Kent has launched a brand-new scholarship to help support the next generation of female leaders from India. The “Women in Leadership” scholarship will give five female students from India a 50% reduction on their course fees – and is available to those looking to study any PGT course at Kent starting in September 2024.
Simone Davies, Director of Future Students and Brand explains: ‘Kent champions equality and ambition and this scholarship is testament to that. We are confident that this scholarship will be an excellent opportunity for Kent to position itself as a leading university for future leaders in India. I’m extremely proud to be launching this new scholarship and excited about bright future for the students that join us. Women across the world continue to face more challenges than men throughout their careers. Anything we can do to support women in their leadership journey to achieve their ambitions has huge value. This is just the beginning – by working together with our partners, peers, colleagues and our alumni I am confident we can really grow this initiative; that it will go from strength to strength.’
This scholarship will support the increasing focus on greater representation of women in senior leadership positions in India and will build on the success of current and female previous students who have excelled in a range of courses including Business, Forensic Science and Computing.
Varsha Nayak is currently studying at Kent after receiving the MBA Women in Leadership Scholarship. She explains how the scholarship has helped her on her entrepreneurial journey so far, and what’s next: “The transformative experience provided by the Women in Leadership Scholarship at the University of Kent has been instrumental in shaping my professional journey. Currently immersed in the enriching MBA program, I find inspiration in fostering diversity in leadership. Beyond the classroom, my aspirations extend to becoming a consultant in a prestigious business firm and simultaneously venturing into entrepreneurship. The University of Kent’s scholarship has not only empowered me as a woman in leadership but also provided a platform to inspire others, fostering a community committed to positive change.”
To launch the scholarship Kent hosted an event in New Delhi on Monday 12 February, where they welcomed several female Kent alumni who have gone on to achieve great things in leadership roles in India since graduating.
Amongst those attending the event were Deepika Naruka, who studied a Masters in International Conflict Analysis at Kent. She is currently UNODC – Programme Coordinator for Countering Transnational Organised Crime and Trafficking. Speaking at the event Deepika said: ‘My studies at Kent had an impact on me being able to join the UN. Kent also has a beautiful campus and a really international community. It was a great experience.’
The University hopes that this scholarship will be the first of its kind, and that it will be able to support future female leaders from other countries in the future.