I'm very happy to see this happening. This damned state funding has put a handicap on Oxbridge competing with private institutions in the US. Hopefully the universities will be private again in my lifetime and once again at the top, as they already are in many ways, in all categories.
I would be very sad if Oxbridge were nationalized completely as the now-rubbish continental universities were. This donation is a step in the right direction.
... or do you not want British education to compete globally?
This. Having some of the worlds finest universities is something that pays itself back with respect to the British economy. Of course, they are worthier causes but then, there are ALWAYS worthier causes so, for all its virtue, it's not really a pragmatic line of reasoning.
Regardless, it's far more useful to give money to the university as a whole or to specific departments than the colleges themselves, particularly somewhere like ChCh.
This. Having some of the worlds finest universities is something that pays itself back with respect to the British economy. Of course, they are worthier causes but then, there are ALWAYS worthier causes so, for all its virtue, it's not really a pragmatic line of reasoning.
Regardless, it's far more useful to give money to the university as a whole or to specific departments than the colleges themselves, particularly somewhere like ChCh.
Let's face it, American unis have such better funding than our own. Just look at their facilities! Using that kind of system to improve our very best ones (which will, no doubt, filter down to others too) can only be a good thing.
I'm very happy to see this happening. This damned state funding has put a handicap on Oxbridge competing with private institutions in the US. Hopefully the universities will be private again in my lifetime and once again at the top, as they already are in many ways, in all categories.
I would be very sad if Oxbridge were nationalized completely as the now-rubbish continental universities were. This donation is a step in the right direction.
I'm very happy to see this happening. This damned state funding has put a handicap on Oxbridge competing with private institutions in the US. Hopefully the universities will be private again in my lifetime and once again at the top, as they already are in many ways, in all categories.
I would be very sad if Oxbridge were nationalized completely as the now-rubbish continental universities were. This donation is a step in the right direction.
Those are two separate alumni donations to New Hall and Christ Church, not a double donation to "Oxbridge". Since the two colleges are obviously the only ones which will benefit from that money, I don't quite see why you think this will have any effect on the universities' dependence on state funding.
Those are two separate alumni donations to New Hall and Christ Church, not a double donation to "Oxbridge". Since the two colleges are obviously the only ones which will benefit from that money, I don't quite see why you think this will have any effect on the universities' dependence on state funding.
I think maybe the OP means that it's the start of a new method of fund-raising, similar to the Ivy-League methods, which might develop into funding for the whole uni (i.e. almost all colleges/faculties) rather than just these two.
I think maybe the OP means that it's the start of a new method of fund-raising, similar to the Ivy-League methods, which might develop into funding for the whole uni (i.e. almost all colleges/faculties) rather than just these two.
I see what you mean, but how can a few extremely rich individuals who make large donations to their old colleges (which, as in the case of Christ Church may well be comfortably wealthy already) be considered a new method of fundraising? Apart from not being a particularly new idea, it's not methodical at all, really, as it hinges on the whims of a handful of wealthy alumni.
I see what you mean, but how can a few extremely rich individuals who make large donations to their old colleges (which, as in the case of Christ Church may well be comfortably wealthy already) be considered a new method of fundraising? Apart from not being a particularly new idea, it's not methodical at all, really, as it hinges on the whims of a handful of wealthy alumni.
Because for Britain it really is a new idea. This is how Ivy-League unis are so rich. Cambridge is in the process of a mass appeal to raise £1 billion, in part to coincide with the 800 year anniversary. And sustained campaigning, with strong alumni networks could really make it work well.
What's more, if you've read that article, you'll see the government is matching donations made by philanthropists currently. If such behaviour is encouraged and is seen as normal, as it is in America, it could provide a whole new method of funding which relieves (but doesn't remove, I would imagine) dependency for state funding.
On the other hand we could begin to see the emergence of linked practices such as legacy preferences (positive discrimination for children of alumni) - which would be a complete about-turn after decades of work in improving access...
Lets not forget that when we talk about "endowments" when it comes to US universities a large part of that is to do with their sports teams, expensive stadiums and the such. Research wise, americans are still in the lead but not by such a huge ammount.
Indeed, the Ivy League is really just a football league (well, athletic conference but you get my point), not an association of highly-ranked universities. (That's just a coincidence.)
Indeed, the Ivy League is really just a football league (well, athletic conference but you get my point), not an association of highly-ranked universities. (That's just a coincidence.)
Not so mucha coincidence as good alumnus giving back lots more money (they are rich) so the universities pay more for their sports teams, increasing their reputation and possibly bringing in more money, and the cycle goes on.
Imperial isn't awesome for no reason :P You can see that the differences in funding between oxbridge, lse, UCL, imp are minute. Maybe people can STFU now about how much ebtter oxbridge is and people at other unis should stop feeling like such insecure *****
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Oxbridge gets double donation worth £55m
