Nathan Bostock, Santander UK's CEO, made his first official visit to the University of Exeter yesterday to meet the Vice Chancellor and senior leadership team as well as students who have benefited from the bank’s financial support.
The University of Exeter has strong links with Santander after signing a partnership agreement in 2009 with the bank’s Santander Universities division who committed over £1m in funding during an eight year period to support the leading academic institution.
In addition to the introductory meeting with Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice Chancellor of the University, Mr. Bostock met with Professor David Bruce Allen, the recently appointed Dean of the Business School, and attended a celebratory lunch with staff and students who have benefitted from Santander’s support, hosted by Professor Janice Kay, Provost.
The visit ended with a roundtable discussion chaired by Dr Shaun Curtis, Director of Global Engagement and Development, where topics included the University trajectory, strategy and vision, Santander Universities’ partnership and its impact in Exeter, the success of the Santander Universities’ internship scheme as well as future collaboration opportunities.
In the academic year 2015-16, the University’s internships team created and supported 60 internships backed by £82,000 of funding from Santander Universities. The internships helped final year students across six different faculties find employment, primarily in Exeter, but also in other locations across the UK.
Nathan Bostock said: “Santander is committed to supporting higher education as well as local communities across the UK. The partnership with the University of Exeter is a brilliant example of how two very different institutions can work together. It’s been great to meet students and staff, and see first-hand the real impact of our joint programmes, in particular the internship scheme which is helping to improve the employability of young people in the region as well as helping local businesses access young talent.”
Santander, through its Santander Universities division, maintains partnerships with close to 1,200 academic institutions in 20 countries. Santander Universities was introduced in the UK in 2007 and the bank is already collaborating with 81 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.
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Santander Universities
Santander, through Santander Universities, tops the list of Fortune 500 in investment in education (Source: Varkey Report/UNESCO). The Bank has established partnerships with over 1,200 universities in 20 countries, of which 81 are in the UK. Through these agreements Santander promotes entrepreneurship, employability and internationalisation. For further information please visit: www.santander.co.uk/universities
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. As at 30 June 2016, the bank serves around 14 million active customers with c. 20,000 employees and operates through 841 branches (which includes 58 university branches) and 69 regional Corporate Business Centres. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK. Santander UK plc customers are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the UK.
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