Awards celebrate student achievement and create new connections

Graduating Master of Business Administration (MBA) students have been recognised for their results, research, forward-thinking, commitment to sustainability, resilience, leadership, potential and the support they have provided to fellow students.

The award presentations were held for the first time and combined with the University’s first UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) networking event. The Fund is a Government business support project.

The inaugural MBA Awards and Business Networking evening took place in the iconic Churchill building at the University’s Queen’s Park site, this autumn.

Staff and students joined with companies from the region to mark the winners’ successes. The event was opened by Chester Business School Dean, Associate Professor Kirstie Simpson, and Claire Brook from headline sponsor, Aaron and Partners Solicitors.

The award winners were:

• MBA Student of the Year Award, sponsored by Aaron & PartnersArnold Kho Kai Wei.

• Start-up Award, sponsored by Barefoot Coaching - Dimeji Falana, CEO of Edves, the leading Edtech in the emerging market. Teachers, parents, students and school leaders from more than 1,500 schools use the software to automate operations from student enrolment to graduation.

• Sustainability Award for the Best Research Paper, sponsored by Oases Habitat Building Limited - Olaniyi Odeleye.

• Resilience Award, sponsored by The Bren Project - Womi Awuto.

• Leadership Award, sponsored by InPD (In Professional Development)Binu Rani Albert.

• Peer-Support Award, sponsored by Grosvenor Hart Homes - Nkechi Ucheya.

• One-to-Watch Award, sponsored by Oases Habitat Building LimitedWeronika Sroka.

Student of the Year Award recipient, Arnold Kho Kai Wei said: “I am honoured to receive this award and I would like to share this with my friends, family, and lecturers who have supported me throughout my MBA journey. Keep going and believing in yourself.”

Dr Alex Fenton, Associate Dean, International; Dr Trevor Omoruyi, MBA Director, and Louise Goodman, UKSPF lead at the University, formed the idea for the event.

Dr Fenton shared its significance: “Congratulations to all the winners. The evening was a celebration of achievement and another opportunity to open our doors to bring together our outstanding students with the fantastic business community in Chester and Cheshire

“It signalled a first and by combining the awards with our UKSPF event, we really hope that our staff, students and local businesses got a lot out of the evening, and it leads to exciting new opportunities for everyone.”

Dr Omoruyi continued: “The event goes beyond recognising graduating MBA students from different countries, for their excellent achievement across the various categories. It was an opportunity to bring our students directly in front of potential employers, and organisations where they can bring about change.

The achievements and innovation of postgraduate students from the University of Chester’s Business School were celebrated at a pioneering awards and networking event.

“Some of these businesses across different sectors have signed up to mentor our MBA students. This is so important, knowing that as a business school, we are keen on developing responsible leaders for the future.”

Claire Brook, Employment Partner at Aaron and Partners said: “We are proud to sponsor this important evening, celebrating student achievements in the heart of Chester’s business community. Continuous learning and development are at the heart of our firm’s success and we celebrate the MBA programme at the University as it nurtures our region’s next generation business leaders.” Michela Sumner, InPD Head of Operations added: “Driving the change improvement agenda requires strong leaders and courageous conversations and it has been an inspiration to be present with such a capable group, and gain and share insights.”

The flagship MBA programme provides students with a firm foundation in core business principles while developing a broad outlook and understanding of the role of business in the world, all informed by the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) and Sustainable Development Goals.