First Sub-Saharan African Women Scholars Arrive at Heriot-Watt University
Five women begin postgraduate studies in Edinburgh through a new scholarship funded by The Orchard Foundation.
By Kirsty Lennox
••3 min read
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Generic image of a diverse group of young women scholars arriving at a university in Scotland.
Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh has welcomed its first cohort of five female postgraduate students from Sub-Saharan Africa onto a new scholarship programme aimed at empowering women.
The Hoogenboom Scholarship Programme, launched in January this year, will run for five cohorts over the next five years. It is funded by a €1.5 million donation from The Orchard Foundation (Stichting De Boomgaard), which will support 30 scholarships in total.
The scholars were greeted at Heriot-Watt’s Lyell Centre by academics and Dr Annemiek Hoogenboom, co-founder and Chair of The Orchard Foundation. The university stated its ambition was to open access to world-class postgraduate education for talented women from the region.
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"It is amazing to see that ambition come to life now, with our first scholars here in Edinburgh. Opening doors is what Heriot-Watt has been about since we were founded as the world’s first mechanics institute in 1821, and this programme is very much part of that history. I wish every one of these women the very best as they begin their studies and I’m sure under the tutelage of our talented team here, they will gain the necessary skills to go on and impact the world."
The fully funded places are prioritised for women from Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Botswana and Malawi. Scholars can pursue Master’s degrees in areas such as Global Environmental Change and Policy, International Marine Science, and Sustainable Energy.
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"It has been a great pleasure to support the Hoogenboom Scholarship Programme, and meeting the first scholars in person has made that even more special. These are talented, determined young women, and it was wonderful to hear about the ambitions they have brought with them to Edinburgh. I cannot wait to see what they go on to achieve, both during their studies and when they return to make a difference in their communities and across Africa."
The programme aligns with Scotland’s international development focus on Zambia and Malawi. The Lyell Centre, a hub for Earth and marine science, will host the scholars, with a focus on equipping them with skills to tackle environmental challenges.
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"Our focus now is on making sure every scholar gets the most out of their time with us, from our specialist facilities through to mentoring, industry placements and leadership development. We want to equip these women with the skills and confidence to tackle pressing environmental challenges and make a real impact on the world and in their own communities. Every one of them has arrived with a clear sense of purpose, and our job is to help them turn that into lasting change."
Living costs, including accommodation, visas, and health insurance, are also covered by the scholarship. Ingrid Kelling, Programme Director, noted that this first cohort will shape the programme for future participants.
