Plymouth Marjon University alumna Shi Min wins British Council award for Social Action

Released: 28.01.26

Plymouth Marjon University alumna Shi Min Tan has been honoured with a prestigious UK Alumni Award for Social Action from the British Council at a celebratory ceremony in Malaysia. 

Recognised as an “icon of educational inclusivity”, Shi Min was selected as a finalist before being announced as the overall winner. 

Shi Min said: "I am deeply grateful to Marjon for nurturing my passion for volunteering and promoting quality education for all. If I hadn't studied at Marjon, I wouldn't have the idea and opportunity to reach out to UKECharisma (rebranded as The Charisma Movement since 2017), a student-led organisation that supports Inspire Teringai Project (rebranded as Projek Anak Malaysia since 2020) as an annual volunteering project since 2012."

Plymouth Marjon University Vice-Chancellor Professor Claire Taylor shared a message of congratulations via video, saying: “From everyone at the University, we send our warmest wishes and congratulations on all your achievements in your successful career, particularly this award from the British Council.  

“We are so proud of all our alumni, and your work has had a positive impact on so many lives as you continue to instil your passion and values in future educators.” 

Shi Min graduated with a Bachelor of Education in TESL from Marjon in 2014, describing the UK’s inquiry‑driven, student‑centred academic culture as profoundly shaping her values as an educator. 

During her second year at Marjon, she developed the proposal that would grow into Projek Anak Malaysia (formerly the Inspire Teringai Project), an educational volunteer initiative that has since supported more than 5,000 rural students over 13 years and mobilised more than 300 young volunteers. 

After graduating, she returned to Malaysia to teach English in a rural school, where she created an innovative writing tool, the Wheel of Learning, to support students with low literacy. 

Today, Shi Min is a lecturer at the Institute of Teacher Education Tuanku Bainun Campus, mentoring aspiring educators and championing classroom practices that promote empowerment and inclusion.