School of Law Alumni named global finalists in prestigious British Council Awards

Two alumni recognised for excellence in Social Action and Culture & Creativity among just 28 global finalists worldwide.

Two outstanding alumni from the School of Law have been named Global Finalists in the British Council’s prestigious Study UK Alumni Awards, a celebration of the transformative impact of UK education on individuals and communities around the world. 

This year, the British Council received over 1,300 applications from alumni across more than 100 countries and 120 UK universities. From this highly competitive pool, just 28 individuals were selected as Global Finalists – among them, two graduates from the School of Law, Mr Bunthorn Sok (MML International Trade Law, 2020) in the category of Social Action and Mr Ghanashyam Khadka (International and European Human Rights Law, 2017) in the category of Culture and Creativity. 

Celebrating global impact through UK education

The British Council Alumni Awards honour exceptional individuals who have used their UK education to make a positive contribution to their communities, professions, and countries.

The awards span four categories: Science and Sustainability, Business and Innovation, Social Action, and Culture and Creativity – highlighting the diverse ways in which UK alumni are driving change around the world. 

Leading in social action, culture and creativity

The School of Law is proud to see its graduates recognised for their leadership and innovation: 

The challenges of being born in the 1990s into a rural family in a Cambodian province could have proved insurmountable, but Bunthorn Sok was inspired to pursue his dreams, gain a Masters degree from a world-class university in the UK, and return to Cambodia where he currently works as Deputy Director-General for International Trade.

While this role has enabled Bunthorn to realise his ambition to contribute to his community's and country's economic developments, he also uses knowledge gained at Leeds to give back to the younger generation: teaching trade laws to students at a Cambodian university since 2016, and senior-official students on economic and commercial diplomacy at the Royal School of Administration of Cambodia since 2021. 

I actually do not view the award as the end, but the means for me to showcase the impact that education in the UK has contributed to my country’s development.

Ghanashyam Khadka grew up in Nepal, a country he describes as ‘burdened by deep-rooted challenges of human rights’. With a desire to make an impactful change, Ghanashyam pursued an LLM in International and European Human Rights Law at the University of Leeds and returned to Nepal with a clear mission to strengthen human rights journalism and contribute to the transitional justice process. He has written bestselling books, produced documentaries, been elected as President of the Human Rights Journalists' Association and honoured with the Human Rights Journalism Award. 

My journey has been driven by a passion for human rights, storytelling and empowering individuals through mindfulness.

Their achievements reflect the School’s commitment to nurturing graduates who are not only academically accomplished but also socially engaged and globally minded. 

A global community of changemakers 

Professor Louise Ellison, Head of the School of Law, praised the finalists’ accomplishments: 

We are incredibly proud of our alumni for being recognised on the global stage. Their achievements are a testament to the power of legal education to drive change across diverse sectors. The School of Law is a truly global community, and it’s inspiring to see our graduates making such meaningful contributions around the world.

Study UK Alumni Awards – a platform for global recognition

The British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards provide a platform to showcase the global reach and influence of UK higher education. Finalists and winners gain international recognition, expand their professional networks, and inspire future generations of students. 

Discover the School of Law’s global impact

The success of these alumni highlights the School of Law’s role in shaping future leaders who are equipped to tackle global challenges with creativity, integrity, and purpose. 

Explore how the School of Law empowers students to become global changemakers. Learn more about our programmes, international community, and alumni success stories by visiting our School of Law website.