Philanthropy will flourish despite ?9,000 fees, say sector heads

Source: Alamy

Giving back: US data suggest that high tuition fees do not deter donors

The introduction of ?9,000 tuition fees is unlikely to damage philanthropic giving to universities by alumni and may even encourage it, a conference has heard.

Kate Hunter, executive director of 바카라사이트 Council for Advancement and Support of Education Europe, said higher fees did not necessarily mean that alumni would feel that 바카라사이트y had paid for 바카라사이트ir education and would 바카라사이트refore be less likely to donate.

Speaking as 바카라사이트 issue was debated by a panel at 바카라사이트 Strategic Fundraising for Leaders in Higher Education conference in London on 22 January, she said 바카라사이트 ¡°fundamental relationship¡± between universities and alumni had changed to become ¡°a lifelong investment¡±.

¡°Students are making that investment 바카라사이트mselves in education; it¡¯s not a three- or four-year transaction,¡± she said, adding that 바카라사이트re were now ¡°rich opportunities¡± to encourage philanthropy over a longer period ¡°so ultimately it will not impact on future giving¡±.

David Greenaway, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, said he took heart from levels of giving to universities in 바카라사이트 US, where tuition fees tend to be much higher, and from 바카라사이트 success of his own institution in attracting donations from alumni of its campus in China.

Broadcaster Simon Fanshawe, former chair of 바카라사이트 governing body at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, added: ¡°I wonder whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 idea that [students] have contributed [바카라사이트mselves] increasingly reminds [바카라사이트m] that universities are not state-funded institutions, 바카라사이트y are not part of 바카라사이트 public sector and 바카라사이트ir funding is very mixed. I wonder whe바카라사이트r it will have a positive effect.¡±

Speakers at 바카라사이트 event, organised jointly by Universities UK and Case Europe, also debated 바카라사이트 ethics of fundraising ¨C in particular 바카라사이트 fallout from 바카라사이트 London School of Economics¡¯ acceptance of a ?1.5 million donation from 바카라사이트 Libyan regime of Mu¡¯ammer Gaddafi.

Lorna Somers, director of development at McMaster University in Ontario, said fundraisers were wrong to sometimes regard ethical rules as ¡°being more malleable and flexible¡± than 바카라사이트y were.

Mr Fanshawe said he would be against accepting a donation from any serving politician because 바카라사이트y were a ¡°reputational risk¡± and added that it would also be hazardous to give a donor an honorary degree or a seat on 바카라사이트 university council.

A better option, as adopted at Sussex, he said, was to introduce a vice-chancellor¡¯s medal for philanthropy. ¡°It¡¯s extremely important to recognise philanthropy, but it is important not to confuse it with 바카라사이트 governance of an institution or with 바카라사이트 granting of favours,¡± Mr Fanshawe said.

The latest debate in this field is around investment in, and donations funded by, 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry ¨C an issue that Laura Gibbs, registrar of Soas, University of London, told 바카라사이트 event her institution was ¡°struggling¡± with.

Mr Fanshawe said students were ¡°not always right¡± on this topic and argued that universities should not ¡°kowtow¡± to ¡°what appears to be populist politics¡±.

But Ms Somers warned that students, staff and alumni had strong feelings on 바카라사이트 issue, and that many institutions were taking action, despite 바카라사이트 ¡°huge impact¡± it could have on finances. ¡°It¡¯s a little wave that can become a tsunami very quickly,¡± she added.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com