Thursday 15-04-2021 - 11:50

Through negotiations with the University of Manchester, your General Secretary Kwame Asamoah Kwarteng and the executive team have secured £1.3 million in funding for projects that promote Inclusivity, sustainability, diversity and equality.  

Negotiating these projects has been a great a success and we’re excited to see the impact and outcome of the funding: 

“Sustainability, inclusivity and diversity are some of the core values of the Students’ Union and the University, hence ensuring that we set the example by putting them into practices makes us a people who believe in Actions not words” - Kwame Kwarteng, General Secretary  

UoMSU Impact Scholarship 

The largest of the three projects will be the UoMSU Impact Scholarship. This scholarship aims to make Manchester’s high-quality master’s education and resources accessible to the young people in Zimbabwe and Malawi, who are making a difference in their community, equipping them with the extra skills and network they need to amplify their impact. Having secured £1,230,000, this ambitious scholarship fund will cover the tuition fees, visa cost, NHS Surcharge, monthly stipends and return flight tickets for a total of 24 students from Zimbabwe and Malawi over a period of three years, to pursue a masters at The University of Manchester.  

Accessible through the Equity and Merit Scholarship process, the university has  agreed to expand the E&M scholarship target countries to include Zimbabwe and Malawi, hence students from both countries will continue to receive this scholarship after our three-year sponsorship. 

Steve Biko Sustainability Fund 

In line with the SU’s core beliefs we have worked with the University to establish the Steve Biko Sustainability Fund. This project will see £50,000 of funding going to students who embark on projects to amplify environmental sustainability. Whether through research-based projects or activity projects such as planting trees, this fund will alleviate financial constraints for students who are committed to developing and implementing innovative sustainability projects and activities. Students will have the opportunity to submit a proposal to the Sustainability Committee and if successful, will collaborate and communicate with the SU to publish the project's outcome.  

Installation of Sanitary Showers 

The final of the three projects with its emphasis on inclusivity has been given £20,000 in funding. This money will go towards the installation of sanitary showers in all toilets in the Steve Biko Building. This project is a huge step forward in creating inclusive spaces on campus for our students (especially those from Asian and Muslim Background) who require this for religious and cultural reasons. We aim to complete installation in Summer 2021.