Donor News 13 A fundraising update for University donors and friends More scholarships awarded than See page 15 for ever before – the full story. thank you! Following in the footsteps... Sir Hans Krebs Fellowships nurture young talent Discover and understand “Universities face a turbulent era as new markets develop, yet Where we are now during these times we must continue to aspire to be the best. The University of Sheffield is prepared and financially well positioned to rise to those challenges and remains ambitious and determined to continue to be a world-class, research-led University.” Facts & Figures David Young Treasurer Annual Report & Financial Statements 2011–2012 2011–12 www.sheffield.ac.uk/about/annualreport Number of students (2011/12): Number of academic 25,065 departments: International students make up Number of professors N5umber of research0 centres 26% of our student body, (July 2012): and institutes: with 125 different nationalities 468 82 Number of staff (July 2012): Our Students’ Union is the Number of services for industry and commerce: 6,031 best in Britain (National 11 Student Survey 2012) Number of academic staff Income grew by £16.9 million (July 2012): compared to 2010–11 1,209 £ 2 It is a tremendous privilege to work at the University of Sheffield and I am in the wonderfully fortunate position to be able to see the many successes – the extraordinary pieces of research, the applications that have the potential to transform lives and the inspiration of young people – which are at the core of what we do. But there are times when these strengths come into especially sharp focus. One such was when a small party from the University visited India, where we spent a week of intensive meetings with members of the Indian government, universities and some of our alumni, talking about the ways that we might partner this great and rapidly developing nation. What we saw was remarkable. Particular strengths in Sheffield in the applications of science, the interface between medicine and engineering, renewable energy, sustainability and governance, and food security are all priorities for this growing nation of talented people who are transforming their nation and changing the world. But most important of all, we saw great opportunities for the partnership of people – academic scholarship, staff and students, who from Sheffield to India are driven by a desire to take knowledge and put it to work for the good of all. So as I write, the University is welcoming Indian colleagues to Sheffield for a conference which focuses on the application of world-leading stem cell science into areas as diverse as the treatment of deafness, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and blindness. In this vital field, we are training scientists from around the world, with Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Keith Burnett the potential to make breakthroughs which are life changing for people of every nation. The University of Sheffield has a great past and, as our recent visit to India has illustrated, a wonderful future. We have the determination, skills and ambition to address the great challenges of our own time in both our teaching and research. But we need to do so in ways that are true to our heritage and our values of warmth, intelligence and service to others. Our partnership with our donors epitomises this Received approach. Your generosity and engagement enables us to do things that are vitally important but which without your help wouldn’t be with thanks possible. I am deeply grateful for your support. Professor Sir Keith Burnett FRS Vice-Chancellor Contents Development, Alumni Relations & Events Office The University of Sheffield Received with thanks 3 40 Victoria Street Maintaining our independence 4 Sheffield S10 2TN The Benefactors’ Fund 5 Tel: 0114 222 1071 Fax: 0114 222 1044 Funding student initiatives across the campus and beyond 6 Email: [email protected] Web: www.sheffield.ac.uk/alumni Enriching the teaching and learning experience 8 Scanning the QR code will take you directly Students fulfil their potential: the Alumni Fund 10 to our web page. International dimension 11 A lasting legacy to Sheffield 12 www.facebook.com/sheffieldalumni Making a difference: scholarships and prizes 14 @sheffieldalumni Supporting and promoting success: trusts and foundations 16 @sheffalumnifund (for regular updates on How do we allocate funds? 18 the Alumni Fund and student calling team) With thanks 19 LinkedIn: Join the ‘University of Sheffield Six boats came sailing by 32 Alumni’ Group The University of Sheffield is an exempt charity (X1089). 3 Maintaining our independence The support and vision of donors is vital to enhancing our students’ experience and to our ambitions as a world-class, research-intensive university. As an independent charitable institution, it is essential that we do not rely on one source of income. Diversity of funding ensures that the University is able to chart its own course, based on our strong belief in a culture of higher education that is built on a positive interaction between learning, teaching and research – and one that nurtures the arts, humanities and social sciences alongside traditional strengths in science, engineering and medicine. Your support is crucial to our independence and ensures that we are able to advance strategic plans more quickly and in ways that would not otherwise be possible. The roots of the University lie in philanthropy, not only from enlightened industrialists such as Mark Firth, but in the ‘penny donations’ from ordinary working people in Sheffield. That tradition remains today with the generosity of wealthy individuals and foundations, joined by (left-right) Miles Stevenson, Director of Alumni & Donor Relations, and Peter Agar, Director of Campaigns. the regular donations made by alumni, parents, staff and friends of the University. Our donors give to teaching and learning; to scholarships and bursaries; to research and enterprise; and Miles Stevenson added, “The recent example of to cultural and sporting activities. Through the Sheffield Institute for Translational careful management, we are able to ensure the Neuroscience, where we secured major effectiveness of these gifts to the greater good donations via the Sheffield Institute Foundation of the University, our students and our staff. for Motor Neurone Disease and also received donations from many individual supporters, As our relationship with our donors develops, demonstrates how we look to the long term, we are working hard to provide a service that ensuring that a world-class research centre has helps you to consider how best to add value to the backing to attract major funding for the the work of the University. The Development, search for new treatments. Philanthropy has Alumni Relations & Events Office has always been at the heart of the University's successfully established itself as the focus of success and Peter's appointment is an fundraising across the University and Miles endorsement of the huge progress in Stevenson, Director of Alumni & Donor fundraising that has taken place in recent Relations, has now been joined by Peter Agar in years.” the newly created role of Director of Campaigns. Peter was previously Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the We’ve moved University of Cambridge. He said, “I am The Development, delighted to be given the opportunity to build “PHILANTHROPY HAS Alumni Relations & long-lasting relationships between academic ALWAYS BEEN AT THE Events Office has colleagues, students and philanthropic HEART OF THE recently moved to supporters that will help the University realise UNIVERSITY'S larger premises, at 40 Victoria Street. We look its ambitious goals.” SUCCESS.” forward to welcoming the University's alumni and friends to our new home. 4 “THE BENEFACTORS’ The Benefactors’ FUND RECOGNISES SUA’S LONG AND DISTINGUISHED Fund SUPPORT.” The Sheffield University Association of Former Students (SUA) has made Please consider a generous gift of £26,000 to the University to establish the Benefactors’ Fund. This foundational donation has been matched by the University, making a gift to the establishing a permanent endowment totalling £100,000. The income Benefactors' Fund from the Fund will be used by the Vice-Chancellor to support talented Supporters of the students who are in financial need, departmental projects and University now have the fellowships, and student clubs and societies. option to invest unrestricted gifts or For over a century, SUA promoted the University to former students and staff, organising legacies as permanent social events and activities, and providing its members with regular updates on the capital in the Benefactors’ University. Mike Bennett, President of SUA, commented, “I am proud that SUA is the Fund, helping us to grow founder donor of the Benefactors’ Fund and that the funds provided by our members will the original SUA donation continue to support students in perpetuity. I hope that this gift will inspire people to in perpetuity. Spending continue to invest in the long-term financial future of the University.” only the income and sustaining the value of the Over the last ten years, the Development, Alumni Relations & Events Office has provided capital is a financial model many of the services originally undertaken by SUA. “We are very grateful to have had this used by many UK long history of alumni engagement to build our own work upon,” said Miles Stevenson, universities. The Fund is Director of Alumni & Donor Relations. “When SUA began to consider how best to use its held and managed by the assets, some of which are derived from life membership subscriptions over many years, University's Finance its Executive Committee suggested the creation of a fund where the interest derived from Office, and the the capital would be of most direct benefit to current students. I am delighted that we Development, Alumni have established the Benefactors’ Fund in recognition of SUA’s long and distinguished Relations & Events Office support.