Donors gift £40m to Scots universities

GRADUATES helped fund more than £40 million in donations to Scotland’s universities last year, according to a new report.

The annual Ross-CASE Survey Report, which is carried out by the National Centre for Social Research on behalf of the Ross Group and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (Case) in Europe, found £40,653,000 in cash income was received from donors in 2011-12.

In total, almost 20,000 people donated to Scottish universities, 14,328 of whom were alumni.

Kate Hunter, executive director of Case in Europe, said: “Donations to universities go towards everything from ground-breaking research, to world-class new facilities, to helping individual students, which is why so many people feel they’re a worthwhile cause.

“As giving to higher education becomes more mainstream, we need to look at supporting all institutions to make the most of this opportunity and attract even more donors.”

Karen Cairney, director of international development at Edinburgh Napier University, added: “The results in this year’s Ross-Case report are very 
encouraging and it is fantastic to see that universities are 
receiving this much-needed 
support.”