Stirling renews partnership with Santander

Stirling students are set to receive further significant support from Santander Universities following the signing of a new three-year agreement.

The extension to the current relationship – first established in March 2012 – will see more students benefit from funded internships, scholarships, student mobility and doctoral travel grants.

The new agreement was signed during a special ceremony on the Stirling campus, attended by Javier Rogla, Global Director of Santander Universities; Matt Hutnell, Director for Santander Universities; Professor Malcolm MacLeod, the University’s Senior Deputy Principal; and University Secretary Eileen Schofield. The event also celebrated the successes of those who have received funding since the strategic partnership began in 2012.

Professor Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Stirling, said: “We are delighted to be building on the successful partnership that has already made a significant difference to the University, and our students and staff.”

Mr Hutnell said: “Santander is committed to supporting higher education as well as local communities across the UK.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with University of Stirling for a further three years and look forward to working together in running joint programmes supporting both students and the local community.”

The agreement will reflect Santander Universities’ new strategy, ‘Education, Entrepreneurship and Employability’, and offer additional focus on widening participation, addressing hardship and promoting gender equality.

Last year alone, through the existing partnership, six scholarships were awarded; 21 student or graduate businesses were supported through the Enterprise programme; 32 students benefitted from a mobility grant; 35 internships were established; and seven students received widening participation support.

One of the enterprise support recipients, Mohsin Laginaf, went on to reach the semi-finals of the Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Award and has now started his own business.

Santander, through its Santander Universities division, maintains partnerships with over 1,200 academic institutions in 20 countries. Santander Universities was introduced in the UK in 2007 and the bank is already collaborating with over 80 British Universities and Higher Education Institutions, with agreements focused on promoting international exchange, entrepreneurial activities and the mobility of students and researchers within the network.