New three-year agreement marked by dedication of cafe. STUDENTS are toasting a £730,000 funding deal in cappuccinos and lattes after a café area was dedicated to Santander in recognition of their backing for Edinburgh Napier University. The social space at the Sighthill campus now bears a plaque acknowledging the support of the banking giants, who have pledged the huge sum in a series of agreements dating back to 2009. Santander Universities UK, a major funder of higher education, initially pledged £120,000 to the university over a period of three years. This agreement was renewed in 2012 with a further three-year commitment of £180,000.

Now Edinburgh Napier has signed a new three-year funding agreement for the same sum, with additional summer agreements taking the total value of Santander’s support to £730,000. Speaking at the signing of the agreement with the University and the unveiling of the dedicated space, Simon Bray, Director of Santander Universities UK, said: “Santander is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate and we believe that university is a vital cornerstone of development and progress.  “We are extremely proud of our link to Edinburgh Napier University and we greatly look forward to developing this partnership over the next three years.” Santander’s funding supports a wide range of activity that directly enhances the student experience at Edinburgh Napier.

Scholarships provide financial assistance to enable students from overseas to study in Edinburgh, while mobility awards are granted to Edinburgh-based students to help fund special projects or research abroad. Santander also provide part-funded internships for students to gain valuable work experience, and they support student enterprise through a number of projects to promote entrepreneurialism and innovation.

Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, said: “Santander’s commitment to their investment in Higher Education is truly remarkable and the support that our students and staff have received thanks to the generosity of this programme has been transformational. “We are delighted to be a partner in the Santander network and I look forward to deepening our relationship in the years ahead.” 

Santander Universities was established in 1996 by then Chairman, the late Emilio Botin.  Since then, the global programme has donated more than €1 billion in the shape of scholarships, mobility grants, support for special projects and academic and non-academic awards.