Whitworth Scholar
A Whitworth Scholar is a rare accolade given to those persons who have successfully completed a Whitworth Scholarship. It is rare on the basis that only a small number of scholarships are issued each year which has quite specific application conditions and a tough review process.
A Whitworth Scholar is permitted to use the post-nominal letters, Wh.Sch.
Background
On 18th March 1868, Sir Joseph Whitworth wrote to then Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli to fund 30 scholarships for the value of £100 for young men in the United Kingdom. This was met favourably by the Government at the time as minuted on 27th March 1868 by the council.[1] After the adoption of this by Government, Whitworth presented a memorandum setting out the requirements of the awards which included examinations in mathematics, mechanics, physics, and chemistry, including metallurgy and in the following handicrafts: Smith's Work, turning, filing, fitting, pattern making and moulding.[2]
Whitworth's desire was to support those individuals with practical skills, training, typically those who today have completed an apprenticeship who had the desire to continue onto further, higher education, university degree courses.
The Scholarships continue over 150 years after inception of the idea by Whitworth.[3] In 2018 the prize money awarded is up to £5,450 per annum for an undergraduate programme and £8,250 per annum for a post graduate research programme.[3] The prize money is designed to support a student through their academic studies. The prize money is still provided from the original money provided in Trust by Sir Joseph Whitworth.
The criteria for a scholarship remains consistent with the original mandate of 1868, practical skills with aptitude for science and mathematic based academia. In 2018, the conditions for application for a scholarship are to:
- Have pursued a vocational training route (i.e. apprenticeship) in an engineering discipline typically for at least 2 years after having left full-time education (generally UK secondary education or college based study) and before entering a degree-level engineering course.
- Have obtained or will obtain an appropriate qualification for admission to the planned engineering degree-level programme of any engineering discipline. Typically this is A-Levels, Foundation Degrees, Higher National Certificates (HNC) or Diplomas (HND).
- Be British, Commonwealth or European Union citizen.
- Have been resident in the UK for at least 3 consecutive years immediately prior to undertaking study in the UK at a College of FE/HE or university[4]
In 1984, as a result of consultation with the Whitworth Society, the administration of the Awards and Scholarship programmes was transferred from the Department of Education & Science (at the time) to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.[5]
The Scholarship
The scholarship programme lasts for the duration of the academic studies, typically 3-4 years of full-time degree studies. During this time, the individuals are termed "award holders" and are required to write annual progress reports to the awards committee outlining their own assessment of the achievements they've made, difficulties they've experienced and their plans for the following year. At the same time, their academic results must also be presented to the committee for review. An award holder does have access to an extensive network of experts and former Whitworth Scholars through the Whitworth Society as outlined in various case studies.[6]
If the continued monitoring of progress and overall academic achievement is deemed satisfactory, the award holder becomes a Whitworth Scholar. This occasion is commemorated at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Vision Awards ceremony ordinarily carried out in the September/October period of each year.[7]
Post Nominals[8]
There are recognised post-nominals which are permitted to be used after an individual's name. They are as follows.
| Post Nominal | Designation |
|---|---|
| Wh.Sch | Whitworth Scholarship |
| Wh.S.Sch | Whitworth Senior Scholar |
| Wh.Ex | Whitworth Exhibitioner |
| Wh.F | Whitworth Fellow |
| Wh.P | Whitworth Prizeman |
References
- ↑ Whitworth Society Register, 2017. p. 24. Search this book on
- ↑ Whitworth Society Register, 2017. p. 25. Search this book on
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Whitworth Scholarships Home Page". http://www.whitworthscholarships.org.uk/. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "Whitworth Scholarship Awards Conditions".
- ↑ Whitworth Society Register, 2017. p. 31. Search this book on
- ↑ "Whitworth Scholarship Case Study, Rikki Jones".
- ↑ "IMechE Scholarships & Awards".
- ↑ Whitworth Society Register, 2017. p. 42. Search this book on
This article "Whitworth Scholar" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Whitworth Scholar. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
