The Faculty is delighted to congratulate three of our students who were recognised as part of the University of Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning (CCTL) inaugural Outstanding Student Contribution to Education Awards.
These awards exist as an opportunity for members of the collegiate University to show our appreciation for our students' efforts in improving the educational experiences of their peers, and to celebrate their contributions to enhancing the excellence of Cambridge education.
The following Law students’ contributions were recognised:
- Nishant Gokhale was Highly Commended in the category of Inclusive Practice
- Eliza Lockhart was Highly Commended in the category of Academic / College Representative
- Wanipa Ndhlovu was Highly Commended in the category of Access & Outreach
Nishant is a PhD student at St. John's College, who along with Oliver Antczak created the Indigenous Studies Discussion Group, which meets monthly to read and discuss topics related to indigenous studies around the world. They hope to connect the different people working with and/or interested in Indigenous Studies at the University of Cambridge.
Aside from encouraging discussion and sharing insights their main goal was "[T]o promote scholarship by and about indigenous peoples across disciplines and geographies to be a regular feature of the intellectual life of Cambridge." Nishant and Oliver responded to how the COVID-19 situation was impacting indigenous populations around the world by organising two (a third to come) on-line discussion sessions dedicated to the topic using crowdcast: COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples in Brazil (29 May) had 70 participants and COVID-19’s Impact on Indigenous Peoples: Comparing Notes from India, Brazil, and the United States (17 June) had 83. They managed to engage Cambridge students and faculty with representatives of indigenous communities, resulting in a lively debate with the speakers and a unique opportunity for students.
Eliza was an LLM student at Corpus Christi College for 2019-20, and was the LLM students’ representative on the Faculty Board during two significant spells of industrial action followed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Clear lines of communication between the Faculty and the students were critical during this time, and students needed a lot of reassurance. Eliza was simply outstanding in her role as LLM rep, going very substantially beyond what could possibly have expected the holder of that position to do.
Throughout her tenure Eliza demonstrated outstanding leadership, communication skills, diplomacy and professionalism, and provided both the Faculty and her fellow students with invaluable help and support.
Wanipa is an undergraduate student at Trinity College. Wanipa made an exceptional contribution both to the College and to the University as the Trinity College Student Union BME Officer and President of the University's African Caribbean Society (ACS).
Highlights of her tenure as President of the ACS were the 2019 Motherland Conference at the Cambridge Union and the Black History Month formal hall at Downing College where she hosted more than 160 students. She organised and led the ACS Access Conference in London in August 2019, the largest outreach event ever held by ACS.
Wanipa has been the main student voice on the University's new Black Access Working Group, which has taken a leadership role in thinking through the challenges in encouraging and supporting black applicants at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. She was active in the Get In Cambridge initiative, a suite of videos aimed at breaking down barriers to BAME students coming to Cambridge. She was also very active in her BME Officer role, being pivotal for example in organising the University exhibition Black Cantabs. She displayed superb organisational skills, an ability to enthuse and persuade others, and an understanding of the need for rapid action.
You can read more about the Outstanding Student Contribution to Education Award on the CCTL website.