The U21 Awards is an annual chance to recognize and celebrate the best in international collaboration across the network. Our winners were selected by a panel of U21's Senior Leaders as having made an outstanding contribution to internationalisation in global Higher Education.
Thank you to everyone who voted in the U21 Awards, there was an outstanding level of application and we are delighted to confirm the winners of the U21 Awards for 2024, as announced during our Annual Network Meeting this week.
Leaders of the Future (Current Student Category) - 2024 Winner
Rayen has led a cultural change at UC Chile by consistently and respectfully contributing her native mapuche perspective to her law classes and actively engaging in knowledge-sharing and dialogue with professors and peers.
Rayen distinguishes herself through a deep commitment to indigenous peoples, rooted in territorial and collective realities. Her work is dedicated to elevating the visibility of indigenous rights and fostering intercultural coexistence, viewing dialogue as a crucial tool for progress. She firmly believes that interculturality diminishes inequalities and eradicates ethnic discrimination, opening fresh opportunities.
Leaders of the Future (Recent Alumni Category) - 2024 Winner
Connor has shown a dedication to leading change and creating connections on an international scale. In 2020, after winning funding from the Universitas 21 Researcher Resilience fund, Connor co-founded the U21 Autism Research Network – a global initiative aiming to tackle issues regarding diversity and inclusion in autism research. Through his hard work (and via further funding from the Universitas 21 Graduate Collaborative Research Award), this network has grown to include researchers from U21 institutions across eight countries and spanning five continents.
Connor has led three highly successful international projects in which he amplified the experiences of autistic individuals typically under-represented in autism research, such as those from racial, ethnic, and gender minorities, thus leading change, challenging norms, and empowering others.
U21 Awards (Individual Category) - 2024 Winner
As an Executive Dean, Professor Naidoo manages one of the largest faculties at the University of Johannesburg. During her tenure, she has advanced UJ's global engagement strategy which has led to increased opportunities for staff and students. Likewise, she has mobilised international funding opportunities that are a "first of its kind" for UJ within the context of a global South university.
The impact of Prof Naidoo’s work has been both at an institutional level, through her strong advocacy, support and strategic leadership, as well as an international level through her networks and research partnerships. Prof Naidoo is the Executive member of the South African Deans of Humanities Association and is recognised globally as a leader in Gender and Social Justice Issues.
U21 Awards (Team Category) - 2024 Winners
The goal of UCDVO’s global citizenship education programme is to empower the UCD community to be active global citizens for a fair and sustainable world. The experience with UCDVO has been transformative for the majority of the 1,750 volunteers over 20 years.
Through a number of long-term partnerships, UCDVO has contributed to vital health education programmes and has benefitted thousands in local communities. Some key examples of this include:
- Uganda- where UCDVO’s support enabled Nurture Africa to establish a dedicated rehabilitation centre for over 260 children with disabilities.
- Tanzania - UCDVO’s 10-year partnership with TanzEd helped over 40 schools set up dedicated computer labs and provided IT training to over 1,000 teachers and community members.
- India - UCDVO’s support was critical in establishing the Community Education and Development Centre in New Delhi, providing a safe space for children from a local slum community to engage in informal learning, gain confidence and most importantly, play.