Scottish Government to Provide Zambian Women MBA Scholarships

The Scottish Government and Heriot-Watt's Edinburgh Business School are pleased to announce the expansion of their cooperation through the Gender Equality Initiative, which will provide fully financed MBA scholarships for women in Zambia. The effort, announced ahead of a roundtable discussion between the Scottish and Zambian governments at Heriot-Watt Dubai Climate Hub, is timed to coincide with COP28 in the UAE.

The initiative, financed by the Scottish Government's International Development Fund, will give 30 fully funded distance learning opportunities on the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Edinburgh Business School beginning in March 2024. This is the University's second collaboration with the Scottish Government to promote business education options for Zambian women from various backgrounds.

Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero, and Just Transition, stressed Scotland's commitment to global citizenship and combating poverty, injustice, and inequality. The online scholarships aim to remove barriers to education for women by allowing them to combine studies with job and family life in their native country.

Professor Richard A. Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, expressed delight about the collaboration and the potential to contribute to the development of careers for ambitious business professionals globally. The project encourages selected academics to mentor and help other women in business, addressing underrepresentation in top management and boardrooms.

Mainga Kabika, Permanent Secretary, Office of the President, Gender Division, Zambia, reaffirmed the Zambian government's commitment to improving women's prospects. The project supports Zambia's attempts to boost women's representation in leadership roles by offering 30 Zambian women the opportunity to pursue a world-class MBA at Heriot-Watt University. Applications are being accepted from qualified Zambian women who are committed to addressing gender inequality, with a deadline of January 31, 2024, and the program beginning in March 2024.