International Social Impact recognition for alumnus

Alumnus of the University, Dr Thomas Tagoe, has been awarded the Social Impact Award by the British Council.

Last night, the British Council announced the winners of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2018 in Ghana at an awarding ceremony in Accra.The Social Impact Award acknowledges alumni who have made an exceptional contribution to creating positive social change.

Originally graduating from Leicester with a BSc in Biological Sciences (Physio & Pharmacology) in 2009, Dr Thomas Tagoe is a Neuroscientist at the University of Ghana and Co-founder of GhScientific, an organisation focused on building capacity in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) through public engagement and outreach activities. Thomas is helping to train a new generation in and out of academia who are scientifically savvy and appreciate the impact of STEM skills in everyday life.

Thomas said he was "ecstatic" about winning the award and that he was all "jittery" at the table waiting for the results. When asked what skills and experience he gained from Leicester to help him achieve the award, he said his experience here taught him "team work, to not be selfish and always have an end goal in mind to work towards".

In total, three UK alumni in Ghana were recognised for their outstanding achievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders, and for their important contribution to strengthening collaborative ties between the UK and Ghana.

Alan Rutt, Country Director at the British Council in Ghana, said: “The remarkable individuals we celebrated today at the Study UK Alumni Awards in Ghana have all taken their UK education as a starting point to excel in their chosen careers and shape the world around them. This year’s awards ceremony is testimony not only to the diversity of UK alumni and their endeavours, but also to the transformative impact of a UK education.”

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 studied in the UK, 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.