In the USA many corporations have links with universities and provide particular support for scholarships, internships and other initiatives.  The practice is less common in the UK, but is growing.  Today we have had a celebration of one particular corporate partnership that really seems to hjave got off to a good start and can deliver some new things for the university.

The Spanish bank Santander has over the years created a university network in its main market areas - Spain, Portugal and the whole of Spanish- and Partuguese-speaking Latin America.  In the last few years it has extended that network to the UK, and Sheffield recently became the latest British university to develop a formal relationship with the bank.  Latin America is a very significance global region, but one in which we have been weakly represented.  Funding from the bank has enabled us to develop a scholasrhip programme to attract students from the region, and also to create a set of mobility funds to support short visits to Spain, Portugal and Latin America by staff and research students here who might be able to forge new links.  Today the President of the Santander Universities network came to hear how we are getting on, to meet the supported incoming stduents and those from Sheffield who have benefited from travel monies, and to discuss next steps.  The enthusiasm shown by all the recipients of financial support was considerable, and it was clear that without the sponsorship of the bank we could not have supported what has in fact happened.

But we have also used the support of Santander to create a series of prizes for the best portfolios and activities reported by students undertaking the Sheffield Graduate Award.  This is close to my heart, as it was me that pushed for the creation of the Award back in my early years as Pro-Vice-Chancellor.  This year over 400 students will be receiving the Award at the graduation ceremonies later in the month, and that is a notable achievement.  We have set up a scheme for this volume of activity using only shoestring funding to do so.  The support of Santander in awarding prizes for the best award winners is special, and I was delighted to meet all but one of the winner today - and they are an outstanding group who will bring credit on themselves and the university.  (And as is the way with corporate sponsorship, no doubt on Santander Bank as well!  Hence everyone wins.)

(Apologies that this posting is several days late, although it does refer to the appointed day. I have no excuse for late delivery other than pressure of work and a series of evening engagements over the past week.)