Warwick launches 50 Forward: £50 million fundraising campaign
On Thursday 16 June, staff from each faculty joined Warwick's Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Thrift and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Access, Widening Participation and Development Professor Margot Finn at Altitude 360˚ in Westminster for the formal launch of the University's 50 Forward campaign. Having already raised £22.5 million, the University publicly announced its plans to raise £50 million of philanthropic funding by the University's 50th anniversary in 2015.
The campaign is focused around a number of key priorities which directly support the University's ambitious Strategy and which the University community is already actively engaged with. Continuing to work with a range of donors as well as identifying new ones will be key to the campaign's success.
The priorities are:
- Scholarships and Campus Life
Ensuring fair access to a distinctive education of the highest quality for the brightest minds - Medicine
Improving the health of people in resource poor communities - Science and the Environment
Maximising our strengths in life and social sciences to improve nutrition and reduce hunger in the UK and in the developing world - The Business World
Rethinking the business agenda, making it fit for purpose in the 21st century - Local and Global Responsibility
Using the expertise of our staff and students to build capacity and quality in education - Where the Need is Greatest
Ongoing support towards the areas of greatest need is vital in helping Warwick to maintain its world class standards in teaching, learning and research. Gifts in this area can make an immediate difference and also help to secure our long term future.
Patrick Dunne, Warwick alumni and benefactor of the Warwick in Africa Teaching Programme noted the key role the University plays, commenting:
"Warwick's ability to marshal talent and resources behind an idea has been outstanding. It's inspiring to see so many young people benefit and see their skills and aspirations grow. It's the biggest bangs per buck of anything I do."
Two short videos were shown at the launch event, one featuring the research strengths and impact of Warwick's academic community and the other considering the student experience, learning and the importance of nurturing talent.
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Access, Widening Participation and Development Professor Margot Finn said:
"Warwick has a history of turning challenges into opportunities: the 50 Forward campaign will allow us to respond proactively and imaginatively to the demands of a rapidly changing higher education landscape without losing sight of our ambitions and our core values."
Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Thrift said:
"As we approach our fiftieth anniversary in 2015 I believe that a university like Warwick is well placed to nurture the next generation of global decision makers and to identify solutions to some of the pressing challenges confronting the world. The 50 Forward campaign is intended to do just that."