IPE Pensions Scholarship Fund

Application form download

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the IPE European Pension Funds Awards, IPE set up the IPE Pensions Scholarship Fund.

This not-for-profit activity was established with the purpose of furthering pensions education across Europe, with a particular focus on higher education.

The first initiative is to launch the IPE Pensions Scholarships to help European students undertaking graduate or post-graduate studies and research relating to pensions issues, usually at recognised universities or research bodies within Europe.

The fund has set up a Board comprising mainly external senior pensions experts, who advised by academics and others, will review the applications from students and recommend those they consider most deserving.

The bursaries will be up to a maximum amount of €5,000, but decisions as to the amount to be awarded in any individual case will be determined by the board. Initially, it is likely that the awards would be for payment of course or other fees and costs relating to research projects etc.

IPE has endowed the scheme with an initial fund of €10,000, which has been increased subsequently and will invite others in the European pensions community to contribute in due course.

The need
Pension matters are increasingly featuring in university degree courses and post-graduate programmes in different European countries. This trend is likely to be reinforced as ageing and other retirement provision issues put further pressure on European countries requiring greater academic analysis and research, as well having more qualified and expert pensions professionals. These two aspects of a better researched and a more qualified pensions industry go hand-in-hand in IPE's view.

The overall objective is to ensure to the maximum extent possible that students who might not otherwise be able to progress their studies can be helped to do so and that important research projects that might otherwise languish are assisted.

How the scholarships will work
Existing students engaged in relevant courses or those intending to undertake new courses in pension studies at undergraduate or graduate level will be invited to apply for bursaries by completing a form, outlining their case for an award. They will be expected to have their application supported/signed off by a member of the relevant academic staff of the university or institution providing the course. All payments will be disbursed normally through the academic or research institution.

Scholarships Fund Board
The role of the Board is to assess the applications received from students and decide which will be awarded funding and the amount. The Board’s decision will be final in all cases. The Board will be able to access external advice in connection with fulfilling this role. Three external pensions experts are on the Board of the fund: Chris Verhaegen, Chair of the Occupational Pensions Stakeholders Group at EIOPA and former Secretary General of the European Federation for Retirement Provision in Brussels, Peter Borgdorff, Executive Director of Pensioenfonds Zorg en Welzijn in Zeist, and Peter Melchior, Executive Director/Actuary of PKA in Copenhagen; Founding Editor and Director Fennell Betson will represent IPE.

Publicity
The publicity resources of IPE and its extensive online and mailing databases will be available to attract applications for scholarships. The fund has built up contacts with universities and other academic bodies active in the pensions arena to obtain their support in encouraging students to apply.

For further information, please contact
Fennell Betson, Founding Editor IPE,
+44 (0)20 3465 9325
fennell.betson@ipe.com
 

For further information, please contact
Fennell Betson, Founding Editor IPE,
+44 (0)20 3465 9325
fennell.betson@ipe.com
 

 

IPE Pensions Scholarship Fund

Pension Funds supporting the IPE Pensions Scholarship Fund

We list below the pension funds the Pension Funds which have contributed to the IPE Pensions Scholarship Fund as at June 30 2011:

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