In a year like no other, The Open University’s Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) enjoyed a double celebration for the achievements of its students and alumni.
The pandemic put paid to its awards in 2020 but this year they returned, although they looked a lot different. Around 50 people gathered for the event, mostly online, to celebrate the achievements of students from the last two academic years and prominent Business School alumni. There were awards to Business and Law (including Open Justice Centre) students, plus alumni recognition for both 2020 and 2021.
At the ceremony, Professor Devendra Kodwani, FBL’s Executive Dean, said: “I wish all winners warmest congratulations on your much deserved awards. Joining our thriving alumni community means you become an ambassador for this great institution. We’d love you all to spread the word about how you enjoy it and how it has benefited you in life and your career.”
David Monk won Alumni of the Year 2021
David Monk is the Business School’s Alumni of the Year 2021. He is Operations Manager (Urgent and Unscheduled Care) at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, and now Associate Medical Director for health and first aid charity St John Ambulance, having been a volunteer for more than 17 years. He spent eight years studying with the OU, first for a BSc (Hons) in Life Sciences and then his MBA. During the pandemic, he worked with St John Ambulance volunteers to set up hospital volunteering at Addenbooke’s to help medical staff and patients. David said:
“The best thing about my OU study was the self-directed learning and being able to study at times that suited me, around my shift work. I would thoroughly recommend study with the OU.”
Ahmed El-Hamaky was also highly commended in this category, having qualified as an electrical engineer in the early 2000s, and years later studying for a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration with the OU. He is using his knowledge to help assist young female electrical engineers into the profession that is male dominated in the Middle East and Africa. This is through an advisory panel called OMICRON Energizing Women (OEW), overseen by OMICRON, the international company that Ahmed works for, which serves the electrical power industry. OEW is in its infancy but Ahmed said:
“I believe that our contribution will inspire and motivate the community and decision makers to continue the whole change management cycle and to empower female electrical engineers in the Middle East and Africa!”
There was recognition for Harrie Austin-Jones who last year became the first ever OU student to secure a place on the University of Oxford’s world-renowned postgraduate law course. Harrie was awarded the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB) (Graduate Entry) Student of the Year 2020. He said:
“I owe so much to the OU as a whole, and particularly to my tutors (associate lecturers) as every one of them has provided inspiration and support. Going to Oxford is a huge achievement for both me and the University. I believe this shows the OU can match and be viewed in the same way as all other universities teaching law.”
Among students from the previous year to receive accolades was Rebecca Pooley, mother of two, who became the Professional Certificate in Management Student of the Year 2019. She overcame great family difficulties to achieve a 96 per cent score in her final assignment, which was submitted eight days after her husband passed away from cancer. Rebecca, who is now studying for her MBA, said:
“I’m really proud and I know my husband would be really proud of me just for finishing the course, let alone winning an award. It has also given me the opportunity to show my sons things like making time to study and learn, even as an adult, is important. Winning this award was an amazing chance to show them that hard work pays off.”
Joe Finucane won the MBA Dissertation of the Year 2019 and said:
“I was shocked and honoured when I found out I’d received this award. It was not an accolade that I was aware of or aiming for, but I was delighted to receive this recognition for all the hard work I put into my dissertation.”
Of his MBA, he added:
“My qualification had a profound impact on my career. I went from a Principal Consultant, to Associate Director, to Chief Technical Officer reporting to the CEO, all since graduating.”
Melanie Robinson juggled full-time work with the Royal Navy, alongside family commitments and her studies, and picked up the MSc Human Resource Management Student of the Year and Dissertation of the Year 2019. She has been promoted to Commander of the Maritime Reserves which oversees the training of more than 4,000 men and women. Melanie said:
“I’ve used my MSc to drive a huge shake-up of Britain’s part-time force of sailors and Royal Marines. My degree is etched into the strategies that are redesigning the organisation, the way it’s run and the people structures that support it.”
All the student and alumni winners are available to view – Business School and Law School.
