A fundraising dinner in Belfast City Hall last night generated £290k while a generous gift of £250k was donated from a supporter of the university with a long standing commitment to education in Northern Ireland.

The Clinton Scholarship Fund, designed to support US study opportunities for economically or socially disadvantaged local Queen’s students, will enable them to experience study programmes which will broaden horizons and deliver wider opportunities.

It will support students who would otherwise be unable to access those opportunities and to provide them with life changing experiences and learning as part of Queen’s Widening Participation Programmes.

Welcoming the Fund President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University, Professor Ian Greer, said: “The incredible generosity of both those attending the dinner and the donor will make a huge difference to the lives of many disadvantaged young people in Northern Ireland.

The Scholarship Fund will have a significant impact on the future of many young people. Indeed, the longstanding impact of the scholarship fund and the conference itself is incalculable.”

He added: “We aim to develop our students as global citizens, equipping them with the skills to work internationally, and the opportunities to build a career locally, meeting the needs of key sectors and supporting growth of the economy in Northern Ireland.

“We believe it is important that local students who may not typically have access to international study, due to circumstance rather than ability, are given the same opportunity to participate. This principle is at the very core of the Clinton Scholarship Fund: providing opportunities, making real connections, and working together to build something bigger.

“It is an honour to name these scholarships after Chancellor Secretary Clinton and former President of the United States, President William J Clinton; two figures who have played a significant role in promoting positive change in Northern Ireland and who continue to support international connections with Queen's and Northern Ireland."

Find out more about the conference here.

For more information on the Clinton Scholarship Fund, please visit: https://daro.qub.ac.uk/clinton-scholarship-fund

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