MCO Student Essay Competition winners including U of T's Harleen Kaur (far left) and Subin Kang (second from right) pose with David J. Lock (centre), secretary general of the Magna Charta Observatory (supplied image)
Harleen Kaur and Subin (Bella) Kang named winners of Magna Charta Observatory essay competition
Published: February 17, 2026
University of Toronto students Harleen Kaur and Subin (Bella) Kang are among the five global winners of the 2025 Magna Charta Observatory (MCO) Student Essay Competition.
The competition invited students to submit essays that reflect on how universities can boost access to higher education and enhance the student learning experience.
Kaur, who is pursuing a master of science in sustainability management at U of T Mississauga, proposed a two-stage model – inspired by her journey from India to graduate studies at U of T – that utilizes pre-admission engagement and post-admission inclusion to make higher education more accessible for rural women.
Kang, who is pursuing a bachelor of arts in political science, human geography and urban studies, drew on her experiences as a residence don to delve into the "student agency paradox" and offer strategies to increase linkages between students and key stakeholders.
As award winners, Kaur and Kang traveled to Cape Town, South Africa to present their essays at the World Access to Higher Education Network (WAHEN) conference, hosted at the University of the Western Cape.
