Stars of the future celebrate kicking off their careers by degrees
University Academy 92 (UA92), a Microsoft-supported higher education institution dedicated to serving young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, recently held its third graduation ceremony at Old Trafford, Manchester.
The event celebrated the achievements of 128 students who graduated in 2024.
UA92 was co-founded in 2019 by the Class of ’92 – a group of former Manchester United football players who graduated from the club’s youth academy in 1992 and went on to achieve great success with the team.
Some famous members include Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and Phil Neville.
UA92, founded on principles of accessibility, social mobility, and inclusivity, aims to make higher education accessible to all, regardless of background.
The institution offers degree and higher education courses in computer science, business, sport, media, and digital disciplines, preparing students for the world of work. The degrees are accredited by UA92 co-founder, Lancaster University.
Microsoft, a strategic partner of UA92, supported the graduation ceremony along with other partners by taking care of the hidden costs of graduation – tickets, gown hire and so on. It also co-created the computer science and digital curriculum, and offers access to industry certifications, masterclasses, mentorship, and hackathons.
‘Deliberately different’
In addition, the tech giant sponsors a £250 Digital Student of the Year prize, which this year went to Chidozi Peter Iwuji, a computer science graduate praised for being “an absolute delight in the classroom, with a curious mind and impressive academic achievements”.
UA92’s partnerships with industry names like Microsoft, TalkTalk, KPMG, and Manchester United provide students with mentors, guest lectures, work experience opportunities, and financial support beyond traditional scholarships and government loans.
Ivy Nwanze, Senior Business Program Manager at Microsoft, said: “This partnership showcases the power of industry collaboration to enrich the educational journey, particularly for students from underprivileged and often excluded backgrounds.
“We are proud to support UA92 in its different approach to learning. This collaboration is instrumental in preparing students to be work-ready upon graduation, equipping them with the skills and experience needed to thrive in the professional world.”
Sara Prowse, US92’s CEO, said: “Graduation is the ultimate achievement for our students during their time at UA92.
“Our deliberately different celebration just wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our strategic partners.
“We have a very special relationship with the Microsoft team who have given so much time, energy and effort to UA92 since our inception, from curriculum development and insightful masterclasses through to hackathons and mentors.”