Four learners from Ghana, Russia, Uganda and Nigeria to receive world-class 
online education, GBP5,000 of funding, and career mentoring

FutureLearn.com [ https://www.futurelearn.com/ ] – the global learning platform 
with a mission to transform access to education – is proud to announce the 
first cohort of FutureLearn Scholars. The inaugural FutureLearn Scholarship [ 
https://www.futurelearn.com/info/scholarship?nowprocket=1 ] was launched in 
2021 to empower learners whose career goal is to make the world a better place.

The winners are Gifty Amoateng, Mental Health Scholar from Ghana, Nicholas 
Igenoza Sustainability Scholar from Nigeria, Nelly Porseva Teaching Scholar 
from Russia, and Gira Emmanuel Technology and Coding Scholar from Uganda. Each 
scholar will embark on their educational journey alongside FutureLearn with up 
to GBP4,000 each of free online learning from FutureLearn and The Open 
University, as well as GBP1,000 each towards additional learning materials. 

Gifty Amoateng, FutureLearn Mental Health Scholar, said: "Winning this 
scholarship and becoming one of the first scholars not only encourages me to 
dream on but has fulfilled my most important need in life. My previous learning 
on FutureLearn shaped my skillset enough to give me access to working with some 
great organizations and individuals in my country as a freelancer; it also 
enhanced my ideas in many ways towards my own personal project. I am excited 
for what awaits me as a winner, most especially in my learning process."

Nicholas Igenoza, FutureLearn Sustainability Scholar, said: "I am delighted to 
be a FutureLearn Scholar. It is even more fascinating to be granted access to 
world-class mentors via this life changing opportunity. Riding on the wings of 
those who have gone years ahead of me, leveraging on their experience and 
guided by their advanced coaching skills would definitely impact my journey 
positively."

Nelly Porseva, FutureLearn Teaching Scholar, said: "I am especially thrilled to 
know that I was chosen to become one of the first ever FutureLearn Scholars. As 
a teacher I am looking forward to using the resources of FutureLearn and The 
Open University and to promote the idea of lifelong education among my students 
and colleagues."

Gira Emmanuel, FutureLearn Technology and Coding Scholar, said: "I am so 
excited to be among the first scholars of the FutureLearn Scholarship. I am 
humbled and elated for this award. It's a great opportunity for me to become 
better and more effective in my career. I prayed for this to come to pass 
because, in my field of expertise, I need to enrich and refine my skills to 
match the trend and changing needs."

The scholars will receive 8 hours of world-class mentorship from our expert 
panel of judges who include: poet and mental health activist, Hussain Manawer; 
Climate Scientist and Presenter, Dr Ella Gilbert; and winner of the Global 
Teacher Award 2018, Andria Zafirakou, as well as leading figures in the Higher 
Education space, including The Open University's Tim Plyming; The Institute of 
Coding's Professor Rachid Hourizi; Monash University's Professor Craig Hassed: 
and Rita F. D'Aoust: Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning, Johns Hopkins 
School of Nursing.

Yvonne Chien, Chief Growth Officer at FutureLearn, added: "FutureLearn is proud 
to have launched our first ever scholarship initiative, and we're equally 
excited to announce our first four Scholars. With access to hundreds of 
high-quality courses from some of the world's leading institutions and 
educators, as well as a unique mentoring opportunity with our judges who are 
each thought leaders in their own space, we can't wait to see what our Scholars 
will achieve."

Alongside the scholarship winners, one hundred runners up have received a free 
annual subscription to FutureLearn Unlimited 
[https://www.futurelearn.com/unlimited ], providing access to thousands of 
short courses, tests and digital certificates.

Learn more about FutureLearn here[https://www.futurelearn.com/ ]. More 
information about the scholarship winners can be found 
here[https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/scholarship-winners-2021?nowprocket=1
 ].

SOURCE: FutureLearn.com