Cass announces new bursaries in response to refugee crisis

The bursaries are available to individuals who, in addition to meeting the normal entrance criteria, can demonstrate they will use this opportunity to strengthen their organisation’s capacity to respond to the refugee crisis or contribute to the wider charitable sector’s response. The students could be refugees themselves or UK/EU citizens working in the refugee sector. The bursaries will cover the fees on the School’s Charities Masters courses, delivered by Cass Centre for Charity Effectiveness.

Cass recognises that many refugees coming to the UK value education and have significant professional experience and helping them undertake relevant postgraduate courses will not only build on this experience but also develop new lives and careers in the UK. It will also enable them to return home with new skills and knowledge to help in the post-conflict rebuilding process. Equally, those working in charities or NGOs which help refugees can enhance their work and have greater impact through learning new skills and tools.

The decision to offer the three bursaries was decided upon following research which was undertaken in response to a request from The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) as to how Cass could best respond to the current refugee crisis. The research was carried out by Carole Claridge, Associate Consultant, Cass Centre for Charity Effectiveness.

Professor Marianne Lewis, Dean of Cass Business School, said, "We strongly believe that as part of the education community, we have a responsibility to develop the skills of those working to address the current refugee crisis and try to shape a more accepting society. In offering these bursaries, Cass is drawing on its unique strength as one of the only university centre in Europe offering post-graduate management courses specifically for those working in NGOs, charities and other civil society organisations."

Professor Paul Palmer, Director of the Centre of Charity Effectiveness, said: “The current refugee crisis is a global issue and the offer of bursaries for those who work in NGOs and other civil society organisations working with asylum seekers and refugees is intended to help recipients play a major role in responding to the crisis.

“It is our firm belief that the most effective learning environment is a combination of academic rigour balanced with immediate professional relevance. This is reflected in both the content and the approach used in our five Masters courses.”

The five Masters programmes offered by the Centre and for which these new bursaries can be used are:

• MSc in NGO Management
• MSc in Voluntary Sector Management
• MSc in Charity Accounting and Financial Management
• MSc in Grantmaking, Philanthropy & Social Investment
• MSc in Charity Marketing & Fundraising

These unique courses are designed to develop the management skills and organisational abilities of those working in, or wanting to work in, charities, NGOs and other civil society organisations. They are taught on a part-time modular basis over a period of 12 months. Students taking these courses come from diverse backgrounds, resulting in a dynamic learning experience and a powerful network. The aim of these courses is to enable students to develop key management competencies and analytical capabilities needed by those in leadership and management positions in the sector.

Three bursaries will be available for students wanting to commence one of the School’s Charities Masters courses starting in October 2016. The bursary will be a full tuition fee waiver at Home/EU level.

Applications are accepted for the October 2016 Intake, and will be considered in order of application. For more information about applying please visit: https://www.cass.city.ac.uk/research-and-faculty/centres/cce/msc-programmes.