Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Chancellor awards scholarships to aspiring accountants
Umar Farooq, Aamna Bahadar, Sir Bob Murray, Abusufiyan Kalam, Mohammed Sohail Iqbal
Umar Farooq, Aamna Bahadar, Abusufiyan Kalam and Mohammad Sohail Iqbal will all benefit from financial support to help them during their studies.
The first year BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance students have each been awarded a £1,250 scholarship by Sir Bob, who graduated from the University himself in 1972.
Now in their fifth year, the Sir Bob Murray Scholarships seek to support Accounting and Finance students who, like Sir Bob, are high achievers from the North of England, the first in their family to attend university and have a household income of less than £25,000.
“I left school at sixteen with just one O-level,” said Sir Bob. “It took me another ten years of working full-time and studying part-time to finally qualify as an accountant and graduate from this great university.
“I didn’t get the opportunity to progress straight to university and so I know it can be onerous for a lot of students and their families.
He added: “I’m delighted to award the Scholarships to Umar, Aamna, Abusfiyan and Mohammad. I have always believed in the power of education to change lives and help people fulfil their true potential.
“Over the past five years, I have enjoyed following the progress of so many scholars, as they develop their knowledge, widen their experience, and take their first steps into, what I am sure will be, very successful careers.
“I am extremely proud and honoured to be able to support these talented young people throughout their education at Leeds Beckett.”
On receiving the scholarship, Aamna Bahadar, said: “Attending university opens so many different doors and will provide a pathway into accounting, as well as helping me learn valuable life lessons, such as budgeting and planning.
“As the first in my family to attend university, I hope that the faith Sir Bob has put in me will inspire my siblings to go to university as well.”
Fellow scholarship recipient Umar Farooq, who aims to one day run his own accountancy firm, added: “I always wanted to go on and become a chartered accountant, and Leeds Beckett was the perfect place for me to do this.
“Leeds is a great city, and is also close to home, allowing me to commute in for my studies each day and keep my living costs down. This scholarship will help me with budgeting in my first year at university and succeed in my studies.”