Study Group is a leading international education specialist and a trusted strategic partner to more than 50 universities around the world. Committed to a better world through education, Study Group deliver high quality international education solutions that drive success for their partners and students – from outstanding teaching to innovative approaches to international recruitment and student support. 

A few days ago, I sat down with Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Study Group to chat about Next Generation Innovations, Study Group’s inaugural international student competition, aimed at opening doors for ambitious future undergraduate students to earn scholarships to further pursue their academic careers. Students were required to create a 5,000-word project proposal showcasing how they plan to use their education to make a difference in the world. These projects spanned topics from engineering to health sciences and business. 

Firstly, can you please tell us more about Study Group?

Prof. Elena: Study Group is an amazing organization. Study Group supports 50 universities across the world, 15 in the UK. We help universities in 2 ways: recruit international students and help young people who might need additional adjustment, e.g. providing language centers in universities. Study Group provides a year of pre-university education, equipping students with skills in language, culture and life so that when they enter university, they will settle in better/faster.

Study Group partners with universities in Leeds, Durham. Sheffield, Aberdeen, Cardiff, Dublin and Strathclyde. Students who participate in the course offered by Study Group are considering these universities but may need support from their foundation year to the 1st year of their degree. A fee is charged for this course but scholarships are available.

How did Next Generation Innovations come about?

Prof. Elena: This is Study Group’s inaugural contest – Study Group wanted to create a forum for students to showcase their own ideas. One challenge is getting the message out – people just don’t know about the option of a pathway into university to become successful. A certain amount of cash is provided to the winners of the contest so that they can expand their ideas and reach those opportunities.

What impressed you about the applications for Next Generation Innovations?

Prof. Elena: The quality of the applications took us away. The participants have creativity and are clear in what they are going to do. Their ideas involved helping the world, environment, health. This is the young generation thinking about how to make this a better world.

What do you hope to achieve from Next Generation Innovations?

Prof. Elena: We hope to raise awareness among students to join these pathways and to promote British education.

What were the criteria in choosing the winners?

Prof. Elena: Local and global impact, creativity, innovation, alignment to academic ambitions. They were also judged on how well they presented during their 15-minute presentation which they did amazingly well. We started off with 50 participants and down to 8 finalists and chose the 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners.

What would you like to tell future particpants?

Prof. Elena: Next year, hopefully we will have 5000 participants. Many more people will understand there is an option. It’s not our job to persuade people but to present an option. My message is them is that education is indispensable for future challenges and skills. Getting these skills in the UK is appealing,

Despite the unrest in this world, work together regardless of ethnicities. Provide young people a better world to live in. Learn to respect each other’s cultures. In an international place like the UK, you can begin to understand this and be more tolerant. You will learn acdemic skills but also to celebrate one’s uniqueness.