An agreement between Edinburgh Napier and the universities division of a world-leading bank has been extended for a further three years meaning students will continue to benefit from a range of scholarships, funding, and entrepreneurship support.
Edinburgh Napier joined the network of Santander Universities in May 2009 when the organisation pledged an initial £120,000 of funding over three years.
This agreement was renewed both in 2012 and 2015 with a further two commitments of £180,000 and has now been renewed again in 2018 which will see a further £180,000 handed over to Edinburgh Napier between now and 2021.
The funding provided by Santander Universities since 2009 has been used to award 72 Santander Univeristy Scholarships, 176 Santander University Mobility Grants to enable travel to 19 of the 21 countries in the Santander network alongside 107 match internships to Edinburgh Napier students.
A large number of students have also benefitted from Santander’s investment in entrepreneurship through the University’s Bright Red Triangle.
The new agreement – which was signed this week at a special event at Craiglockhart – has a slightly different focus than previous years and will be directed towards three areas of activity: Education, Employability and Entrepreneurship.
Additionally, significant focus will be placed on funding to students as part of the University’s widening participation commitment.
2019 will be the 10th anniversary of Edinburgh Napier’s relationship with Santander and with the anticipated internship funding for next year, the total support received from the organisation will cross the £1 million mark.
Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal of Edinburgh Napier University, said: “I’d like to personally thank Santander Universities for its past and continued support of Edinburgh Napier University and we’re thrilled to be entering another three year agreement with the organisation.
“We are also particularly pleased with the new focus of the agreement as it very much fits with Edinburgh Napier’s own focus to place significant support to widening participation students.”
At the event, attendees heard the story of 2018 BA Hons in Television graduate Calum Menzies who received Santander Universities funding to produce a film entitled “MS, Mexico and Me: Aileen’s Story.”
The film follows the story of Aileen as she looks to crowdsource funding for pioneering MS treatment in Mexico. The Santander Mobility Grant that Calum received allowed him to travel to Mexico with Aileen and her husband to document her story.
You can watch the film here