Latest news with #TheUniversityofWarwick
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
As the University of Warwick celebrates its 60th anniversary, meet its impressive alumna and changemaker, Gauri Malik
Image credit: Sirohi Most of us would agree with Benjamin Disraeli's quote: "A University should be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning." Our alma mater plays a significant role in shaping us. It enriches us with knowledge and skills that prepare us for the future. At The University of Warwick, a culture of excellence, creativity, and vibrant learning empowers students to dream big and make their mark on the world. With a robust legacy of 60 years, The University of Warwick has produced commendable talent that is transforming the world with their ideas and grit. One such alumna is Gauri Malik from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, who studied for a Masters in Finance & Economics from The University of Warwick. Today, Gauri Malik is a proud founder of Sirohi, a certified, artisan-backed brand that offers sustainable home décor and lifestyle products. Sirohi creates large-scale income opportunities for over 1,500 women with innate craft skills, with the aim being to take handmade products from India to the world - so buyers and corporates move toward conscious consumption. As she credits The University of Warwick for her accomplishments, let's take a look at her inspiring journey, which can motivate students to start their own. Gauri's transformative journey Gauri's entrepreneurial journey began while studying MSc in Finance & Economics at Warwick Business School. While at The University of Warwick, Gauri based her Master's dissertation on the "Success of Microcredit", which was inspired by Mohammed Yunus's model and secured an internship in Peru in South America. She spent three months in Peru, volunteering at a not-for-profit microfinance organisation where she supported single mothers to start their own businesses. It was in Peru that Gauri met people from different cultures and walks of life, which expanded her worldview and helped her see opportunities beyond the traditional path of finance and banking. She understood the mechanisms of women at work and how, if they are empowered, they can work wonders in the fields that they choose. Image credit: The University of Warwick It was The University of Warwick and the internship that seeded the thought of entrepreneurship in Gauri's mind. "My time at The University of Warwick was so fundamental to the founding of Sirohi, as it exposed me to new concepts which directly inspired me to want to empower women through sustainable entrepreneurship. The University of Warwick not only provided me with foundational skills to bring Sirohi to life, but it also gave me the confidence, network, and practical experience to lead my own business,' Gauri tells us, reiterating the significance The University of Warwick had in her entrepreneurial journey - equipping her with the skills to think big and transform academic learnings into a scalable business idea. The University of Warwick – Empowering future leaders with in-demand skills Image credit: The University of Warwick A successful entrepreneurial story is a combination of hard and soft skills. Technical know-how, financial literacy, and business acumen, paired with communication, leadership, and creative problem-solving, lay a strong foundation for well-established businesses. Students turned entrepreneurs often owe much to their universities, where both soft and hard skills are nurtured and honed. For Gauri, it was The University of Warwick, where she learnt to envision goals and turn them into reality. "The skills I learnt during my time at The University of Warwick were so varied, from analysing data sets to honing leadership skills and developing a broader global perspective - no two days were the same. These skills were pivotal in turning my vision for Sirohi into a reality, and they continue to guide me as I lead the company towards greater impact and sustainability," she says. United by dreams, bonded by diversity A global University is a tapestry of cultures, strong friendships and fond memories. It is here where students of different cultures and traditions come together, exchange ideas and collaborate on projects that create innovation, broaden perspectives, and prepare them for bigger challenges. Gauri found her tribe at The University of Warwick. Reminiscing about the good old days, she recalls some fond memories - "I made some of my closest friends at The University of Warwick. From travelling to cities around the UK to celebrate our birthdays together, they have been nothing short of a family to me. The University is so diverse in terms of culture and people. My class had students from almost 15 different nationalities, and I am now connected to almost 30-40% of them professionally." Learning from Gauri's experience at The University of Warwick Choosing the right university for further studies is a crucial decision that will shape your academic and professional future. It is, therefore, imperative to consider not only the institution's reputation but also the programmes' relevance, faculty expertise, and overall learning environment. Gauri made a wise decision by choosing The University of Warwick, which aligned with her career goals, offered her strong support systems, and gave her a conducive environment that encouraged personal and intellectual growth. If you're a student who has big dreams and needs a foolproof plan to chart them out, Gauri has advice for you. "The environment at The University of Warwick goes hand in hand with academic excellence and personal growth. My main tip for candidates considering a programme at The University of Warwick is to embrace the challenge and step out of your comfort zone. Beyond textbooks, you'll develop essential skills that prepare you for success in any field!" she advises. A robust legacy of 60 years On January 22nd 2025, over 600 members of The University of Warwick came together to celebrate their 60th anniversary. The University has a strong legacy of innovation and impact, backed by pioneering research. Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President at The University of Warwick says, 'As we celebrate The University of Warwick's 60th anniversary, we remain deeply committed to our University Strategy - driving innovation, inclusion, and impact. Empowering students to pursue entrepreneurship is central to that mission, we believe in turning ideas into impact. 'We empower our students to embrace entrepreneurship by providing them with the knowledge, mentoring, and spaces to innovate. Warwick fosters a unique ecosystem where creativity and enterprise thrive - through access to cutting-edge facilities, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a strong network of mentors and industry partners. 'We will continue to welcome talented individuals from across the world, equipping them with the tools, networks, and confidence to create, lead, and shape the future." Its alumni are dedicated individuals who chart a sustainable path for themselves and make a mark wherever they go. If you're planning to take up further studies, you can find out more about courses at The University of Warwick here.
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Baby lemurs sing like children, Warwick university study shows
Young Madagascan lemurs that sing, display similar characteristics and development patterns to young children, research has revealed.A study by The University of Warwick found that young lemurs tend to sing out of tune before improving as adults, in a similar way to how humans also learn to control their singing discovery was made after analysing the vocal patterns of the lemurs, which are also known as the indris, at different ages. Dr Chiara De Gregorio, a postdoctoral researcher who led the study, said like humans, the indris each had their own voices and some would be better at singing than others. The findings were revealed as a result of researchers being interested to find out if the same things that happen to the human voice also happened to "distant relatives", Dr De Gregorio said the characteristics that were similar between humans and the indris are called nonlinear phenomena (NLP) and included cracks, jumps in pitch, and rough, noisy sounds."In this analysis of 62 wild indris we found that young indris produce many more NLPs compared to their adult counterparts, suggesting that singing in tune is an ability that develops," Dr De Gregorio added. The study also found there were singing differences between male and female males sang with more roughness and instability than females, potentially because of differences in social roles. The males use a type of irregular sound that can make them sound bigger and more indris also demonstrated more "off-key elements" at the end of musical phrases, which the researchers said indicated the animals were vocally tired, in the same way human singers could get tired after a long De Gregorio added her research had also led her to study the vocal patterns of orangutans. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
