“I want to win this, and I think I can”: AKF’s illuminate emboldens young people to pursue their ambitions

The recent illuminate lecture and workshop, this year themed ‘FinTech – The Future of Retail and Corporate Banking’, saw a number of sixth form learners gather at the Aga Khan Centre in London to learn about emerging trends in the fields of finance and technology.

With a keynote address presented by Karim Ali, a technologist with a specific focus on financial technology, banking and Artificial Intelligence, and Founder of CYMBA Technologies, the event outlined the rapid growth of FinTech and provided insight into how a career in this field might look.

Students were also encouraged to workshop their ideas on the topic following Ali’s lecture; engaging with both Ali and his colleague, Nicholas Wright, on the FinTech industry.

As an annual event and competition, illuminate highlights emerging trends in various sectors, enabling participants to engage with topical themes, which are of global significance, and to submit their insights and analysis through essays or multimedia entries – fostering both academic exploration and practical understanding, while encouraging ambition in young people.

“illuminate was really great for my confidence,” says Ayub Abdulkadir, an illuminate alumni, and one of the 2023 cohort’s winning students. “Since winning illuminate I’ve always gone for whatever opportunity presents itself.”

Ayub, now studying Architecture at the University of Westminster, also recounted how his 2023 illuminate essay – on the future of transport – resonated with his passion for architecture and spatial planning and opened doors to invaluable opportunities.

“It led to me being able to do a bunch of different things – from work experience at Make Architects… to being a member of the Mayors Fund for London Student Ambassador Team, and now I’m on the Youth Member Team for them as well. And even I was able to get a scholarship with the Avicenna Foundation!”

Reflecting on the lasting impact of his win, Ayub expressed how illuminate emboldened him to pursue his ambitions, fostering a mindset of “I want to win this, and I think I can.”

Similarly, Oguzhan Cagirir, an illuminate alumni and one of the winners from the 2023 cycle, who is currently studying Artificial Intelligence (AI) at King’s College London, explored retail technology’s future for illuminate 2023. He approached the topic from a research-driven perspective, blending technical analysis with real-world application.

Tailored support with university applications (UCAS) from an experienced academic for winning participants is a key part of the support illuminate winners receive as part of their prize. And for Oguzhan, winning the competition not only bolstered his resume but also facilitated a meaningful connection with Dr. Kara, a professor at King’s College, who supported his academic aspirations.

Reflecting on this, Oguzhan says it “almost feels coincidental. It’s really amazing that I managed to get into the same university that my illuminate support is based at. I appreciate his work… he’s so relevant.”

It’s a mentorship that has provided critical guidance in Oguzhan’s pursuit of an AI degree, and is an aspect of illuminate he feels enables access for the competition’s future entrants. “It’s a really, really big opportunity.”

AKF established illuminate to inspire students to engage with tomorrow’s challenges and to connect them with leaders who can help shape their future pathways.

illuminate aims to broaden horizons, inspire a new generation of change-makers, and explore how students can contribute toward a better world, all whilst strengthening university applications. The students participate in a one day lecture event and subsequently take part in a multi-media essay competition to examine these themes.