The 18-year-old former Calderglen High School pupil developed a great interest in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) which has now led to her starting a university course which she hopes will lead to a career in biomedical engineering.

Recognising her talents and interests, the school’s Faculty of Science supported her in her application for the Amazon Future Engineer Bursary which was launched in 2021 in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Alia was awarded £5000 a year to support her through her studies for a degree in Mechatronics at ​the University of Glasgow.

She said: “The bursary will lift a big weight off my shoulders. It will help a lot with practical expenses, such as travelling to university and buying textbooks without worrying.”

 “I found out I’d got the bursary on the same day that I found out I got my first choice for university, so it was a great day!

“I ran to tell my mum as she’s always been pushing me on to succeed, and I loved how proud it made her.”

Alia is one of only 30 women in the UK to receive the bursary which is awarded to students from low-income households to help address the underrepresentation of women studying computer science and engineering at UK universities.

Calderglen High School head teacher Liz White said: “We are extremely proud of Alia and believe she will be highly successful in her field.

“It is always great news to hear that our young people are being supported financially to reach for the stars in their chosen fields and areas about which they are passionate.”

Alia’s long-standing passion for STEM-related subjects started when she was growing up in the Lake District when her mum used to take Alia and her siblings to a coding club after school. It was here that she learned how to make websites and build modifications for her favourite online games.

And when they moved to East Kilbride and Alia started high school, her first and second years saw her apply successfully to various Women in STEM workshops, residential trips and a microcomputing course.

But it was when she got a summer internship with local firm MAGE Control Systems that she discovered the impact she could have on people as a biomedical engineer after seeing the critical work they were doing on projects for stroke victims.

In her final year at school, Alia studied Advanced Highers in Physics, Maths, Computing Science and also Mechanics of Maths which was largely self-taught.

Alia was also awarded the school’s Hooper Award for Computing Science in 2023 which recognises and reflects that only 20% of girls study Computing Science nationally.

Mrs Susan Casey, Calderglen’s Faculty Head of Physics and Chemistry, said: “We wish Alia all the very best and look forward to having her as one of our ever-growing alumni partners to inspire future students and to look forward to seeing how she contributes to the future world of engineering.”