The Copty Scholarship was set up by Georgina Copty and her husband Chris McDowell, both former students of Queen’s who wanted to contribute to transforming lives through education.

Georgina grew up in Jerusalem and both she and her four siblings benefited from scholarships to attend university. She first studied at Gordon College, Massachusetts and then went on to obtain an MBA degree in South Africa where she met her husband Chris, a Queen’s Engineering alumnus, before moving to Belfast.

Georgina, who also sits on the Queen’s University of Belfast Foundation Board which raises funds to support philanthropic work at the University, said: “My family and I have first-hand experience of how scholarships can open up a path to higher education and make a significant difference to the lives of students. Throughout my higher education, I benefitted from other people’s generosity in the form of scholarships and financial support which allowed me to get the type of education that I longed for but knew was out of my reach.  Studying abroad has enriched me profoundly and changed the course of my life.

“I believe, the gift of education is the most impactful gift one can give.  I recognize that there are social inequalities in the world. I want to take a proactive role in tackling that problem in a systematic way ultimately bringing about change for the good.”

Chris, who has also been involved in supporting the University’s Pathway Bursary Fund, said: “The Queen’s educational experience can be transformative for the Palestinian students who would otherwise face very limited opportunities. Our intention, through this scholarship, is to directly support individual Palestinians, empowering them through education and international exposure to make a positive difference in their communities.”

Current Copty Scholarship recipient, masters student Bilal Zedan, said: “At Queen's University Belfast, the Copty Scholarship is my gateway to a world of transformative education, a beacon guiding me to empower Palestinian communities with knowledge and innovation. Here, each lesson is a step towards reimagining and revitalizing our homeland, showcasing the extraordinary power of world-class education to inspire change and build a brighter future for Palestine.”

Speaking about the scholarship, Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy, Eddie Friel, said: “Philanthropy is a crucial element of what happens at Queen’s; it enables the university to reach out to those who may be unable to access a third-level education and provides investment in those people and their communities.

We very much welcome the commitment to extend the Copty Scholarship for an additional 5 years, providing Palestinian students with the chance to travel abroad and experience life at Queen’s.”

More details about the scholarship can be found here