The future’s bright for Frederick

A Ghanaian graduate is hoping to use the skills and knowledge he acquired at Teesside University to benefit his home country.

Frederick Bright, from Accra in Ghana, has just graduated with an MSc Biotechnology postgraduate degree after winning a scholarship with the multinational oil and gas exploration company Tullow Oil Plc.

Frederick, 28, now hopes to work in the oil industry to help with the development of his country.

He is also not ruling out a return to Middlesbrough to study a PhD at Teesside University.

As part of its corporate responsibility programme, Tullow Oil offer international study scholarships to promising students in Ghana to help build skills and capacity through education.

After winning one of the scholarships, Frederick was recommended the MSc Biotechnology at Teesside and opted to come to Middlesbrough after reading about the University’s campus and facilities.

He said: 'I’d heard of Middlesbrough before, but didn’t know about the University. However, I definitely made the right choice.

'The course was very intensive and the academic support was fantastic.

'It’s a very friendly atmosphere on campus with a really vibrant Students’ Union.

'I’m quite an outgoing person and it was great to be able to mingle with lots of different people, including international students, and I’ve made some very good friends here.'

After gaining a distinction in his degree, Tullow Oil also paid for Frederick to return to Teesside University to collect his degree and attend his graduation ceremony at Middlesbrough town hall.

Frederick added: 'I’m now hoping to get a job in the oil sector.

'My degree allows me to work in many different areas and so I’m looking forward now to being able to put what I’ve learned into practice and helping with the development of my country.

'I’m really hoping to do a PhD eventually and I’m working on the funding. If I can, I will definitely come back to Teesside as I want to experience it even more.'

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