Pears Scholarships
Empowering a new generation of leaders in the developing world
Pears’ longstanding partnership with The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has had a profound and lasting impact on human health in Africa and beyond. Through its support of the International Master of Public Health programme, more than 150 Pears graduates have returned to their countries to lead efforts in disease prevention, health policy, disaster preparedness and the education of health professionals.This is the most important activity our Faculty undertakes beyond Jerusalem, and one of which we are deeply proud. It reflects something fundamental about what a university can be: a community whose responsibility and impact extend far beyond its own city and country.The Pears alumni network is an extraordinary part of this achievement, connecting graduates to one another, to the University and to Pears Foundation. Pears’ continued personal engagement, alongside its financial support, strengthens these relationships and allows the programme’s influence to continue long after graduation.Professor Eli Pikarsky, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
If I had to pick one partnership that is most emblematic of our Foundation’s identity and values it would be this one. It links Jewish values, Israeli expertise and the skills and knowledge of the students themselves to create a truly global cohort of leaders who can create lasting change in their own countries. I am proud and humbled by every Pears scholar I meet and it is a privilege to support them.Sir Trevor Pears
Partner since: 2004
Funding invested: £16million
Our Pears Scholarships enable students from around the world to develop the skills and experience they need to address their home countries’ most pressing challenges.
The Foundation provides full scholarships for students from the Global South to study for an International Master of Public Health, an MSc in Animal, Plant or Nutritional Science, or an MA in Glocal Community Development Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a global leader in these fields. To date, more than 400 scholars have graduated from these programmes.
The International Masters in Public Health programme equips health professionals with the knowledge and skills to analyse public health challenges and develop interventions at community and national level. Graduates have returned home to take up leadership roles in healthcare, disease prevention, policy, disaster preparedness and the education of health professionals.
At the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Pears Scholars develop expertise in areas including agricultural production, food security, nutrition and environmental management, helping them address challenges facing agriculture and food systems in their own countries.
The Glocal International Development programme combines academic study with practical experience, preparing students to work with communities on issues including poverty, inequality, economic development and environmental sustainability.
Our partnership continues after graduation through alumni networks, which provide opportunities for professional development, collaboration and shared learning. Across Africa, Asia and elsewhere, Pears Scholars and alumni are applying their expertise in fields ranging from managing cholera and polio outbreaks to supporting farmers and strengthening health systems.
At the heart of the programme is a simple principle: investing in people and enabling knowledge and skills to travel. By supporting talented professionals to learn from leading experts and take that knowledge home, the programme develops future leaders while building lasting connections between countries.