News Release
Durham University signs agreement with Santander Universities
Durham University has today (Friday 23 January) launched a 3-year agreement with one of the world's largest banks, Banco Santander, to provide support for the University's future students, researchers and entrepreneurs.
The partnership, forged with Santander Universities Global Division, will allow Durham University to join ‘Santander Universities', a network that is present in 700 universities of Spain, Portugal, Latin America, China, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Durham is the thirty-second university in the UK invited to this pioneering scheme, which in the UK has been led since 2007 by Abbey National plc, Banco Santander's UK subsidiary.
The agreement will provide:
- funding for scholarships to facilitate student and staff mobility between Durham and universities overseas
- funding for scholarships for postgraduate students from Latin-American countries, Spain and Portugal to study at the University
- Support donation to the Institute of Advanced Study at Durham University in respect of the Exhibition by Jane Alexander to be staged by the University within the Galilee Chapel, Durham Cathedral in March 2009
- Support for individual awards for research excellence.
- Support towards the Heritage Tourism Project within the Centre for the Ethics of Cultural Heritage
Professor Chris Higgins, Vice-Chancellor, Durham University, said: "We are pleased to launch what we know will develop into a long-term and comprehensive partnership with Santander. Durham and Santander have overlapping areas of interest that are not only reflected in our current agreement, but in future opportunities we will explore as we go progress our relationship. These are opportunities that will be of great benefit to our students and staff."
Luis Juste, Santander Universities Director in the UK, commented: "We are very happy to welcome Durham University to the Santander Universities network. At Abbey and Santander we are committed to working with Higher Education institutions and we are certain that this partnership will foster collaboration, student mobility and knowledge transfer between Durham University and other universities in the UK and Latin-America"
Since 1996, through ‘Santander Universities', almost half a billion euros has been distributed to support universities in areas such as teaching and research, international cooperation, knowledge and technology transfer, entrepreneurial initiatives, student mobility and innovation.
ENDS
Media enquiries: Claire Whitelaw at Durham University, Tel: 01913346803 or Email: c.m.whitelaw@durham.ac.uk
Notes to Editors
About Santander Universities
Banco Santander, one of the largest banks in the world, created ‘Santander Universities' in 1996 to support the Higher Education sector in such areas as teaching and research, international cooperation, knowledge and technology transfer, entrepreneurial initiatives, student mobility and innovation.
Santander Universities Global Division has signed co-operation agreements with 700 universities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Mexico, Morocco, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.
‘Santander Universities' was introduced in the UK in 2007 through Abbey National plc and the bank is already collaborating with twenty-nine British Universities and Higher Education Institutions, with agreements focused in promoting international exchange, entrepreneurial activities and the mobility of students and researchers within the network.
‘Santander Universities' initiatives include:
- the granting of over 12,000 scholarships a year to promote study, research and initial professional work experience, and bursaries to facilitate student and staff mobility between universities in the network
- aid to 2,500 research groups
- the issue of 3.7 million university smart cards in 185 universities, with a high level of functional and financial features for teachers and students
- support for two major global projects: the ‘Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library' (www.cervantesvirtual.com), the largest of its kind for Hispanic works; and Universia (www.universia.net), the biggest university co-operation network in the world, that includes 1,070 universities.
For Banco Santander, investing in education is the most powerful means of promoting the development and prosperity of society.
About Durham University
Durham University is a world-class university in two locations: in the city of Durham and at our Queen's Campus in Stockton. In both locations the University is engaged in:
- high-quality teaching and learning
- advanced research and partnership with business
- regional and community partnerships and initiatives
- services for conferences, events and visitor accommodation.
The University is collegiate, with colleges providing residential, social and welfare facilities for their student members, and creating a sense of community for staff and students together. Its academic teaching and research programmes are delivered through departments contained within three faculties: Arts and Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences and Health.
Further details from www.durham.ac.uk/