Transforming the life chances of young people by providing them with opportunities for high quality education is a task that benefits from long-term partnerships and collaboration. Windle Trust International makes a contribution to that transformation, but we depend to a great extent on the support and generosity of others.
Our partnerships are of two kinds: educational institutions and other donors and funding partners.
In the Postgraduate Scholarships Programme, we work very closely with universities in the UK which, despite facing funding pressures themselves, support Windle scholars by awarding either a full or partial scholarships often in conjunction with the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme. We are also proud to be a nominating partner for fully funded scholarships through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. These awards make an enormous difference to the cost-effectiveness of the programme, as well as providing an opportunity to students to benefit from outstanding educational facilities and resources. In addition to the universities that currently support opportunities for UK postgraduate study we are also developing similar partnerships with Universities in Sudan for the undergraduate scholarships programme such as Ahfad University for Women.
The second category of partners is those organisations that support us financially. Historically, we have benefitted from the continuous support of the Hugh Pilkington Charitable Trust with which we have a close working relationship. In addition, we have been fortunate to receive funding in recent years from a range of organisations for our work in the UK, Sudan and South Sudan. Read more about our funding partners below.
UK Universities 2019-20
Windle Trust International works closely with eligible students and Universities to place our candidates on the most suitable courses and scholarships for them. For all of our university scholarship partnerships our eligible students are required to obtain unconditional admission on relevant courses before being nominated and selected by Windle Trust International and its partners.
University of Bangor
We are very pleased to continue our scholarship arrangement with the University of Bangor this year, with three scholarships through the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme. Eligible applicants are nominated by Windle Trust International with the final awardees being selected by the University. Students this year are studying about Public Health and Health Promotion, as well as Environmental and Business Management.
University of Birmingham
Partnering with the University of Birmingham to support a student on the MA Management of Special Education in Developing Countries is a particularly pleasing new partnership as it aligns closely with our strategy to develop teaching and learning in the countries in which we work. This placement is funded through the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship scheme with Windle Trust International nominating eligible candidates before final selection from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
University of Leeds
It is exciting to be partnering with the University of Leeds once again to support students through both the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship scheme and the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme. This year students are studying for postgraduate degrees in Environmental Engineering and Project Management, as well on the MPH Public Health (International).
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University, particularly the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) of the School of Architecture, has been supporter and partner for over 20 years. We have been able to place at least one of our scholars every year at CENDEP to study its most popular MA Development and Emergency Practice course (DEP) since the late 1990s.
University of Sussex
Introducing a new partnership with the University of Sussex this year, we are pleased to be able to come together to support a Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship student studying MA Gender and Development. Eligible applicants are nominated by Windle Trust International with the final awardees selected by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
University College London (UCL)
Our current partnership with the Institute of Education-UCL started in 2007. The scholarship is open to any taught master’s course offered at the Institute. Windle selects and places the candidate to be awarded the scholarship. This scholarship would not be possible without complementary accommodation scholarships in London at Goodenough College.
University of Warwick
We are also continuing our partnership with the University of Warwick this year to jointly support a student to study MA TESOL in the Faculty of Social Science. In collaboration with the faculty we agree who of the eligible applicants is to be awarded a scholarship. This is also underpinned by our broader strategy to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the countries in which we work and specifically our work to improve English Language Training, particularly in South Sudan.
University of Westminster
Our partnership with the University of Westminster started in 2014. Windle Trust International nominates a shortlist of two to three suitable candidates for any taught master’s degree. The University’s Scholarships Committee then makes the final selection of the candidate to receive the award. As accommodation has been provided through International Students House (ISH) for the duration of their course it has meant we have been able to support more scholarships in London since the scheme started. In spite of its short history, it is a valuable partnership and we look forward to strengthening this going into the future.
