This was part of an immersive and varied multi-day programme that took place across the wider University of Edinburgh, as well as other locations including Heriot-Watt University, Heart of Midlothian FC, Castlebrae High School and the National Museum of Scotland. For these ambitious changemakers from underserved communities, the experience wasn’t just an educational visit it was an opportunity to travel for the first time, make global connections, explore new careers and a powerful affirmation of their potential.
The OSCAR Foundation empowers young people from low income communities through football, education and leadership training. The visit to Edinburgh was a testament to that mission, bringing together academic learning, cultural exchange and leadership development.
Academic insights and warm welcomes
The day began with a warm welcome from Head of School,Professor Gavin Jack, whose informal and enthusiastic introduction quickly put the group at ease. The OSCAR Young Leaders use football as a tool for engaging youth in education and social change and they arrived eager to learn and left with renewed purpose and confidence.
It was a privilege to welcome the inspiring OSCAR Young Leaders to the Business School and to learn about the history and significant work of the OSCAR Foundation in supporting marginalised communities and building flourishing futures through the power of sport and social connection. This is one important example of our School’s mission in action - to contribute to meaningful change for people and organisations.Professor Gavin Jack, Head of School
A standout session was a lecture on finance by Dr Maria Michou, Senior Lecturer in Finance at UEBS. Her dynamic teaching style and ability to simplify complex topics made the session a highlight of the day. For several Young Leaders, it was their first formal exposure to financial concepts such as savings, investment and wealth-building. For others, it reinforced their interest in business and entrepreneurship. They all loved Maria’s energy and enthusiasm.
Understanding finance is a critical step in breaking cycles of poverty. With these new tools, the Young Leaders are better equipped to make informed decisions, build sustainable futures and pass on that knowledge to the children they mentor in their own communities and to pursue their ambitions of careers in finance.
Learning through play: developing soft skills
True to OSCAR’s ethos, the Business School programme was all about interactive learning. The morning programme also incorporated experiential learning through interactive leadership and team development challenges. These were led by Sandy Smith and Katherine Fernandez from the UEBS Executive Education team. These activities were designed to develop leadership skills, collaboration, problem-solving, creative thinking, decision-making and time management. Skills essential to the Young Leaders’ work in India.
The session also incorporated the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model for continuous improvement, which is often used in quality management and business processes. The model helps teams systematically identify problems, develop solutions, test them, and implement improvements - something that the group was required to do through the activities. The PDCA framework can also be applied for continuous improvement in sporting contexts, and to team sports like football, and the Young Leaders were also readily able to make the connection between PDCA and their own coaching processes.
Imagining a collaborative future
More than a one-off experience, this visit opened doors to exciting possibilities. From student exchanges to joint community projects and virtual mentorship, the potential for long-term collaboration between The University of Edinburgh Business School and the OSCAR Foundation is immense.
Edinburgh students could co-develop social innovation projects in India, OSCAR Young Leaders join global classrooms or contribute to grassroots research on youth leadership, assist PHD students with research. These partnerships could spark powerful, sustainable impact at both local and global levels, blending OSCAR’s community-driven knowledge with Edinburgh’s academic insight.
Redefining what’s possible
For the Young Leaders, being welcomed at the Business School sent a clear and inspiring message: Your voice matters. Your dreams are valid. Your work is global.
The programme proved that when institutions invest in underserved youth and offer platforms for exchange, transformation follows, not just for the individual but their family and wider community.
In a world that often underestimates the potential of those from disadvantaged backgrounds, the day served as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we build bridges. Through partnerships like this, OSCAR and the University of Edinburgh are helping to create a more equitable, connected world. And this is just the beginning.
Lucinda Sowerbutts, Head of OSCAR International