Developed by the International Partnerships Team in Queen’s Global Directorate, the fund is designed as a pilot pump-priming scheme to support the development of high-potential institutional partnerships in designated regions.

This initial fund focused on existing university partners with the potential to grow into strategic, institution-wide collaborations, spanning multiple disciplines and areas of activity.

Commenting on the fund, Head of International Partnerships, Anya O’Connor, said:

“This Fund is about investing in relationships – strengthening our existing partnerships and helping to unlock new opportunities that benefit our institutions, our colleagues, our students and the wider communities we serve. We want to thank all the award holders for the energy and commitment they’ve shown in driving this work forward and supporting collaborations that are ambitious, sustainable and impactful.”

The 17 awards were made across all Faculties, with Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement Professor Margaret Topping recently hosting a celebration event to showcase the successful applicants.

Project activity is due to be completed by the end of summer 2026. A new Fund for the 2026/27 academic year will be launched in early autumn.

The full list of award holders is as follows:

Strand 1: Research

• Abdel-Wahab Khalifa, School of Arts, English and Languages – King Saud University
• Allely Albert, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work – Stellenbosch University
• Connor Bamford, School of Biological Sciences – Stellenbosch University
• Dan Sun, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering – University of British Columbia
• Gareth Robinson, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work – University of Pittsburgh
• Iain Styles, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science – Northeastern University
• Karen McConnell, School of Nursing and Midwifery – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Mandi MacDonald, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work – Stellenbosch University
• Okan Yurduseven, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science – Northeastern University
• Rajnish Kumar, Queen's Business School – Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB)

Strand 2: Recruitment & Education

• Abdel-Wahab Khalifa, School of Arts, English and Languages – King Abdulaziz University
• Abul Quddusi, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering – University of Jeddah
• Aglaia De Angeli, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics – BFSU, Minzu University of China, Yunnan University, Lanzhou University, Soochow University, and Zhejiang University
• Chen-En (Ted) Ho, School of Arts, English and Languages –
  1. Taiwan: Shih Chien University; Soochow University; Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU)
  2. China: Soochow University (Soochow); Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA); Dalian Maritime University (DMU); Dalian University of Foreign Languages (DUFL); Sanda University
• Jonathan Browning, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science – Taylor's University
• Wasif Naeem, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science – University of Lahore
• Wendy McKnight, Queen's Business School – Narxoz University