John at the University and the dinner itself
The University of Glasgow this month marked 10 years of philanthropic giving with a celebratory dinner – hosted by Principal Sir Anton Muscatelli – with a remarkable £125 million sum reached.
As a donor to the inspiring and excellent work of this world-beating place of learning, John Watson OBE was privileged to attend.
The volume and variety of projects which have been supported by University donors is truly astounding – from sports to surgical breakthroughs and from scholarships to new structures transforming the campus.
This year marks a milestone in the long and proud history of philanthropy at the University. Over the last ten years, the University has opened its doors to hundreds more students, advanced the cause of research and inspired new ideas that will change lives on its doorstep and around the world.
The most visible progress of the last decade is undoubtedly the transformation of the Gilmorehill campus. Supported by donations, the former Western Infirmary site and University Avenue are now home to four new, state-of-the-art buildings.
These buildings represent the most significant development of the University estate since the Gilbert Scott Building was erected and are a legacy that will last for generations to come.
These striking new spaces include the Clarice Pears Building, home to the School of Health and Wellbeing, the Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre, the James McCune Smith Learning Hub and the new Adam Smith Building.
These new spaces provide cutting-edge facilities for research, teaching, learning and connecting with the wider community. These enable staff and students to push boundaries and make new discoveries.
As well as providing improved facilities, over the last ten years, donations have supported more than 1,000 students on their University journeys. Scholarships have helped to make the dream of a Glasgow education a reality for many individuals and eased the burden of the cost of living.
The “Sanctuary Scholarship” programme has also supported those traveling to the UK for humanitarian reasons and offers the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
John said: “It was wonderful to attend this very special occasion and to celebrate the wonderful institution that the University of Glasgow is. Donors play a vital role in its success and long may the University be the beneficiary of widespread philanthropy.”