Lincoln Student Shortlisted for Prestigious Global Award

A student from the University of Lincoln, UK, has been shortlisted for an international award that recognises exceptional students across the world who make a significant impact on learning, the lives of their peers and wider society.

Enoch Opare Mintah, a Master’s student at the Lincoln International Business School, University of Lincoln, UK, is one of only two students in the United Kingdom to be shortlisted for the prestigious Chegg.org Global Student Prize for 2021. Enoch has been selected out of over 3,500 students from 94 countries who were nominated.

In October, the top ten shortlisted candidates will be revealed by an esteemed judging panel, including Global Teacher Prize winners, education and NGO leaders, sporting legends and Hollywood film stars – such as Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. A £100,000 award will then be presented to the winner at the awards ceremony, which will take place in Paris in November.

Enoch is a former Learning Support Assistant and Multi Skills Club Lead at Grange Academy in Bedfordshire, where he was inspired to promote global citizenship education amongst students.

As a Ghanaian national, Enoch was able to establish a partnership between Grange Academy and counterpart schools within his home country. This provided the students with an opportunity to learn about a culture very different to their own, whilst also developing their appreciation and acceptance of diversity and human centeredness.

In return, children in Ghana have been learning about culture in the UK. They have also benefitted from over 2,000 educational items and library books which have been donated by staff and pupils at Grange Academy. The partnership has been coined ‘the Ubuntu project’ – a phrase derived from the Zulu meaning “I am, because we are”.

Since 2016, Enoch has also established and led the GISH Foundation, an education and health focussed NGO working with vulnerable young people, students and communities in Africa.

Enoch said: “Making it to the top 50 shortlist, from over 3,500 nominations and applications from 94 countries, was and is the most humbling moment in my career.
“´This year marks exactly 10 years of working in the NGO sector and to me, this global mention does not only crown the numerous successes I have chalked so far, but it is a testament that consistency to a cause, no matter how small it is, is all we need to sustain social good.”

Catherine Assink, Acting Executive Principal and CEO of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust, added “I am excited about his efforts and achievements as an international student who has been working assiduously to connect classrooms and cultures across borders and most importantly, shipping educational resources and materials to our partner schools.”

Find out more about the Chegg.org Global Student Prize, and keep up to date with the shortlisted candidates, here: https://www.globalteacherprize.org/global-student-prize/about-the-global-student-prize.