Pears Foundation

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, with a presence in over 100 countries.

Our work with the British Council spans two key initiatives that exemplify its mission: fostering academic excellence and building global partnerships through education and research. At the core of both programmes lies a belief in the power of academic collaboration – building bridges between institutions, empowering individuals through education, and addressing global challenges through shared research.

HESPAL – Building the next generation of Palestinian academics

In 2010 we worked with the British Council to establish the Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians (HESPAL) programme.

HESPAL aims to create the next generation of senior academics who can operate at international quality standards at Palestinian universities, develop links between Palestinian and UK universities, and create lasting professional networks to sustain scholars’ longer-term careers.

Since its inception, HESPAL has awarded 255 scholarships to Palestinian academics and researchers enabling them to pursue postgraduate studies (195 master’s degrees and 60 PhDs) in the UK. Partnership is at the heart of the programme, which has grown to attract a diversity of funders and partners, opening up new opportunities for international exchange and research.

The programme continues to provide opportunities for scholars from both the West Bank and Gaza with 28 British universities participating in 2025.

“I have been provided with an excellent opportunity not only to improve my research skills and critical thinking, but also to explore new educational systems and teaching techniques.”

HESPAL Masters Scholar, 2023-2024  

BIRAX – Advancing global medical research through scientific collaboration

Alongside the British Council and the British Embassy, Pears Foundation was a founding partner of BIRAX (the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership). It invests in world-leading research jointly undertaken by scientists in Britain and Israel.

The initiative operates across three strands:

• Funding cutting-edge research collaborations
• Providing engagement opportunities for leading scientists
• Supporting research mobility through travel grants

Since its inception, over £15 million has been invested across 32 joint research projects, convening over 200 researchers, who form long term collaborations, strengthening the research community and advancing medical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity.

BIRAX research is driving discoveries in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, macular disease, bone fragility, and in its most recent phase, BIRAX Healthy Ageing.

With the Pears Foundation as the founding partner, the funding model is sustained by a coalition of partners, including philanthropic foundations, government agencies, and leading medical charities such as the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, the MS Society, and Parkinson’s UK.

Together, HESPAL and BIRAX demonstrate how strategic international collaboration in education and research can drive societal progress, foster innovation, and create lasting global connections.

“With over a decade of achievements and £15 million invested to date, these collaborations demonstrate the strength of bringing together the brightest minds to deliver solutions with real global impact. I look forward to seeing the BIRAX community grow, innovate, and lead the way in scientific discovery.”

Ravit Capauner, Head of BIRAX