A scholarship launched by Chancellor of the University of Bradford Anita Rani which has made its first four awards has been supported by a major donation from software solution specialists TechnologyOne.
The Rani Scholarship was launched in December 2023 to support women who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access higher education without financial support and who want to study a subject in which women are under-represented.
Three of the four students have already taken up their places, with a fourth due to start their studies next year.
TechnologyOne Executive Vice-President Leo Hanna said: “For students that don’t have access to financial support from their families, higher education is increasingly more difficult to pursue.
“When the scholarship was presented to us, we thought it was a great opportunity to provide much needed support to struggling students. As a company we always strive to embed ourselves in the communities we serve and truly participate in the social fabric.
“TechnologyOne is committed to making a difference to underprivileged and at-risk youths by empowering them to transform their lives and create their own pathways to success.
“We are proud to partner with the University of Bradford to provide students with the means to ultimately change their lives. We also know that increasing gender diversity in fields with traditionally low female representation only leads to better outcomes for society, individuals and organisations.”
The London-based firm, which provides software products to governments, businesses and the education sector, recently contributed to a joint report with the Higher Education Policy Institute that said parents of students who receive the minimum maintenance support would have to contribute nearly £14,000-a-year to ensure their children have an acceptable standard of living while studying.
Anita Rani, who is known for her work on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour and as a presenter on BBC TV and radio, said: “I’m thrilled that TechnologyOne is supporting the Rani Scholarship, because each scholarship will change the trajectory of each woman’s life.
“This is about opportunity; it’s about giving women from disadvantaged backgrounds a chance they otherwise might not have had.
“Higher education provides so many rich experiences, while at the same time broadening your horizons, so these scholarships will empower recipients to find their path and follow their dreams. I sincerely thank TechnologyOne for joining us on this journey.”
