The University of Leeds Palestine Solidarity Group (PSG) has challenged perceived PR tactics amid delays in implementing the scholarships for Gazan citizens
The University of Leeds Palestine Solidarity Group (PSG) has spoken out about the “disingenuous” publicising of the university’s initiative to provide humanitarian scholarships to displaced Gazan citizens living outside of the UK and Palestine.
Suffian, the current president of the PSG, spoke to The Leeds Tab about the perceived lack of transparency and follow-through in the university’s handling of the initiative, despite discussions with university management dating back to June 2024.
Suffian explained that whilst the PSG welcomes this type of support from the University of Leeds for the Palestinian people, the implementation of the scholarship programme has been plagued by delays and poor communication.
According to Suffian, the university has consistently failed to keep the PSG leadership, both past and present, informed about the progress of the initiative, making it seem as though the process has been ready to implement since the summer of this year.
“It was only yesterday [2ndDecember] that we were told that there was no process in place as of yet, and that there was simply an ‘Expression of Interest’ form tucked away for Palestinians affected by the genocide to fill out.”
Suffian continued: “Now it’s clear to us that the scholarships are still not ready to go, so the university publicising this in an effort to clean up PR is honestly alarming and disingenuous.”
The criticism from the PSG comes amidst broader tensions between pro-Palestinian student groups and the university.
Suffian pointed to a perceived crackdown on pro-Palestine activism on campus, citing the university’s recent hosting of an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) chaplain and another chaplain accused of sharing anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racist rhetoric on social media.
The PSG believe that since the scholarships are still not ready to be implemented, the advertisement of them has been timed by the university “in an attempt to fix their public reputation”, in light of these recent controversies.
The PSG has also faced challenges in ensuring that diverse student voices are being heard. Suffian noted that while the university will meet with the PSG, it has refused to engage with the Leeds Students Against Apartheid coalition.
He said: “Our meetings with management consist of different issues of contention, with them refusing to meet with the coalition after ensuring they’d have meetings back in June.”
The university’s reliance on the PSG as the sole avenue for dialogue has drawn criticism from Suffian, who argued that “all students on campus have a right to have their voices heard, and many students have chosen the coalition to voice their opinions, alongside PSG.”
He continued: “It’s incredibly disappointing as the elected representatives of the PSG on campus to have the university push this PR propaganda and not actually follow through, along with their inaction towards understanding and supporting Pro-Palestinian students, as well as protecting and supporting their safety.”
Professor Jeff Grabill, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Student Education at the University of Leeds, told The Leeds Tab: “The University of Leeds is one of the few Higher Education institutions in the country offering humanitarian scholarships to citizens of Gaza who have been displaced as result of the ongoing conflict in the region.
“Applications for the scholarships will open in early 2025 and we are welcoming expressions of interest for both undergraduate and Master’s students.”