MA Textile Innovation and Branding graduate selected as a British Council Alumni Award finalist
Mega Saffira is a finalist in the Culture, Creativity & Sport Award category in Indonesia.
These awards recognise leaders in their fields who have used their experience of studying at a UK university to make a positive contribution to their communities, industries and countries. This year the British Council received over 1,700 applications from around the world.
Mega is now a lecturer and researcher specialising in traditional textiles, cultural heritage, branding, and fashion at Politeknik Kreatif Indonesia (ESMOD Jakarta). Alongside her work in academia, Mega founded The Textile Map, a digital media platform that highlights the global textile industry phenomenons, with a special section in Indonesia's traditional textiles. It has since reached over 10,000 readers worldwide.
Why did you choose your course and specifically the University of Leeds?
It all began when I discovered my interest in branding and marketing through my professional experience, while still holding on to my long-standing passion for textiles, which I had studied academically. I wanted to pursue a master’s degree that could combine both disciplines. At first, I thought it would be impossible due to how niche the combination was. However, after thorough research, I discovered a unique programme at the University of Leeds, the MA in Textile Innovation and Branding.
It was the only programme I found that genuinely combined textile expertise with branding and business strategy. I was also drawn to the University of Leeds’ long-standing reputation as one of the world’s leading institutions in textile education and research.
The programme offered a rare interdisciplinary structure through both the School of Design and Leeds Business School, which perfectly matched my goal of bridging textiles as cultural heritage with contemporary innovation and branding perspectives. I wanted an education that would allow me to treat textiles not only as materials, but as cultural narratives and creative assets, and Leeds gave me that foundation.
What are your future plans now?
As a lecturer and researcher, my future plans are focused on expanding my work in cultural preservation through teaching, research, and industry collaborations. I aim to further develop The Textile Map, the digital venture I founded and am still working on, into a learning and knowledge platform that supports cultural sustainability and the creative industries through textiles.
I also plan to expand my work in higher education, mentoring the next generation of creative professionals to see heritage not as nostalgia, but as a powerful source of innovation. In the long term, I dream of founding a higher education institution dedicated to fashion and textiles in Indonesia. Leading the quality assurance team at my current institution has given me valuable experience in higher education management and governance, strengthening my belief that this vision is both meaningful and achievable.
At present, I am working towards pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Leeds, School of Design, for which I have already received an offer under the supervision of Dr Sonja Andrew. I am currently in the process of securing a scholarship to make this next academic journey possible.
What does being selected for this award mean to you?
This nomination is a reminder to me that growth does not begin when everything feels complete, but when we choose courage over insecurity, resilience over perfection, and consistency over speed.
Do you have any advice for prospective students considering studying at Leeds?
Studying at Leeds is about more than just earning a degree. Leeds trains you to think critically, work collaboratively, and see your discipline through a global lens. The interdisciplinary environment pushes you beyond your comfort zone and prepares you not only for a career, but for lifelong leadership with rich perspectives.
It is also a place where you meet mentors and partners who become meaningful partners in your journey. I am deeply grateful to have known and learned from my master’s supervisor, Dr Bruce Carnie, and my marketing communications lecturer, Dr Sally Chan, both of whom I am still in touch with today, as well as the incredible friends I made in my cohort.
What words of encouragement do you have for others (particularly women) who may be inspired by your journey?
To women who may be inspired by my journey, I want to say this: as a single mother of two who teaches, does research, and works on her dreams while taking care of her family and herself, I truly believe that our background, our culture, and our experiences are strengths, not limitations.
We don’t have to choose between being a creative, an academic, a professional, a leader, or a mother--we can grow into all of them, slowly and imperfectly, as long as we embrace the process and are kind to ourselves when we need it most.
Self-doubt and the pressure to be perfect often hold us back, but learning to trust ourselves and keep going makes all the difference. Education has given me the confidence to own my voice and believe in my dreams. And I hope others give themselves the same permission to grow, even when the path feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable. As one of my favourite quotes says, ‘no matter how slowly we go, as long as we don’t stop.
