Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter.Message from the Vice-Chancellor
I’m delighted to be able to report that, thanks to you, we have exceeded our campaign targets of raising £23 million for the University and generating 2,012 hours of volunteer time – a year earlier than expected.
We have been overwhelmed by your support. When the campaign: Creating a world-class University together was launched publicly in May 2010, we believed many of you would step forward to offer your help, either with a gift, or by offering some of your valuable time. However, the speed and level of your response exceeded all our expectations.
We didn’t just meet the target of 2,012 volunteer hours; we smashed it – clocking up more than 7,000 hours. Alumni and supporters have taken part in a range of activities including careers talks, hosting practice job interviews and mentoring individual students. This has helped Exeter students as they embark on their career path, and their feedback has been extremely positive. You’ll be pleased to hear the volunteering programme will now continue, with plans to expand it further in the future.
We also raised nearly £25.5m, a considerable sum of money, particularly in the current economic climate. Donations have gone towards our exciting Forum Project which is currently under construction, and our stunning new Business School building, which opened earlier this year.
These wonderful new resources are designed to give students the very latest facilities in which to engage in their studies and further their learning. The Forum will also provide a purpose-built student services centre, much improved library facilities, a 400-seat lecture theatre and attractive piazzas in which to enjoy the Devon sunshine.
Funds are also supporting Exeter’s world-class interdisciplinary research projects where researchers from science, business, social sciences and the humanities target some of our toughest global challenges.
Other gifts have included scholarships, supporting some of our most talented students. I believe passionately that university should be available to all, irrespective of family wealth. These generous donations help many of our brightest stars to reach their full potential.
On behalf of your University, especially our students, I want to say a heart-felt thank you. Your generosity makes a real difference.
