Durham Palestine Educational Trust (formerly Durham Birzeit Studentship Fund) is a British charity that offers scholarships to outstanding graduates in Palestine to take master's degree courses at Durham University.
| Founded |
|
|---|---|
| Type | Charitable organization |
| Registration no. | 1085097 [1] |
| Focus | "To aid the economic and social development of Palestine and to spread knowledge about Palestine in Durham area"[1] |
Area served | Durham and Palestine |
Revenue | £166,859 (2021–22)[1] |
| Endowment | £1,563,639 (2022)[2] |
| Website | durhampalestine |
History
editThe trust was established in 1984 as the Durham Birzeit Studentship Fund to support students at Birzeit University to come to Durham for a year of their undergraduate degree. In 2001 it became the Durham Palestine Educational Trust, supporting graduates of any Palestinian university to pursue a master's degree at Durham.[3]
Activities
editIn 2015, the British Council's Voices magazine reported that "gaining quality international experience and being able to bring it back will be vital to the sustainability and growth of the local higher education sector, and consequently Palestinian society". The Durham Palestine Educational Trust was identified as one of three funding opportunities for study in the UK at that time.[4]
Scholarships
editTwo or more scholarships are offered each year for master's degrees at Durham. One of the conditions of these scholarships is that the student should be "an active ambassador for Palestinians" while in Durham, leading the Times of Israel to say that Durham has "a checkered history on the Israel-Palestine conflict".[5] Other non-academic conditions of the scholarship include returning to the West Bank or Gaza after completing the course. The scholarship consists of two parts: a maintenance scholarship provided by the trust and a tuition fee scholarship provided by the university.[6][7]
Funding
editDurham University contributes significantly by offering tuition fee scholarships to successful candidates. Funds necessary to cover the students' maintenance, travel and other costs are raised by voluntary donations from individuals, mainly current and retired staff of the University and other people in the Durham area. In 2019–20, the trust received a bequest from Bryan Fortescue, known as Paul Fortescue. The bequest established a permanent endowment called the Pauline Trust from which only the income on the capital may be expended.[8] The total value of the Pauline Trust endowment as of 2022 was £1,563,639.[2]
Fundraising has also included Easter book fairs on Palace Green, which were held annually from 2014 to 2022.[9][2]
References
edit- ^ a b c "The Durham Palestine Educational Trust". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Durham Palestine Educational Trust Annual Report 2021–22". Charity Commission for England and Wales. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Durham University Records: Faculties and Departments". Durham University Library. Durham Palestine Educational Trust. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ Tim Sowula (7 January 2015). "Why Palestinian universities are looking abroad". Voices. British Council.
- ^ Jenni Frazer (16 February 2018). "Dan Meridor welcomed with shouts of 'Shame,' protests at London university event". Times of Israel.
- ^ "Durham Palestine Educational Trust Scholarship". British Council. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Guide to scholarships for Palestinian students" (PDF). University and College Union. March 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Durham Palestine Educational Trust Annual Report 2019–20". Charity Commission for England and Wales. October 2021. p. 2. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ Rachel Conner-Hill (8 April 2019). "Durham charity to host giant book fair for Palestinian student fund". The Northern Echo.
