Cambridge university sees record annual fundraising in its history

The venerable Cambridge University has raised 210 million pounds in one year, the largest amount of funds in the university’s centuries-old history, from friends, benefactors and alumni including those from India.

The venerable Cambridge University has raised 210 million pounds in one year, the largest amount of funds in the university’s centuries-old history, from friends, benefactors and alumni including those from India.

The record sum was raised by the university and its 31 colleges as part of 2-billion-pound “Dear World...Yours, Cambridge” campaign. (Wikimedia commons)

The record sum was raised by the university and its 31 colleges as part of 2-billion-pound “Dear World...Yours, Cambridge” campaign, which focuses on the university's impact on the world, outgoing vice-chancellor Leszek Borysiewicz said in his last October 1 speech, which marks the start of the academic year.

Borysiewicz is to be succeeded by the Toronto-based law scholar Stephen Toope on October 1, 2017. Toope’s nomination to the key post was announced last week.

Over the centuries, a large number of students from India have studied at the University of Cambridge (founded in 1209) including prime ministers and individuals who have held, and hold, prominent positions in Indian public life.

Borysiewicz said: “Philanthropy is critical to us. It underpins our academic autonomy, and allows us to deliver our transformative research. It brings the best people to study and work with us. They are the people who will produce ideas that change the world”.

In 2011, the university had exceeded its target of raising 1 billion pounds during the course of its 800th Anniversary Campaign, which was the largest fundraising total announced by a European university.