Message from the Vice- Chancellor
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68057_Univ Of Bucks 7/4/06 10:24 am Page 1 Winter/Spring 2006 Message from the Vice- Chancellor This year we The University responded by cutting its None of these developments would have celebrate our 30th costs and by recruiting more avidly, and been possible without significant birthday as Britain’s over the last three years I’m glad to say donations and I thank the MB Foundation, only independent that the numbers of full-time resident the Garfield Weston Foundation, the university. The story students have been steady. In addition, Dixon’s Foundation, Sir Christopher of Buckingham can be the University has entered into Ondaatje, Mr and Mrs R.M. Gregory, Mr told simply. During the partnerships with a number of foreign John Desborough, Professor Ronald 1970s a group of entities including the Sarajevo School of Coase, Sir Ray Tindle, Mr David Fisher, distinguished Science and Technology in Bosnia, the Slough Estates, Mr Ralph Yablon, The academics and their Irish National College of Computing American Friends of the University, and supporters got together to create a Analysis in Dublin, and the European others for their considerable generosity. university that was going to be different. School of Economics in Lucca, and the These donors have built on the past Because all other British universities were numbers of students that are registered donations of such giants as Lord Tanlaw run and funded by the state, they had to with the University of Buckingham now and Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, in whose take their instructions from the state - and again exceeds a thousand. munificent gifts we still rejoice. the founders of Buckingham anticipated, correctly, that the state would not look We have, moreover, expanded in recent As we celebrate our 30th birthday, after the universities or their students years, and we have created a new School therefore, you can see that we are a properly. So, for example, in 1976 of Education and we are in the process of university determined to grow in numbers, staff:student ratios in British universities creating a School of Medicine. These, and reputation and scholarship. Since the were on average 1:9, whereas now they the innovations of the established schools, quality of an independent university are 1:17. But in Buckingham they are still have been described in recent issues of depends largely on the size of its 1:9 and we continue to put the students The Independent, and we hope you’ll endowment (and since our alumni have first. sample some of them during our an interest in the quality of the university, upcoming ‘Homecoming Weekend’. We because the higher the quality, the more Between 1976 and 1996 the University have also created a significant number of prestigious the degree) and since we grew well, and it embraced a culture of scholarships, and our research has so need more scholarships (to help poor liberal education: every student, flourished that it now accounts for 10 per students) and facilities (we would love a regardless of his or her major course of cent of our income, a record. Indeed, our new sports hall) we’ve decided to launch a study, had to dissect a shrimp and learn a research is of such quality that the recent 30th anniversary fundraising campaign. second European language. Nevertheless study from Professor Smithers and Dr The appeal will feature the number 30 the University grew increasingly vocational Robinson on the study of physics in the prominently. So, for example, Mr Anthony in its orientation, and the Law School, UK even generated a cartoon in Private Green RA, the famous artist who is a followed by the Business School, soon Eye. It is reproduced here. member of Council, has kindly offered to emerged as the largest disciplines. But produce a limited edition (30 or 300 the University has remained true to its copies) of The Buckingham Print, which origins as a liberal arts college, and the will be a collage of the campus, Mill, humanities (as represented by English swans and depictions of the great people and Modern Foreign Languages, and by who have been associated with the History and Philosophy as taught within University. Meanwhile I’ll be writing to International Studies) and the sciences many alumni over the next year or two (as represented by Biochemistry, asking if they would like to contribute $30 Psychology and Information Systems) and or £30 or more. the Social Sciences (as represented by Economics and Politics) continue to thrive. Buckingham is unique and uniquely good and uniquely important. We want to make In 1996, however, the university took a it even better and we’re asking for your knock when the conversion of the help. polytechnics in Britain into universities reversed the longstanding shortage of Dr Terence Kealey university places in the UK, and suddenly Vice- Chancellor there was a surplus (of free places, to boot, for home students!). In one year alone, 1996, Buckingham lost two hundred students, falling from a thousand to eight hundred. 68057_Univ Of Bucks 7/4/06 10:26 am Page 2 30th Anniversary - “Homecoming Weekend” 29/30 July 2006 The Graduation ceremonies are over, dancing and entertainment. Prizes for the best. If you can come, please could you winter term is almost at an end and we online competition (to choose a member let us know for sure no later than 1 July are now planning for our big summer of staff from both the academic and so that we can finalise catering celebration here at Buckingham. 30th support team who made the greatest arrangements. anniversary events will take place on impression on you during you time here - 29/30 July and we hope many of you will if you haven't voted yet, please do) will be We will also put a list of names of those be able to find time to come back and visit awarded during the evening. attending on the website and would ask us and take part in the celebrations. that you let us know if you do NOT wish to On Sunday morning there will be be named, otherwise your name will be on Beginning with everyone meeting up in breakfast in the refectory followed by a the list ..... an attraction for others to the Chandos Road Buildings (the new morning to do what you would like. At 12 come. examination suites) for coffee, we move to noon buses will take those who wish to go the main lecture theatre for welcome to Stowe where there will be a picnic, We do hope that many of you will be able addresses by the Vice-Chancellor and cricket match and games. Finishing at to attend. Please check the AlumNet dignatories. 4pm the buses will bring everyone back to website as it will be updated regularly Buckingham where we will say goodbye. (https://extranet.buckingham.ac.uk/alumnet/), We then break for lunch, following which Hopefully many friendships will have been enter the competition, let us know that people can spend the afternoon visiting renewed and many new ones made. Old you are coming (and if you are bringing their own schools, chatting with lecturers staff members will have been back to your family) and we look forward to and there will be on campus games etc meet with students they have known and welcoming you to Buckingham once for any spouses and children. Each school it will be a chance to network and relax in again. will be arranging their own programme of a familiar and nostalgic setting. Everyone events for the afternoon. is free to join as many events as they wish Anne Matsuoka to, but we would ask you to let us know if Tel: +44 (0)1280 820338 From 5pm there will be entertainment on you will be here for Saturday lunch, Email: Beloff Lawn, with a BBQ starting at 7pm Saturday dinner, Sunday picnic or for all. [email protected] and (weather permitting) people can spill Wet weather arrangements will be in out from the Refectory to enjoy the music, place (just in case!), but we hope for the Graduation 2006 Dear Friends, Minister of the Turks and Caicos acts. Academic gowns were swapped for Islands. ball gowns and the partying (which began I am happy to tell you that you are holding with a dinner in the local Villiers Hotel) in your hands a unique edition of the went on until six in the morning. As Independent with news of Graduation always, the famous Survivors Photo was 2006 and a special ‘taster’ of the the final event of the day. ‘Homecoming Weekend’ to celebrate the 30th Anniversary. But let me be more specific. Firstly, I would like to begin with Graduation, which this year was held on 4th March. As always, everything from the Church ceremony to the Swan Ball was brilliantly organised. I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who helped make Dr Mary Welstead, Dr Terence Kealey, Sir this Graduation unforgettable for the Martin Jacomb (back row) The Honorable graduands, their families and guests. The Michael Misick (Law ’01)(front row) - excitement at seeing old friends and tutors receiving his Honorary Degree at was tangible and for some students very Graduation 2006 We would like to congratulate all our emotional. graduands and wish them success in their Graduation Day is the most important day This year the Palamountain Award for future endeavours! We enjoyed having of the year at Buckingham. University excellence was awarded to Michael you here! Looking forward to seeing you Chancellor, Sir Martin Jacomb, Ballard Smith (LLB’06)and the Dame and your families at the ‘Homecoming congratulated the 2006 graduates.