The Mainstay Foundation UK, an organisation which supports Shia Muslim communities around the world, will be sponsoring six PhD scholarships at Royal Holloway, University of London over the next two years.
The partnership, which is between the Centre for Islamic and West Asian Studies (CIWAS) at the Department of Politics, International Relations, and Philosophy, and The Mainstay Foundation UK, underlines the University’s commitment to fostering an inclusive research environment, particularly for PhD students from underrepresented backgrounds.
By developing a dynamic hub at CIWAS, the Centre aims to tackle under-researched areas in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, contributing to the global conversation on the future of West Asian societies and the role of Islam in addressing contemporary challenges.
Members of Royal Holloway’s School of Law and Social Sciences, and Philanthropy and Alumni Relations, welcomed the Trustees from the Mainstay Foundation to Royal Holloway on Wednesday 5 June.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Royal Holloway, Professor Julie Sanders met with the trustees to talk about the collaboration, where she said: “As a University of social purpose, we are truly honoured to be partnering with The Mainstay Foundation. Our collaboration reflects our shared values and goals of sharing knowledge, and creating positive change not only for our students, but for wider society and the world.
“The six PhD scholarships supported by The Mainstay Foundation over the next two years will transform the lives of those that receive them but will furthermore assist in the advancement of Shia Muslim communities, as well as the wider fields of energy, political and religious sustainability. I’m very excited to see where our partnership takes us next.”
