News

Monday 26 March 2007

Nottingham Trent University student shines in International Student Awards

Malaysian student Zuo Yen Lee’s inspirational story of student life in Nottingham has resulted in her being named the East Midlands’ International Student of the Year, 2007. Now the 26–year-old Nottingham Trent University postgraduate MSc student is preparing to challenge for the title of overall International Student of the Year in a prestigious British Council competition.

Zuo Yen is one of 12 regional winners who will gather in London next month to meet a final judging panel, before going on to have their extraordinary achievements honoured in a national awards ceremony in London. She was one of more than 2,000 students, representing 130 nationalities, to enter the 2007 International Student Awards - UK’s biggest competition designed to shine the spotlight firmly on international students and their unique contributions to life in the UK.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary year, the competition attracted entries from students studying at universities, colleges of further and higher education, schools and English language institutions all over the UK – with almost 135 from institutions in the East Midlands.

The International Student Awards is different from other student competitions. Instead of focusing solely on academic achievements, it focuses on extra-curricular achievements and community involvement, celebrating the whole international student ‘experience’.

To enter, each student was asked to write a personal ‘letter home’ in English, detailing the out-of-class achievements that help make their time in the UK so rewarding.

Zuo Yen’s letter described how she has immersed herself in the local community – teaching science at primary schools and volunteering her services as a litter-picker during the Big Spring Clean in Nottingham City Centre.

One of 90 Malaysians to enter this year’s competition, Zuo Yen wrote: “As I like the city and University so much, I have joined the International Student Ambassador Scheme to help promote the University, the city and the country to students who wish to come to the UK.”

“I feel that that my life is so much more meaningful by putting in some effort and returning something good to society.”

A judging panel, comprising representatives of the British Council and the East Midlands Development Agency, met in Nottingham earlier this month to discuss the merits of shortlisted entries from the region. Zuo Yen’s letter was judged to be the best and she will receive a £1,000 prize. The ultimate winner of the title International Student of the Year will receive a £2,000 prize at the competition final in April.

Nottingham Trent University’s International Development Director, Tim O’Brien, said: “We know that our students are world-class. But for Zuo to be recognised in this way, especially against some very stiff competition, is an enormous tribute to her and to the opportunities life in Nottingham can offer.”

The Rt Hon Lord Neil Kinnock, Chair of the British Council, said: “The International Student Awards provide proof in abundance of the value that international students bring to our communities in the UK, as well as the value that the UK experience gives them to take to their home countries when their studies are complete.”

“In the UK, international students can make the most of their time here with activities which extend far beyond course work and formal qualifications and into personal and social encounters.”

Lord Kinnock adds: “As in previous years, the students’ original stories provided us with fascinating reading, as well as a wealth of promotional material that will help us - and individual institutions - in our mutual quest to encourage the next generation of international students to come to the UK.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
For more information please contact:
Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email.

Additional information

• There are currently 279,485 international students studying in higher and further education in UK. More than 7,580 international students entered UK independent schools in 2005-06, while around 600,000 international students come to the UK to learn English every year, on a wide variety of courses.
• Major international figures that have studied in the UK include former US president Bill Clinton, former Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandi, sculptor Anish Kapoor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, fashion designer Rifat Ozbek, authors Jung Chang and Vikram Seth, and Malaysian-born shoe designer Jimmy Choo.
• The International Student Awards are open to international students studying full-time at UK universities, colleges, English language schools and boarding schools, on courses lasting six months or more.
• Entrants were grouped into regions - North West, Yorkshire, North East, West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, South West, London, South East, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
• Each of the 12 regional finalists will be invited to an unforgettable trip to London for a two-day celebration in April that will include a night’s accommodation in the capital city and the chance to ‘glam up’ for a prestigious awards’ presentation ceremony.