Edinburgh university renews Santander collaboration deal

Santander Universities UK, a major funder of higher education, initially pledged £120,000 to the university in 2009 over a three year period and the agreement was renewed in 2012 with a further three-year commitment for a total of £180,000.

Edinburgh Napier and Santander Universities UK have now agreed a new three-year funding deal for a further £180,000.

The bank has also provided a further £250,000 in support since 2010 in discretionary summer agreements which fund the Santander Internship programme, additional mobility awards and other ad hoc scholarships, bursaries and activities, taking total support to date to £730,000.

Simon Bray, director of Santander Universities UK, said: “Santander is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate and we believe that university is a vital cornerstone of development and progress.

“We are extremely proud of our link to Edinburgh Napier University and we greatly look forward to developing this partnership over the next three years.”

Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, said: “Santander’s commitment to their investment in Higher Education is truly remarkable and the support that our students and staff have received thanks to the generosity of this programme has been transformational.

“We are delighted to be a partner in the Santander network and I look forward to deepening our relationship in the years ahead.”

Santander Universities was established in 1996 by then chairman, the late Emilio Botin.

Since 1996, the global programme has donated more than euro 1 billion (£730 million) to fund scholarships, mobility grants, and support for special projects and academic and non-academic awards.