By William Hamilton
PBN Staff Writer
DAVOS, Switzerland – Brown University today announced the creation of an “Advancing Africa Scholarship Fund,” targeting students from Sub-Saharan nations who pledge to return to their homelands after graduation to “help address some of the continent’s critical needs in all sectors,” the university said.
“This truly generous gift allows us to offer the opportunity for scholarship to an underserved continent,” Ruth J. Simmons, the president of the Providence-based university, said in a statement today.
“We are making this announcement from the World Economic Forum [in Davos] to underscore the global nature of the gift,” said Simmons, who also will be serving on the Global University Presidents Forum and other high-level panels at the conference.
“All nations must be given the chance to participate in the world’s economy. As educators, we have the responsibility to reach out to developing nations to provide the necessary tools to a wider cross-section of students.”
Thirty-six students from African nations currently attend Brown: 17 as undergraduates, 18 as graduate students and one as a student at the Warren Alpert School of Medicine, the university said.
Scholarship recipients will sign a pledge to return to their African nations for at least two years after graduation. During those years, they will receive a monthly stipend to ease their transition and ensure a higher standard of living. In addition, during their studies at Brown, the Advancing Africa Scholars each will be entitled to two trips home at the fund’s expense.
The Advancing Africa fund was established with a $5.75 million donation from Israeli businessman Idan Ofer, the parent of a Brown student. “Enabling students to be educated at one of the best universities in the world will give them the tools to help their nations,” he said in a statement today.
Ofer is the chairman of Israel Corp. – a leading Israeli holding company – and chairman of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., as well as a member of the boards from several other companies, the university said. This is the eighth year he has taken part in the World Economic Forum.
Brown University – based in Providence – is an Ivy League institution offering nearly 100 programs of study to its nearly 7,200 undergraduate, graduate and medical students. For more information, visit www.brown.edu.
