Anisa Riaz Murshed, an Art and Design graduate who studied at the University’s Luton campus, has been selected for the first stage of the award and her work went on display in MK Gallery.

The Platform Graduate Award is supported by a number of partner arts organisations, including MK Gallery, who will each shortlist a finalist and one successful graduate will receive a £2000 bursary and 12 months of mentoring support.

Anisa graduated in 2022 and is going on to study for a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) with the University.

Speaking about what it would mean to her to win this award, Anisa said: “It is the greatest honour to be representing the University of Bedfordshire and having the opportunity to showcase my degree and the final piece of exhibition work. I want to thank my wonderful parents, friends, my tutor, and everyone who has motivated me throughout this university journey.

“I have never had the confidence in myself as an artist, so for my university tutor Nigel Grimmer and Roisin Callaghan from the MK Gallery to see my potential means everything. To win this award now would be just incredible. If I were to win, I would continue to produce cultural and religious pieces that are close to my heart.”

Nigel Grimmer, Senior Lecturer in Visual Arts, also congratulated Anisa on her success: “It is a commendable achievement for Anisa to be representing the University of Bedfordshire at MK Gallery. Anisa has worked consistently hard on her practice for three years.

“Our students are encouraged to explore their personal interests and history throughout the course. Anisa's exhibition investigates her Bangladeshi heritage through an investigation of pattern and colour.”

I work as a DevOps Consultant for my own consultancy business, BenOps. Previously I worked at the university straight after graduating. I worked in the internal IT team for the university where I worked my way up from the Service Desk to become a Desktop & AV Engineer.

I then joined a FTSE100 company named Rexam and moved into DevOps a year after before starting my own DevOps consultancy. I now contract for clients such as the Ministry of Justice.

My favourite memories of the University are actually as a staff member which included opening the new campus at Milton Keynes, opening the Postgraduate centre and also taking a leading role in Clearing all from an IT perspective.

I'd say to prospective students, make your chosen career your hobby - set up a home lab and test emerging technology in your own time to make you even more employable.

After I completed my Masters at Bedfordshire I went to London Metropolitan University to complete my PGCE in Secondary PE. From there I went on to work at London Academy in Edgware for two years before I moved to the UAE. I am currently completing my 4th year teaching Physical Education in an American school in Dubai. I am High School Coordinator where I am responsible for Grades 9 through 12 pastorally.

I feel my Masters in particular significantly enhanced my tool kit and fully prepared me for my PGCE course. I still look back over my Masters assignments to reconfirm material I have learnt.

My journey since leaving the University has been an incredible one. Coming from Nigeria as international student I was determined to succeed against all odds.

At his core, Alex is a Creative, he has always loved the creative process, studying graphic design and art at college. After picking up a camera in his late teens, he found a passion for creating moving image. He gained experience in the industry with global media institutions such as the BBC and Channel 4 during his time studying at the University of Bedfordshire.

Alex left University and become one of the youngest TV Commercial directors at that time. Working in TV and film Alex realised the traditional career ladder wasn’t the path that was right for him. In response, Alex ventured to establish and build the independent content creation agency Clearhead, which formed in the spring of in 2007. Clearhead has gone onto become a respected award winning content agency with international presence and reputation. Retaining it’s roots in Luton and solidifying it’s studio in the heart of the Luton’s Hat District as pioneering tenants of Hat House. Experience across multiple industries has generated a diverse brand roster such as: RAF, Houses of Parliament, Nuffield Health, Guinness, TUI, Cadbury, Sony, BBC, Saatchi & Saatchi.

Winning internationally recognised awards for his work as Director and cinematographer across a breadth of commercial and short films including the recent University of Bedfordshire case study film “Bethany’s Story”, Alex is passionate about creative direction and innovative storytelling keeping his pulse on current trends and technologies to ensure that he is offering innovative and current solutions to his clients needs.

Alex doesn't intend to talk the talk unless he can walk the walk. Discovering his weaknesses and turning them into his strengths. Alex works with major brands and clients to produce creative content that reaches their audiences but is also passionate about short form storytelling. Having worked on and led creative of multiple features and short films both locally and internationally. Many of which have gone on to achieve great global recognition. The projects Alex selects generally follow an endeavour to promote the representation of minority groups and their challenges. Projects such as the short film Chains for the NFL UK. A grass roots story of a young man overcoming extreme adversity to achieve notoraity within sports coaching. This film was picked up by the NFL and is used to promote grass roots sport and it’s benefits across the UK.

Alex is not just a creative and entrepreneur who focuses on the big idea, the aesthetics and the creative quality - Alex also strategises, creates and implements processes, manages teams and mentors. Having built creative departments from scratch and grown them to develop and improve both the creative output and quality of what his teams create. Employing, mentoring and training tens if not hundreds of University of Bedfordshire alumni over the last 13 years. Encouraging, advising and supporting young creatives as they enter the TV and Film industry has been a core passion and service of Alex’s. Building on this passion Alex became the first representative of the digital content world to be asked to join the panel of the established Royal Television Society committee. Working with fellow industry representatives to organise and host national industry panel discussions, career fairs and in general advising, encouraging and supporting young people and graduates to take their firsts steps into the industry. In the future Alex hopes to continue to grow, represent and promote creativity and the opportunities the creative industry can provide young people from all diversities. Continuing to encourage, inspire and support those that need hope in order to reach their dreams. Being a beacon of what can be achieved through humble actions and communicating the context of where it can all start.

While I was doing my final year project I applied for the QVC Floor Manager Internship. I was lucky enough to get a place there for 5 weeks. Towards the end of my 5 weeks I was offered a 6 month contract, and was then offered a permanent contract. I have now been there for over a year, have received supervisor training, and have been able to work on higher skilled shows with higher personnel. I am forever grateful for this opportunity that was supplied by my then lecturers Kathryn Wolfe and Anthony Greenbank.

I was given a lot of opportunities during my time and I was supported the whole way from all my lecturers and would say to anyone wanting to come to Beds, keep going, don’t give up. Even if you get a few knock downs, keep trying. Someone will say yes. Don’t wait till you graduate, get the ball rolling now. It’ll make it easier after!

Due to family commitments, I applied for universities which were within a reasonable commuting distance from my home. I accepted an offer for Beds after attending an open day, the lecturers were approachable and passionate, and the size of classes would be small in comparison to others. Additionally, beds allowed for students to gain an extra qualification -the Higher Diploma in Paralegal Practice if certain electives are chosen. I was interested in this.

Following on from graduation, I enrolled on the LPC/LLM Course at De Montfort University as a full- time student. However, due to Covid restrictions coming back into place and having young children, I transferred onto the part-time course. I currently attend University in person for one weekend each month.

It was a great experience studying at the University of Bedfordshire; the teaching quality and the academics were extremely supportive. The MSc from Bedfordshire actually transformed me professionally, especially my understanding of the financial side of the technology and the impact it has on businesses. I have enjoyed all the roles I have undertaken since University, and I am excited to see what else lies ahead.

My experience was actually everything, but especially when we were staying late in the library and preparing for exams - we had lots of laughs. Graduation was also a very special occasion, it was a nice sunny day and I enjoyed it a lot.

This Degree helped me to increase and gain my knowledge to manage my daily work and glad that currently I am holding one of the posts of the executive level. The individual modules of the MBA course of University of Bedfordshire made me understand more about the sector and how to manage the situations easily at the current job.

I don't have one best memory it is a package of the best memories in University life. But the moment, receiving the miraculous result of the final theses was just an unbelievable moment with a great memory.

Upon leaving university I developed my skill set significantly and I am in the final stages of qualifying as a solicitor. I maintain contact with the university and have been recognised for running projects for young people in partnership with the university. It developed my knowledge of certain areas of law and research skills.

The support was very helpful, lecturers were always on hand to guide and the facilities are excellent.

My first graduate role in design came to me 4 months after graduating, working as an in-house designer for a decorator’s merchant. Since my first role, I have moved around quite a lot from in-house design positions to working for an agency and even dabbling in marketing and doing things such as event planning and blogging! Working in design has opened up so many different opportunities for me and moving around means I am always learning something new.

For my particular course the group was small, it may have changed now but the support from my lecturers was always there. If I had any questions or criticisms my lecturers and course leaders were always there to help and guide me in the right direction.My advice would be to make the most of it, as time will fly by and try to say yes to every opportunity you're given!