Background

The first Olive Tree Scholars began to study in 2004 and by 2010 a total of 48 scholarships had been awarded across four successive cohorts of students. Initiated originally under the auspices of the Olive Tree Educational Trust, the Olive Tree is now a City University London Programme, under the remit of the Vice-Chancellor, and is overseen by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and International) - Professor Dinos Arcoumanis.

The Director of the Programme is Rosemary Hollis, Professor of Middle East Policy Studies and formerly Director of Research at Chatham House and a specialist on the International Politics of the Middle East. She was appointed to the Programme in 2008, since when the Programme has also benefited from the expanded involvement of a number of faculty and staff across the university.

The first cohort of Olive Tree Scholars graduated in 2007 with degrees in a range of subjects, including Electrical and Computer Engineering, Journalism, Psychology, Sociology, media and Business. All those who graduated in 2009 attained either first or upper second class honours degrees, in fields including International Politics, Sociology, Engineering, Journalism or Psychology. Similarly all those in the third cohort of Olive Tree scholars who graduated in 2011 attained first or upper seconds - with a record high proportion of firsts. The fourth cohort are now in the second year of their degree programmes at City, studying Business Management, Law, Biomedical Engineering, Psychology, International Politics, Sociology and Journalism.

Graduates of the Programme to date have proceeded to careers in education, journalism, economic development, human rights, politics, administration, music, business and social work or are undertaking post-graduate studies, including three awarded doctoral scholarships at City.

Financial support for the scholarships has been donated by a number of trusts, foundations and individual sponsors, including founding patrons and donors Derek Tullett and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa al Jaber, Investec, the HSBC Education Trust and the Mark Leonard Trust.