MPhil students look forward to an impactful year at Cambridge

We catch up with two of our Mastercard Foundation-supported MPhil students, Gift Nwamadu and Rutendo Carol Chatiza, as they reflect on their first term at Newnham and look to the future.  

Gift Nwamadu, a policy professional from Nigeria, is pursuing an MPhil in Public Policy and is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar ‘25 at the University of Cambridge. Her research is focused on the intersection of inclusive innovation, community development, and climate finance. Gift is driven by a mission to demonstrate how robust public policy can expand opportunity for vulnerable populations in remote or hard to reach communities. She is inspired by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen’s quote, “The success of a society is to be evaluated primarily by the freedoms that members of the society enjoy.” 

Gift is deeply committed to rethinking the African development paradigm. Her passion lies in ensuring that individual lived experiences and local innovation are the foundational blocks for coproduction between government and communities. 

Her long-term vision is to champion and implement people-centred and inclusive policy approaches that are uncompromisingly grounded in the realities of African communities. She is also dedicated to mentoring the next generation of changemakers who will ultimately define the continent's future. 

Gift said, “My time at Cambridge has been enriching. I came here expecting pure intellectual rigour with little or no excitement outside my books. I would say what has stood out most is the diversity of perspectives which transcends academics, cultures, social life, and professional development. Every conversation feels like an opportunity to view global challenges from a completely different angle. 

“One of the most meaningful aspects has been the Mastercard Foundation community. Sharing space with other young Africans who are as passionate about transforming systems whether in policy, science, politics, health, technology, engineering, education, law or development, has reinforced my own sense of purpose. 

“My college, Newnham, has also provided me a community of ambitious women who are soft yet firm, deeply curious, challenging the status quo and committed to making a difference in their various fields. Being in such an extraordinary environment has improved my confidence and imagination.  

“My plans centre on contributing to public policy and development work that strengthens resilience across communities. My aspirations are focused on four strategic pillars, all aimed at achieving systems change rather than pursuing any single project or organisation.” 

Enriching and empowering 

Rutendo Carol Chatiza, a Biomedical Engineer from Zimbabwe, is pursuing an MPhil in Translating Devices and Advanced Therapy Research, and is driven by a passion for bridging the gap between clinical needs and technological development, particularly in creating solutions tailored for resource-constrained environments.  

Rutendo’s experience at Cambridge so far has been deeply enriching and has exceeded her expectations. She has found Newnham to be a welcoming and empowering home, one that has fostered her ambition and confidence as a Black woman in STEM.  

Rutendo told us, “Academically, I am especially enjoying the opportunities my course provides to engage with innovators who have successfully translated their ideas into real-world medical products, hearing about their journeys has strengthened my belief in the power of thoughtful, patient-centred innovation. I am also profoundly grateful for the support of the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, which has not only enabled my studies but has provided a strong community that continually encourages my personal and academic growth.” 

Rutendo has begun her research project, Towards Improving the Precision of Cochlear Implant Stimulation: Computational Modelling of Channel Interactions, conducted within the Cambridge Hearing Group and the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit. This work reflects her growing commitment to rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology, fields in which she hopes to contribute. The Cambridge environment, which she has found to be, “supportive, collaborative and intellectually generous”, has played a crucial role in shaping her confidence as a researcher and her clarity about impact she hopes to make. 

Looking ahead, Rutendo plans to return to Zimbabwe to establish a health-technology company focused on developing affordable, context-appropriate medical devices for low-income settings. Her goal is to contribute to a future where technological innovation genuinely reflects the needs of the communities it aims to serve. Her time at Cambridge has affirmed this mission, offering her both the technical skills and the inspiration to pursue it with purpose. 

• Gift and Rutendo are supported by the prestigious Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge, which is designed to provide outstanding students from under-represented communities in Africa with opportunities to complete their Master’s training, grow their leadership potential, and contribute to climate resilience and sustainability efforts across Africa.