Leeds Beckett graduate wins Study UK alumni award

Gayatri Madkekar, who graduated from Leeds Beckett in 2013 with an MSc in Psychology of Sport and Exercise, was given the Culture and Creativity Award for India at the National Awards Ceremony held in Delhi on Saturday 1 March 2025.

The British Council awards aim to recognise the career achievements of international alumni who studied in the UK across four categories in participating countries.

The five LBU finalists represent India, Bangladesh, the UAE and Nigeria.

Mohammad Jairul Hoque left Beckett in 2010 with an MA in Peace and Development. He has gone on to become Bangladesh's youngest ever Vice Chancellor and said: "I am indebted to all of my teachers, mentors, supervisors and guides at Leeds Beckett University for shaping my career which qualified me to achieve the finalist position. I encountered an intellectually stimulating environment at Leeds Beckett University that fostered critical thinking and rigorous research."

Laura Etemah graduated from LBU in 2016 with a MA in Music Production (the first Nigerian woman to ever achieve one) and is now the Director of Lee Ellie Music School in Lagos. During her postgraduate studies, Laura was a fixture in the Beckett Choir and found her time at LBU truly rewarding: "Being named a finalist is an incredible honour that reflects not just a personal milestone but also the transformative education I received at Leeds Beckett University."

Dan Ehrald Samarita completed a MSc in Building Services Engineering in 2024 and is a finalist for the Science and Sustainability Award. Following his graduation he has gone to become Senior Electrical Engineer for RED Engineering Design in Dubai. Dan credits his LBU study as vital elements in advancing and deepening his career: "The blend of technical expertise, leadership development, sustainability focus and global insight was pivotal to my career success."

Amritha Subhayan Krishnan left Leeds Beckett with an MA in Filmmaking in 2016 and has been shortlisted for the Business and Innovation Award. Heading to Dubai after completing her studies, Amritha founded Smart Story Labs, where she is also CEO, serves as an Editorial Board Member of the American Journal of Artificial Intelligence and has become an academic and in-demand thought leader. She says her time at LBU was critical: "Access to world-class resources and an environment that encourages creativity and innovation have been fundamental in the development of my career."

Winner Gayatri Madkekar, a former international badminton player, went on to found Samiksha Sports, the first ever sports psychology consultancy in India, was thrilled with her award, and quick to pay tribute to LBU: "Seldom do we come across environments and classrooms that don't just impart knowledge but also foster leadership and vision. Leeds Beckett was one such beautiful phase in my career."

Joe Rossiter, Director of University Recruitment and Partnerships at LBU, expressed the university's pride in her achievement: "I'm delighted that Gayatri has been successful in obtaining this award. It is fully deserved. You make us proud all the time and we're really pleased for all our nominees."

The awards success underlines the strength of Leeds Beckett's offering for international students, and the university's pride in its huge global alumni community that boasts over 185,000 students in 148 countries around the world. LBU provides a supportive, welcoming place for people from all over the globe to study.

Learn more about applying as an international student.