Terrorism research centre will be renamed

ACADEMIC research into terrorism and political violence is to be expanded and renamed after a “major donation” from an international development fund.

The Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at St Andrews University was given the cash by Worldwide Support for Development (WSD).

It will allow the centre to offer new bursaries and scholarships to attract students to the subject, the institution said. The centre also plans to hold conferences attended by leading scholars.

WSD, chaired by Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa, requested that the donation amount be kept private. It is a further boost to a £100 million fundraising campaign, launched by the university to mark its 600th anniversary this year.

The centre will now take the name of its benefactor to become the Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (HCSTPV).

Professor Louise Richardson, principal and vice-chancellor of the university, said: “This is a generous and far-sighted gift from WSD and Dr Handa, which will expand the work of the 
HCSTPV and help us continue to bring the brightest students and scholars to St Andrews, regardless of economic circumstance.

“Terrorism is a complex and fast-evolving phenomenon which affects lives all over the world. It has never been more important to invest in the highest quality of research to understand and counter the threat.

“Dr Handa’s contribution ensures Scotland will continue to be pre-eminent in this field.”