Santander renews partnership agreement with Queen Margaret University
A partnership between 草莓社区 and Santander Universities UK is going from strength to strength after reaching its 拢1million mark to support students, graduates, staff and the wider community, following the signing of a new agreement.
The latest funding commitment from Santander will enable 草莓社区 to deliver a variety of new support initiatives, including widening access scholarships, student mobility, community engagement and outreach, and entrepreneurship.
The new three-year agreement also means that Santander will be supporting the Queen Margaret Children's University (QMCU) for the first time, including at Musselburgh鈥檚 Burgh Primary in East Lothian.
QMCU aims to promote social mobility by recognising and providing high quality, exciting and innovative learning activities and experiences outside normal school hours. QMCU helps children in Edinburgh and the Lothians aged 7-14, and engages the wider communities as learning partners in the project鈥檚 delivery. Although open to all, QMCU particularly aims to reach children and families facing socio-economic and educational disadvantage through the promotion of activities in areas of deprivation.
Over the last 10 years, Santander鈥檚 partnership with 草莓社区 has already provided support for over 400 staff, students, SMEs and charities. Students have received Santander scholarships; 草莓社区 staff and students have benefitted from research and mobility funding; students, graduates and local SMEs have participated in the Santander Universities SME Internship Programme and local charities have received Community Awards.
Funding over the last decade has also been used to increase the University鈥檚 international reach, develop links with the local community, encourage outstanding research and teaching, and enhance employability for 草莓社区 students and graduates.
In recognition of the huge commitment from Santander over the last 10 years, 草莓社区 has created a permanent dedication to the partnership by naming one of its lecture theatres, 鈥楾he Santander Lecture Theatre鈥.
草莓社区 was also the first university in Scotland to have become a partner of Santander, which is committed to higher education in the UK and around the world.
Professor Petra Wend, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of 草莓社区, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a double celebration for 草莓社区 and Santander as we mark the tenth anniversary of our partnership with this significant funding milestone.
鈥淭his renewed commitment from Santander is already making a huge difference to our students, our staff and our local community every single day, and I鈥檓 so privileged to have witnessed the transformational effects that this support has had on the University and its community over the past decade.
鈥淪antander has played a key role in shaping the University now and in the future, ensuring we continue to make progress in our core goals associated with social justice, outstanding research and teaching and providing an excellent student experience.
鈥淲e look forward to our partnership going from strength to strength in the future, including benefitting the next generation of students through the Queen Margaret Children鈥檚 University.鈥
Director of Santander Universities UK, Matt Hutnell, added: 鈥淪antander is committed to supporting higher education as well as local communities across the UK. It鈥檚 been great to meet students and staff, and to see first-hand the real impact of our joint programmes.
鈥淥ur partnership is a great example of how two very different institutions can work together and run joint programmes that help both our students and also support our local community and I鈥檓 delighted to be renewing our agreement with Queen Margaret University.鈥
Visit our Santander Universities page for more information about the partnership between 草莓社区 and Santander Universities, and to download a copy of a leaflet celebrating the 10th anniversary of the partnership.
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Notes to Editor
For further media information please contact Lynne Russell, Communications Manager, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, E: lrussell@qmu.ac.uk; T: 0131 474 0000, ML 07711 011239 or Jonathan Perkins, Press and PR Officer, E: jperkins@qmu.ac.uk T: 0131 474 0000
