Undertaking a collaborative dissertation for the British Red Cross was the most valuable experience I have had during my higher education studies. More than a research assignment, the collaborative dissertation is at a crossroads between the completion of your studies and entering into working life. 

For me, it was an opportunity to put into practice the technical skills I acquired during my Master of Urban Analytics and contribute to an important piece of work.  

I felt honoured to know that the research findings and recommendations have provided data-driven evidence that will support decision making for the strategy development, and the co-creation of new fundraising approaches.

I am forever grateful to the University of Glasgow and the British Red Cross for this experience.

- Ayman Al-Rayeh Ahmed, MSc Urban Analytics

The next generation of data scientists need a mix of academic and real-world exposure. This helps them to progress beyond their studies and their role in the social science and urban science domain, contributing real-world value through their work.

What they do is not that easy – finding the path that enables the application of academic skill to a genuine, real-world problem and be able to contribute to its understanding is itself a skill. I am very pleased to have been a part of that in the past year and have both benefited from and greatly enjoyed that collaboration. 

- Lindsay Dalton-Hopwood, Strategy Planning Lead, British Red Cross


First published: 17 March 2021