Fuelled by a spirit of enterprise and belief in the power of opportunity.
Dear reader,
As the year comes to a close, we reflect on the moments that have brought us together and the milestones we’ve achieved as a community. The unwavering support of our benefactors — through your shared commitment to our mission — has made this progress possible. Thank you for helping foster a sense of purpose.
The spirit of shared purpose has always been a defining hallmark of our great university. Whether expressed through our commitment to inclusion, our belief in fairness and equality, or our pursuit of excellence in all we do, this ethos unites and drives us forward. Recently, this purpose has been encapsulated in the simple phrase: a University for the Public Good. But this is more than just a tagline — it embodies who we are and how we aspire to impact the world. It is this collective endeavour, this way of being, that will continue to shape our identity and ensure our future success.
2024 has been a challenging year for higher education in the UK and the University of York is no exception.
In April of this year, I wrote a special report for The Yorkshire Post addressing the crisis in UK higher education and outlining a ten-point plan for the sector. While the UK Government is increasingly receptive to the insights of university leaders and advocates regarding the crucial role universities play in societal progress, it is now imperative that we rethink student finance and find sustainable ways to fund innovative research that benefits society.
As the debate over university funding continues, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to creating opportunities for all and to advancing research to ameliorate inequalities across the globe. Today, 7.4 million people in the UK are held back from pursuing career or educational aspirations due to socioeconomic barriers. Whether these barriers stem from financial constraints or a perceived lack of belonging within an environment like a Russell Group university, we have a responsibility to dismantle them wherever they exist. At the same time, we must continue to invest in research that drives meaningful change — advancing health, reducing social inequalities, championing human rights and safeguarding the future of our planet. Now is not the time to pause — it is the time to act.
Without doubt, we are moving into an era where public funding, matched by philanthropy and corporate investment, will be more important than ever before. Collaboration and partnership will be key to the future sustainability of our university. Put simply, now is the moment for our community to come together, fuelled by a spirit of enterprise and a steadfast belief in the power of opportunity. While ripples of uncertainty may affect many institutions in the year ahead, with your support and investment, we remain focused on looking forward with optimism and a sense of purpose.
The year ahead may bring challenges, but it will also be rich with opportunities to innovate and to make a difference.
Throughout this report, you will find numerous examples of how philanthropy has helped us realise our vision of being a university for the public good. Our collaboration with the University of Hull and the education charity IntoUniversity stands as a shining example of partnership, working to close the gaps in educational attainment for young people across our region. Similarly, the generous donation from Joan and Irwin Jacobs has enabled the establishment of a PhD fellowship programme in safety in autonomy, this has since developed into the SAINTS programme with over 70 research fellows and this initiative is poised to spark further investment and drive innovation in critical new areas of research that will make our world a safer place.
There is, perhaps, no greater testament to our community’s shared purpose than York’s annual Global Giving Day. In November, more than 700 donors—including staff, students, alumni, corporate partners, and friends—came together to support four vital priority funds. In just 36 hours, your generosity raised over £322,000 to advance mental health research, provide sanctuary to those fleeing conflict, widen access to STEM careers, and open doors for the next generation of students to thrive at the University of York.
This remarkable support ensures that York continues to be a place where every student feels a sense of belonging, empowered to succeed by embracing their differences rather than being disadvantaged because of them.
Looking ahead to 2025
We will focus our efforts on making York the UK’s university of opportunity—eliminating gaps in access, success, and progression for all students, regardless of their circumstances. Our unwavering commitment to inclusion has always gone hand in hand with our pursuit of excellence. York is just one of just four universities in the UK—the others being Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial—to hold both a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework and a top-10 position in Research Excellence. Together, we are creating a university where opportunity, inclusion, and excellence are not just ideals but realities for all. This vision is supported by philanthropy and the newly launched University of Opportunity Fund.
Through the York for Life programme, and the launch of the new YfL platform, we will ensure that all of our graduates have access to lifelong careers support, learning opportunities and to the global community of more than 160,000 graduates in more than 180 countries. Within our alumni community, we will cultivate and empower diverse groups united by shared purpose—from visionary entrepreneurs to passionate environmental advocates. We are committed to equipping all of our graduates with the support and resources they need to thrive and drive meaningful change in the world.
The future sustainability of the University must also remain a key focus of our efforts and here again philanthropy has a role to play. The York Impact Investment Initiative exemplifies how donors can amplify the power of their philanthropy, while supporting our commitment to safeguarding the future of our planet. We are committed to increasing the percentage of the university’s endowment that is invested in organisations that drive meaningful, impact-focused change. The returns on this investment are then directed towards transformative areas such as research, student life, and academic excellence. By growing the endowment fund, we can build a more sustainable future—one that advances our mission while leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.
You are more than a supporter
This report highlights the many remarkable ways philanthropy has sustained and ignited life-changing education and research at the University of York. Despite challenges, we have stayed true to our purpose, and each achievement showcased here represents a testament to resilience and shared commitment. Together, they shine as a powerful reflection of the extraordinary impact made possible by your steadfast dedication and the strength of our community.
You are more than a supporter—you are a vital part of a collective united by purpose and driven to create meaningful change. Thank you for standing with us.
Professor Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor and President