Principal’s update on the war in Ukraine

Principal Professor Sally Mapstone FRSE recently emailed all staff and students with an update on staff and student welfare and what action the University is taking in response to the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine Hardship Fund

We have over 100 students and staff affected by the war in Ukraine. If the conflict continues, some of our community may not be able to return home to Ukraine or Russia at the end of the semester.

In anticipation of the need to support them, the University has launched a greatest-need Hardship Fund to assist with accommodation, living expenses and other incidentals. The Fund aims to provide anyone directly affected by the war with the peace of mind that St Andrews will remain a safe and supportive haven. At the time of writing, more than £136,000 has been raised from over 400 donors. Thank you to all who have donated so far. Your generosity and kindness have been overwhelming.

International Women’s Day in St Andrews

The University celebrated International Women’s Day this year by interviewing six academic staff about their childhood ambitions, what inspired them to get involved in their areas of research and which women’s voices have positively impacted their careers.

ONLINE Speaker Series

The University’s Entrepreneurship Centre is rounding off its Speaker Series this semester with the fantastic Hugh Chappell. Hugh has worked in the technology and publishing industries for over 40 years, including working for Apple Computers in 1979 at the start of the personal computer market.

Launch of Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews

Sands – a significant new event in Scotland’s cultural calendar – presents an exciting and diverse international showcase of contemporary and classic cinema this weekend (25-27 March), alongside a range of supporting events. 

University poet shortlisted for prestigious prize

Daisy Lafarge – a poet and novelist who is a Creative Writing Lecturer in the University’s School of English – is one of just six nominees shortlisted for the John Pollard International Poetry Prize 2022, awarded by Trinity College Dublin.

St Andrews Prize for the Environment 2022

Entries are now open for the 2022 St Andrews Prize for the Environment – a global competition that recognises projects making a significant contribution to protecting the environment and encouraging a more sustainable society. The winning project will receive $100,000 to scale and expand their initiative.

New summer schools for undergraduates

The University of St Andrews is offering two new summer schools for undergraduates in 2022: a St Andrews Global Summer School and a summer school in Scotland and Ireland. These are excellent opportunities to experience the high-quality teaching that enabled us to achieve top ranking in the UK by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.

It’s nearly here! Alumni Weekend 2022

This year’s Alumni Weekend is from Friday 15 April to Sunday 17 April.

If you would like us to help you reconnect with fellow alumni so you can attend as a group or celebrate a graduation anniversary please contact us at alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk.

FastStart Innovators: Sprint

The Entrepreneurship Centre will be running two weeklong intensive entrepreneurial programmes – FastStart Innovators: Sprint and FastStart Web Development: Sprint in June. These are designed to develop your idea closer to launch.

Andrew Carnegie Lecture Series: Adam Sisman

Tuesday 19 April 2022
Booth Lecture Theatre, Medical Building, North Haugh (doors open 5.15pm)

Adam Sisman is delivering the next instalment in the Carnegie Lecture series, made possible through the generosity of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

The lecture is open to all and free to attend. Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Telephone Campaign – it was good to talk!

Thank you so much to all the alumni and parents across the world who took the time to talk to our student callers this month, and who donated to our projects for 2021-2022. The campaign raised around £103,000 from 200 donors.

These conversations meant a lot to our students and strengthened their sense of belonging to a strong University community.

Join our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic network

We are focusing on enhancing and developing engagement opportunities for alumni, supporters and friends of the University across our ethnically diverse global community.

If you haven’t signed up yet but would like to find out more, please contact Catherine at cd41@st-andrews.ac.uk

SaintsFunder

This month’s spotlight falls on the Principal Team who are appointed to manage the University of St Andrews Student Ambassador Scheme. They are planning to summit Ben Nevis to raise funds for Ambassador Scholarships after the enforced two-year hiatus created by the pandemic.

Saints Talk programme

Our next Saints Talk is by Dr Laurence Lasselle from the School of Management on 26 April 2022 at 5.15pm. Further details available soon.

View the full programme for Candlemas Semester 2022 or if you’ve missed any of the Saints Talks, you can watch again.

Alumni stories

We welcome stories from alumni about your time here, your journey since leaving and what the University of St Andrews has contributed to that journey.

Read this month about Farkhodjon Israilov (MSc 2010) who describes how studying at St Andrews ultimately led to a successful career in banking and reaching the finals of the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards 2021-2022.

Email the editor sem28@st-andrews.ac.uk if you would like to share your story.

Alumni Authors

University of St Andrews Open Experience

We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting a Golf Graduation ceremony as part of the University of St Andrews Open Experience. Join us at the newly refurbished Younger Hall as we bestow Honorary Degrees on some of our best known golfing heroes. Those booking tickets for the Open Experience will receive priority tickets to the Golf Graduation ceremony. Find out more and book your place now!

Laidlaw Live

Look out for the latest Laidlaw Music Centre live-streamed concerts and access high quality music – wherever you are in the world.

Reconnect!

If you know someone who would like to reconnect and sign up for St Andrews in the News, they can do so using the links below:

alumni: Update your contact information 

parents/guardians of undergraduate students: Register to join the Family Programme

email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk for more information