By Shaun Murphy–
English footballer Raheem Sterling’s recently launched scholarship fund to support young black students who want to pursue higher education must include mentorship to be complete.
The “Raheem Sterling Scholars’ Programme” aims to cover the full costs of tuition fees and living expenses for up to 10 students each year.
While the exact amount of the fund has not been disclosed, the initiative has been widely praised for its potential to address some of the financial barriers that prevent many young black people from accessing higher education.
The scholarship fund has been launched in partnership with the Social Mobility Foundation, a charity that works to support young people from low-income backgrounds to access higher education. This partnership reflects Sterling’s commitment to promoting social mobility and increasing diversity and inclusivity in higher education.
The announcement yesterday, Tuesday, comes as King’s College London research showed in 2021/22, less than 5% of all UK students starting undergraduate degrees at Russell Group universities were black.
Government data, external also showed in the 2019/20 academic year, only 8.7% of undergraduate students in the UK were black.
Sterling said: “I hope this initiative will be a real game changer over the next few years and I am delighted to be working with two of the finest universities in the world.
“I wish the recipients of our funding all the very best and look forward to meeting everyone on campus in Manchester and London later this year.”
Opportunities
Clive Ellington, chair of trustees, added: ”At the Raheem Sterling Foundation, we believe that access to better education and employment opportunities should be made fair to all young people regardless of financial circumstances and background.
“The work we do is in pursuit of improving their opportunities, future careers and quality of life and we won’t rest until we succeed in Raheem’s vision of achieving this.”
University of Manchester’s president and vice chancellor, Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell, said the scheme would give the university additional support to “enable talented black students to access higher education, mitigating financial challenges so they are better able to focus on their studies and realise their full potential”.
President and principal of King’s College London, Prof Shitij Kapur, said: “Widening participation in higher education makes both King’s and the wider world a better place.”
One of the main advantages of the scholarship fund is that it provides much-needed financial support to students who may not otherwise be able to afford to attend university. As we know, black students are often disproportionately affected by financial barriers to higher education, and initiatives such as this can help to address these disparities.
Some critics have argued that Sterling’s scholarship fund may not go far enough in addressing the systemic barriers that many black students face in accessing higher education. While financial support can certainly help to alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with pursuing higher education, it needs a reliable framework in place to ensure or influence long term academic dedication, focus.
It is vital that the scholarship is extended to include mentorship for black pupils, in light of the rampant knife crime in cities like London, and the fact many black youths lack good mentors.
Some critics have argued that the program may actually perpetuate racism by treating black students as a monolithic group and ignoring the diversity of experiences and challenges within this group. They suggest that a more effective approach would be to provide support to students based on their individual circumstances rather than their racial identity.
However, supporters of Sterling’s scholarship program argue that it is necessary to specifically target black students because they have historically faced systemic discrimination and are therefore more likely to be underrepresented in higher education. They also argue that the program is not exclusionary, as there are many other scholarship programs available to students of all races and backgrounds.
Sterling’s scholarship fund is just one of many initiatives aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of black students in higher education. Other programs, such as mentorship opportunities and support networks, can also play a vital role in helping black students succeed academically.
Although Sterling’s scholarship fund for black students is a commendable effort, more information is needed regarding how the funds will directly benefit students.
By covering the full costs of tuition fees and living expenses, the scholarship fund can help to remove some of the financial barriers that prevent many young people from accessing higher education.
Moreover, the scholarship fund has the potential to create more diverse and inclusive learning environments. By supporting young black students, the programme can help to increase the representation of underrepresented groups in higher education and promote a greater understanding of different cultures and perspectives. In this way, the scholarship fund can help to build a more inclusive society and break down some of the barriers that exist between different communities.
Another advantage of the scholarship fund is that it can help to support the ambitions and aspirations of young black students.
Through its provision of financial support, the programme can help to give them the confidence and resources they need to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals. This can have a positive impact on their personal development and help to build their self-esteem and resilience.
However, there are also some potential disadvantages and flaws with the scholarship fund.
One of the main criticisms of the programme is that it may not go far enough in addressing the systemic issues that lead to underrepresentation of black students in higher education. While financial support is important, there are also a range of other factors that contribute to the lack of diversity in higher education, such as unconscious bias, lack of access to information, and a lack of role models.
It is hoped the scholarship fund is part of a wider strategy to address these issues and promote diversity and inclusivity in higher education. This could include initiatives such as mentoring and networking programmes, outreach work with schools and communities, and the recruitment of more diverse staff and students.
, Raheem Sterling’s scholarship fund for black students has the potential to make a significant positive impact on the lives of many young people. By providing financial support and promoting diversity and inclusivity in higher education, the programme can help to break down barriers and create more opportunities for young black people to succeed.
It is hoped the scholarship fund is part of a wider strategy to address the systemic issues that lead to underrepresentation of black students in higher education/