New university scholarship backs tech talent

A tech firm founder has partnered with his former university to launch a scholarship aimed at nurturing the digital workers of tomorrow.

Mark Renney has joined forces with Northumbria University to create the Wubbleyou Postgraduate Scholarship.

The venture, which will start in September, covers artificial intelligence, computing and data science.

The student will also have the opportunity to work at North East-based Wubbleyou, which builds web and mobile platforms for public and private sector organisations nationwide.

The company was founded by Northumbria University computer science graduate Mark, who is keen to give back to his alma mater.

He says: “I was very fortunate to receive support from the Northumbria University Incubator scheme more than ten years ago.

“Setting up a business is difficult, especially as a young graduate, and the team at Northumbria offered me so much.

“You know that feeling when business feels like an uphill slog, when you’re finding it difficult to hire people and struggling to connect the dots?

“Well, I felt like that for years.

“But working with Northumbria University has made business growth much simpler.

“Want to test important – but not urgent – ideas? Want to bring in great people to scale, and have a partner which feels like they genuinely want to add value?

“That’s how Northumbria University has supported Wubbleyou.

“Our strong partnership has genuinely made business easier.”

Professor Graham Wynn, Northumbria University pro vice-chancellor for education, adds: “The Wubbleyou Postgraduate Scholarship continues the progress of the university’s successful Higher Education Without Barriers campaign.

“With support from alumni, businesses and charitable partners, Higher Education Without Barriers provides a range of financial initiatives, community-based projects and mental health and wellbeing services to make participation and progression in higher education more achievable for talented students, regardless of their circumstances.

“The support from key donors, including the Willan Charitable Trust, Santander Universities UK and the Jim Jackson Educational and Enabling Foundation, has been nothing less than remarkable, and is indicative of the determination of successful North East people to help the next generation.

“Since January 2022, donations to the Higher Education Without Barriers Fund have totalled almost £4 million.

“This money has supported more than 2500 students across the university community, including scholarships for students from under-represented groups.”

Northumbria University
For more information about Northumbria University and the Wubbleyou Postgraduate Scholarship, visit – www.northumbria.ac.uk/giving

To find out how your business can support the Higher Education Without Barriers campaign, contact [email protected]

Wubbleyou
www.wubbleyou.co.uk

LinkedIn: Wubbleyou