profile academics so I didn't think I'd have a chance of winning
it. Being a finalist was such an amazing achievement so to be named the winner
was wonderful. The announcer didn't read the winning name straightaway but
started talking about the person's career. As soon as they mentioned careers
adviser I knew it was me so I turned to my dad and said 'I've won, that's me
they're talking about.' It was an absolutely wonderful feeling and then my main
concern was then walking to the stage in killer heels and a long dress!"
The 39 year old, from worked in higher education for nearly 20 years and has
spent the past 5 years at UCLan's Campus in Preston.
Monira, who also writes a careers blog, said:- "When I was a student at
university I was listening to a talk about the challenges which British Muslims
face in education and employment. That talk was the catalyst and it paved the
way for my future because I knew from that moment on I wanted to help people,
particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, with their ambitions and goals."
The Services to Education Award 2017, which was sponsored by Qatar Charity UK,
is not the 1st award for Monira. In 2016 she scooped the national Careers
Champion award as well! |
