UHI Moray student of the year is woman who escaped Taliban rule

A woman who fled the Taliban in order to continue her education has been named UHI Moray’s student of the year.

Shaqayeq Nejah was forced to leave university in her homeland of Afghanistan when, in 2021, the religious fundamentalists swept to power and banned all females over the age of 11 from going to school.

Shaqayeq fled across the border to Iran, where she faced a long and nerve-wracking wait to obtain a visa to come to the UK.

Eventually, after ten months, she was finally allowed to join her husband Ali who works as a doctor at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.

Arriving in Moray in October 2022, she originally enrolled at UHI Moray to study English and also began fellow helping refugees by acting as an interpreter. In addition she secured voluntary work at Dr Gray’s Hospital as an administrative assistant.

Shaqayeq then enrolled again at UHI Moray to do a HNC course in Applied Science.

She said: “It was very difficult for the first few months, studying a subject that was new to me in a different language. But I worked hard and my tutors were all very kind and they really supported me.”

Now aged 24, her next goal is to study at UHI Moray for a National 5 qualification in maths, as well as complete a GCSE online course in English

Having done that, she then intends to go to university and qualify as a radiographer.

Talking about being selected as student of the year, Shaqayeq said: “I was so happy when I heard. It was an amazing feeling to be honest. It is a great experience for me.”

The nomination for the student of the year award was made by lecturer Susanne Mclaren who states Shaqayeq’s story is moving and humbling, reflecting both strength of character and resilience.

Susanne said: “Shaqayeq has such a positive and enthusiastic attitude. She’s very hard working and focused on her studies, with a never-ending thirst to learn more.

“At times she has had to translate journals into her own language, then write her assessments in English. But despite this her work would always be handed in on time.

“Shaqayeq is a role model for women. She’s someone who’s fought for her right to an education and stood up to inequality.”

David Patterson, UHI Moray’s principal, was also full of praise.

He said: “Shaqayeq is a very worthy winner, both in terms of what she has achieved and how she’s achieved it.

“She is a brilliant example of how learning can really change lives. I wish her all the very best in the future she has created for herself.”