From the Enlightenment to the first Apple Mac, universities have been the driving force that change the world. Now a new publication from UCL Press explores the role of philanthropy in a rapidly changing higher education environment.

The publication brings to a wider audience the keynote speech given by investor and philanthropist Dr Gerald Chan, who spoke at UCL’s Insiders Day in July 2016 – a preview for close friends and supporters of the new Campaign for UCL which launched publicly in September 2016. Read about the launch here: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/campaign/campaign-news/campaign-launch

Highlighting the vital need for philanthropic public-private partnerships, Dr Chan argues that the independence of universities is crucial for maintaining their dual role as engines of the economy and places of curiosity driven research. He concludes: “This is not a budgetary struggle, it is a struggle for the very soul of the university.”

Read the full publication here – https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ucl-press/browse-books/the-research-university-in-todays-society/

Payng tribute to Dr Chan in the publication’s foreword, UCL’s President & Provost Professor Michael Arthur says: “We could not have asked for a clearer and more cogent overview of the unique, far-reaching value of philanthropy.

“It is doing something completely different. It enables great researchers to be daring and disruptive, to follow a hunch, to end in a place completely different from the one they expected, to pursue the projects that, for a variety of reasons, public funding cannot support.

“It is this work that produces outcomes that shake society.”

This post originally appeared at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/campaign/campaign-news/Gerald-Chan-philanthropy-and-universities 

The Provost is inviting all UCL staff to the launch of the Campaign for UCL. Do join in if you can by registering online. I have also added information below if you wish to help to promote the event:

An Invitation from the UCL Development and Alumni Relations Office:

In September 2016 UCL will be launching the biggest philanthropic Campaign in our history. We aim to raise more money and engage more people with UCL and our work than ever before. We want you to be one of the first to hear about it.

At this event, UCL staff will get a preview of the Campaign’s four key themes and its bold branding in advance of the Campaign public launch in September.  

As well as introducing the Campaign, the event will also give an insight into the vital role that philanthropy plays in enabling UCL to achieve its global ambitions, with a panel of speakers including one of our most generous donors, a current student who has benefited from a philanthropic scholarship, and an academic whose work has been advanced through supporter engagement and philanthropy. 

It will be hosted by Provost & President, Professor Michael Arthur, and Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Lori Houlihan. 

Everyone is invited and we’d love to reach as many staff as possible, so please do share this invitation widely through your UCL networks.

The event will be held in the Darwin Lecture Theatre, Darwin Building on Thursday 16 June, starting at 3pm with a drinks reception from 4.30pm.

To find out more and book your place, please visit our booking page.

If you are not able to attend this event, but would like more information about the Campaign, please email UCLcampaign@ucl.ac.uk with any questions or to be added to our Campaign mailing list.