University of West London (UWL) student Sanaa Kazi won the Student Leadership and Enterprise Award at the University Alliance Awards 2026 held at the University of Derby on Thursday 3 September.
Sanaa is Vice President of Activities and Participation at UWL Students’ Union, where she seeks to enhance the student experience through new initiatives and opportunities for engagement.
University Alliance brings together 20 professional and technical universities across the UK, united by a shared commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and real-world impact. Their annual awards celebrate outstanding achievements and pioneering work by individuals and teams across member institutions.
Developing entrepreneurial skills
Sanaa’s win recognises her outstanding leadership, innovation and entrepreneurial achievement. While studying for an MBA at UWL’s Claude Littner Business School, she created the Claude Littner Business Challenge, a student competition inspired by the BBC television programme The Apprentice.
The initiative helps students develop employability and entrepreneurial skills while supporting graduate career progression, bringing together 60 students to complete a series of business-focused tasks. Two winning teams share a £15,000 prize fund sponsored by Claude Littner.
Sanaa said:
“Winning this award is incredibly meaningful, especially seeing the Claude Littner Business Challenge recognised on a wider scale. This award belongs to everyone who helped bring it to life in the smallest way possible. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved, and excited to take it even further. I genuinely love this University, and I’m ready to give back everything it has given me.”
Claude Littner said:
“I’m incredibly proud of Sanaa, not for what she’s achieved, but for what she’s going to achieve, I think she’s a unique character, with a tremendous attitude, a go getter. I’ve got no doubt that whatever she puts her hand to, she’ll be successful. And I hope that she involves me in some of these things.”
