Alumni give back

Alumni give back

Generous donations from our alumni community have supported a number of initiatives to widen access to higher education and enhance student life at RGU.

The projects – which include student scholarships, welfare services and the arts – will be supported by money raised during the student caller campaign, which took place at the beginning of the summer.

A team of students spoke to more than 1,500 alumni around the world, updating them on campus news and engaging them with upcoming university projects.

“RGU has been shaped by the generosity of our alumni and philanthropists,” said John Harper, Principal and Vice Chancellor of RGU.

“The University has been built on philanthropy from its beginnings with Robert Gordon, to John Gray and Thomas Scott Sutherland. I am so grateful to all our alumni who have chosen to continue this tradition and make a contribution to support current and future generations of RGU students.”

One of the projects to benefit from funding is the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. This internationally recognised youth achievement award programme has been set up by RGU students, and is open to all students to participate.

RGU’s Rowing Club will benefit from a donation to purchase a new international standard coxless pair boat. The boat, which has a lifespan of 15-20 years, will benefit current and future generations of student athletes.

The fund will also support two access bursaries, which are match funded by the Robertson Trust. The RGU Robertson Trust bursaries allow exceptional students with the ability, though not necessarily the means, to attend university. These bursaries provide financial support as well as a personal development programme which includes community placements, internships, mentoring and leadership training.

RGU Nightline, a student-led peer-to-peer support service will also benefit, along with RGU Film Festival and 57 10 Architects Society.

Art opportunities including an exhibition of final year paintings at Gray’s School of Art and student professional development opportunities at Look Again Festival will be supported, along with an interprofessional learning award and sport volunteering programme.

RGU alumna Sakina Aliyeva (MBA, 2017) supported this year’s appeal.

“I am glad to be part of the Robert Gordon University community,” she said.

“I am very grateful to the university for my education, and I am pleased to be able to give back to support the Annual Fund.”

The university has seen the total number of RGU Alumni donating to the Annual Fund more than double.

Kyle Henderson, Student Society President and Coordinator of RGU’s Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

“The Duke of Edinburgh Award makes our students more employable and wellrounded people. Your support allows everyone the opportunity to participate, regardless of their financial situation.”

RGU Nightline

“The funding we received this year will greatly improve our ability to reach students and support them in their time of need. Making our service accessible for as many people as possible is very important to us, and thanks to the support we received we can do this better than ever.”

Valerie, Access Scholar

“As a single mum I was really weighing up whether I could come to university or not. I was invited to apply for the scholarship, which I got. RGU saw something in me that I hadn’t recognised in myself and it basically enabled me to come to university.”