Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali, President of the Islamic Development Bank Group and Prof. Andrew D. Hamilton, Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Oxford University to launch the Islamic Development Bank-University of Oxford Clarendon Scholarships. The signing of the MoU took place at the University of Oxford in presence of senior officials and dignitaries of the University of Oxford and IDB, together with a number of beneficiaries of IDB scholarships currently studying in UK universities. The joint program is launched within the scope of IDB Merit Scholarship Program for Science and Hi-Technology and Clarendon Fund of the university to place talented and meritorious students from IDB member countries for three-year Ph.D. study and research programs at the University of Oxford. IDB has been conducting the Merit Scholarship Program for over 17 years now with the objective of developing human resources of its member countries in science and hi-technology sectors that they are lacking but that are crucial for their sustainable development. This joint program with the University of Oxford, a highly renowned and top-ranked university of the world in research and higher education, would significantly enhance IDB's efforts to contribute to the development of its member countries in need of human resources in advanced science and technology sectors. In his speech at the ceremony, Dr. Ali thanked the Vice Chancellor and authorities of the University of Oxford for partnering with the IDB and giving a hand to enhance its efforts of developing science-based human resources in IDB member countries. He stressed that such partnership would help to build future leaders in developing countries to champion development in all sectors. The Vice Chancellor of the Oxford University termed launching of this joint program as historic and expressed his satisfaction that IDB and Oxford University will jointly sponsor a diverse group of students from IDB member countries. It is worth mentioning that IDB has launched a similar joint scholarship program with the Cambridge University since April 2009. So far fourteen students from IDB member countries have benefited from different scholarships in science and Hi-technology in Cambridge University.
