University of Leicester launches philanthropic campaign and signs historic partnership in Canada
The event for alumni and University partners, held at the British Consul-General's Toronto residence.
A delegation from the University of Leicester travelled to Canada to launch the 2121: Founders of the Future campaign, which aims to raise £100m to fund life-changing research and education.
The Canadian launch, held on Friday 17 April, was hosted by the British Consul-General to Toronto, Fouzia Younis MBE, at her residence in the city, and attended by University alumni and key partners in Canada – including the new President of the Canadian Alumni Chapter, Amanda McKoy.
At the launch event, the University also announced an historic partnership with Memorial University (MUN) – the only other University in the world to be founded, like the University of Leicester, as a living memorial to those who made sacrifices in the First World War.
The agreement will see the creation of opportunities for MUN students to study Law pathways at Leicester, as well as providing exchange opportunities for students at both institutions to gain international experience. The partnership will also include the sharing of library and archive materials which will further strengthen the historical connections between the universities.
Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah with British Consul-General to Toronto, Fouzia Younis MBE.
University of Leicester President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, said: “I am delighted to launch our 2121: Founders of the Future campaign in Toronto with the support of the British Consul General and alongside our alumni and partners.
“The University has long-standing partnership with Canada. We have the largest number of Canadians in any UK law school including a thriving community of over 500 current students and a network of more than 2,000 Canadian alumni. It is a wonderful connection we share with Canada and we aim to improve these links through the campaign over the coming years.
“We are also celebrating a shared history that binds our nations. Leicester and Memorial University of Newfoundland are the only two institutions in the world established in memory of the sacrifices made in the First World War. The legacy of hope through which we were founded underpins our commitment to serve humanity and harness the power of education to transform lives.
“I am proud that this trip to Canada marks the announcement of a special new partnership with Memorial University that will see us share our resources to enrich our histories and to work together for the benefit of students.”
Fouzia Younis, MBE, British Consul General Toronto, said: “The UK is Canada’s top European research partner, and together we are driving discoveries that have global impact. Universities such as the University of Leicester play a vital role in this partnership – through their ability to forge long‑term, values‑driven relationships with international partners. Every year, hundreds of Canadian students choose to study at the University of Leicester for the world‑class research and teaching. It was a pleasure to celebrate Leicester’s commitment to a better future through education and research.”
2121: Founders of the Future is the University’s most ambitious philanthropic endeavour to date, which looks to secure funding to allow the institution to tackle some of the world’s largest issues head on. Funding is sought for research, scholarship, and enhanced facilities across four themes: People, Planet, Health, and Culture.