The Mandakini Jha Memorial Prize 2024 has been awarded to Kwesi Mensah Fokuor-Benyin, a Masters student from Ghana, who was awarded a Distinction for his MA in International Politics. He has received the prize worth £1,000, bestowed by Tanmay Jha in loving memory of his mother.
Mandakini Jha was a student of the Politics Department in 1993-94 and was studying the University’s MA International Politics degree. Mrs Jha was a prominent sociologist in her home state of Gujarat in India. Her research interests covered Ethnicity and Multiculturalism, Gender, Theory, and Knowledge. Mandy, as she was lovingly referred to, lost the battle against breast cancer in 2021 and her family decided to remember her presence fondly through supporting students at her alma mater.
Kwesi Mensah Fokuor-Benyin said he is deeply honoured and humbled to receive the award: “My sincere gratitude extends not just to the financial support but to the inspiration that comes from honouring and immortalising the memory of Mandakini Jha through education.
“As a student of International Politics at the University of Hull, I have been driven by a passion to understand the global dynamics that shape our world and pursue the hands-on application of this knowledge to enrich policy-making. The prize will play a crucial role in supporting my academic journey, helping me to continue my research into maritime security, international relations, and the intricate geopolitical challenges facing our global community.”
Now in its sixth decade, the School of Politics and International Studies offers highly respected undergraduate and postgraduate degrees as well as a renowned research programme.
With strong connections at the heart of British politics, the School’s unique Westminster placement scheme, running for over 35 years and the largest integrated scheme in the UK, ensures undergraduate students have unrivalled access to the corridors of power.