Last week's news of a transformative gift of $100 million from philanthropists James and Morag Anderson to Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies' Europe campus in Bologna, Italy, made headlines and garnered reactions across Italy and around the world.
Video credit: Roy Henry and Len Turner / Johns Hopkins University
The gift, the largest-ever to a private university in Italy, will allow Johns Hopkins to expand its SAIS Europe campus in Bologna into an international hub for research and collaboration, bringing together leading academics and practitioners around the globe to train the next generation of international experts, offer multidisciplinary solutions to global problems, facilitate scientific and technological research on public policies, and work toward peace and democratic development.
.@JohnsHopkins receives $100 million for SAIS Europe Bologna campus: The gift from alumnus James and Morag Anderson will support the university's efforts to expand the School of Advanced International Studies campus in Bologna, #Italy https://t.co/PJmXCPNtAw #highered
— Philanthropy News Digest (@pndblog) December 12, 2022
Wow, 100M, congrats @SAISHopkins https://t.co/93r3htVbSD
— @ridt@infosec.exchange (@RidT) December 9, 2022
The gift was announced Friday during an event at the Bologna campus attended by students, faculty, and staff.
Image caption: Morag and James Anderson
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
"I am immensely grateful to James and Morag for their commitment to SAIS and to Johns Hopkins and for their belief in the unique role that universities can play in shaping and strengthening democratic society around the world," JHU President Ron Daniels wrote last week in a message announcing the gift to the Hopkins community. "The Andersons have long made philanthropic investments in students, faculty, and facilities at SAIS Europe, including support for the renovations of the beloved Bologna headquarters space that so many generations of scholars have called home. This most recent gift will set SAIS Europe on a new trajectory, drawing every corner of our university together to cultivate new ideas, to shape ambitious policies, and to educate tomorrow's leaders."
Added SAIS Europe Director Michael Plummer in a message to alumni of the Bologna campus: "The Andersons' transformational gift—unprecedented in the life of SAIS—comes at a moment in which the world is demanding new solutions and approaches to 21st century global challenges. Our vision for the future of the school has one overriding goal: keep our programs and research relevant and at the forefront of the international debate."
To do so, SAIS Europe will:
- Expand resident faculty, ultimately increasing the size from 10 to 20 full-time resident faculty members
- Make education more affordable to top students from around the world via financial aid in the form of graduate fellowships and undergraduate scholarships and travel assistance
- Stimulate the cross-fertilization of ideas and research projects with high social impact via cooperation across all Hopkins campuses and with prestigious institutions across Europe and the Mediterranean
- Expand its physical footprint in Bologna to accommodate new research, teaching, and convening needs
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image caption: Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels delivers remarks during a celebration event at SAIS Europe on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022.
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
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Tagged philanthropy
