The award, open to any student entering the MSc course in Real Estate Management at the University of Glasgow, has been made to Lettisha Jiji George, an architect who in 2020 completed her undergraduate degree in architecture in India.

Lettisha impressed the bursary scheme assessors by her passion for applying her architecture and real estate skills to the betterment of societies and economies, as well as her commitment to seeing real estate as a key element in creating spaces that improve quality of life.

The bursary scheme is a tribute to the enduring contribution made both to the profession of surveying and to his firm by its former Senior Partner, John Hamilton Young. He was instrumental in helping turn DM Hall, one of Scotland’s oldest surveying firms, into the force it is today.

Lettisha said: “I am honoured to have been awarded the John H Young bursary by DM Hall. Since my undergraduate days, I have been driven by a desire not only to enhance my knowledge of land and architecture, but also to actively work towards their improvement.

“My passion for real estate has grown through my architecture career and I am eager to be at the forefront of shaping the future in real estate. This MSc program in real estate will allow me to gain advanced skills and insights to make a meaningful impact in the field.

“Throughout my studies and professional experience, I have developed a strong foundation in site studies, project management, and urban planning. I am focusing on valuation, affordability, and the urbanization process in the field of real estate.

“With the financial support from the John H Young Annual Bursary scholarship, I will be able to focus entirely on my studies and take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the programme.

“Furthermore, the scholarship will enable me to access resources that will support my growth as a future entrepreneur in real estate. Upon completing my postgraduate degree, I firmly believe that my dedication and persistent hard work will be significant contributions to the academic excellence of the University of Glasgow.”

Alan Gordon, DM Hall’s Senior Partner, said: “The bursary was intended to be an annual, highly practical commemoration of John’s life and work and we are delighted, this year, to make this award to Lettisha.

“Her clear determination, vision and expertise make her a worthy winner of the bursary and I, alongside my fellow assessors, anticipate that we will see an exceptional, tangible expression of her commitment to the built environment over the coming years.”

The late John Young joined DM Hall, a firm established in 1897, in 1970, and opened its Glasgow office before spearheading a rapid expansion in the eighties which led to the firm having an extensive network of offices across Scotland as well as expanding into both the North of England and Cornwall.

In 1985, he was made Senior Partner, a role he relished as he increased DM Hall’s footprint with a swathe of new office openings to meet the rising demands of homeowners and a new property-owning environment. His daughter, Katie Craig, is also a chartered surveyor and was made a DM Hall Partner in January 2022.

Dr Tunbosun Oyedokun, Programme Director, MSc Real Estate, at the University of Glasgow, said: “We are honoured that DM Hall chose our Masters’ programme for the award and delighted by the choice of Lettisha Jiji George as its 2024 recipient.”

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