Convocation Trust prize continues to impact students’ lives
In 2017, you were presented with the James Stewart Cook Convocation Trust Prize. What did winning this award mean to you at the time? The award was special to me as it came on the back of a very exhausting first year. I had worked very hard in my first year, juggling both extra curriculars and studies, and now I had something to show for it. It also confirmed for me the age old adage that hard work reaps dividends. This gave me renewed fervour to excel in my subsequent years in undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The prize is given to the undergraduate student who achieves the highest mark for the Introduction to Political Science module. To what do you attribute your success?
Alumnus Jonah Foong with Bill Abraham, Director of Development
We speak to alumnus Jonah Foong about his time studying with the University for a BSc in International Relations, and how it felt to be awarded the James Stewart Cook Convocation Trust Prize as a student. What was it that attracted you to the University of London and studying as a distance learner via the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM)?
An acute interest in the subject, a very able lecturer, and reading widely. I cannot stress the last one enough. Like all social science subjects, Political Science is a living subject. Every other day there is an election going on in the news, which presents fresh material to apply theory to practice. But you have to read the news regularly to know when these things are happening. The more one knows about history or current affairs, the better. What impact has the prize had on your education and career since then?
I knew that the University of London and its constituent colleges had a solid reputation in the social sciences. UoL also offered a degree in International Relations, a subject I was and still am very much interested in. At the same time, I knew that SIM had a small but growing body of students who were interested in global politics. I wanted the full university experience; not just to hit the books but also to meet like-minded folks who I could bounce ideas off. The SIM+UoL experience certainly provided that.
Winning the prize gave me confidence to apply for SIM’s academic scholarship at the start of my second year. It didn’t hurt that the prize also made my application stand out compared to my fellow applicants. I eventually won that scholarship, which helped eased my finances and opened ever more professional and academic opportunities, eventually culminating in my master’s scholarship. I couldn’t have known at the time how much of an impact this prize would go on to have, but it’s only when I look back that I see the domino effect it’s had. And I’d like to think that there are yet more dominoes waiting to fall, all set in motion by this one tiny piece all those years ago.
Can you share some of your highlights of your time as a UoL student?
Jonah is currently studying for an MSc in Development Studies with the London School of Economics.
Some of my best memories were forged as a student leader at the International Affairs Society. As part of the club’s Model United Nations team I had the opportunity to travel to Harvard and Hong Kong University to debate about foreign policy and current affairs. I also started a student publication to serve a student body that had, to my mind, a growing appetite for politics and current affairs. This was run newsroom-style with student journalists covering public seminars and press events. Some of my best moments as editor was covering the 33rd ASEAN Roundtable and being invited to the British High Commissioner’s residence for a press event.
See page eight for an interview with Virginia Berridge, daughter of James Stewart Cook.
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Convocation Newsletter Autumn/Winter 2020-21
“ I couldn’t have known at the
time how much of an impact this prize would go on to have, but it’s only when I look back that I see the domino effect it’s had.
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